Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-28
A SUBJECT OF COERCION.

=
life voted contrary to my convictions"
stated MIR. j. A. jackson in our
Office a few days ago. Continuing, be
said: 81 am In Denver looking for
employment. I am a Philadelphia,
where for number of years past [
have had steady employment in a
brush factory.
"Philadelphia employed, up to the
last election, an average of two hun
dred thousands hands in her factories.
The gold standard people told us. with
no effort at concealment, that if Nc
Kinley should be elected, an addi-
tional one hundred thousand men
would be put to work immediately.
Should Bryan win, their factories
would close, and on the event of Nc
Knley's election our wages would be
advanced 25 per cent. We voted as
unit for Mckinley. Three days after
election the 25 per cent. increase was
granted and an extra one hundred
thousand men employed. By Novem.
Der 10Th nearly two hundred thous.
and of us were discharged and turned
out upon the streets of the city with
out work, money or clothing, to con-
tend against the cold winter months
ahead. In my desperation I started
out. tried New York, where I
found the condition of the laboring
man no better. From there [ drifted
to Chicago, where found the condir
ton of the laboring classes much
| worse than in the other two cities.
Here 1 witnessed sights hope never
t. see again. At the rooms of the
Board of Public Relief I saw strong
half-starved men crazed with hunger,
snatch loaves of bread from almost
famished boys and girls; men graphing
with women for a two'cent loaf of
bread, while whole loaves of dry bread
were eagerly devoured before getting
fifty feet from headquarters.
81 was held'up three times one
night in walking eleven blocks. Hav.
ing no money, watch or jewelry about
me, [ told the hold-ups I was one of
the unfortunates out of money looking
for work, and was allowed to pass on.
I am surprised to see in Denver no
public soup houses or relief stations;
no great mobs or gatherings of the
unemployed. The Indications being
less suffering and actual want then ex-
lists in any of our Eastern cities. It lis
now my candid opinion that this
generation will not witness REPETITION
of the past election, 80 far as seeing
the laboring classes of the East vote
rs unit at the dictation of the money
power or, in fact, the dictatien of any
power of party. The future will see,
unless my judgment of human nature
deceives me, the laboring man voting
as his best Judgment and conscience
dictate, which we all now realize to be
on the side of bimetallism.
SIN face of the past election they
caution us against agitation, against
the continuance of bimetallic educa-
ton, lest anarchy in some form should
break loose. I say, let industry re-
ceive its just rewards, and their fear
is groundless."
We presume a similar stale of woe"
could be told by untold thousands of
others less fortunate than Mr.. Jack
son. But still the gold kings rule and
the people will not stem the ruinous
tide-Oh We cruelty betrayed, why do
you not think and reflect!
This great nation is possessed of all
soils and all climates. 1t is rich be.
yond measure in mines, minerals and
agricultural products. 1t has popu'
lation of seventy millions, yet is
sparsely populated. 1t has resources
limitless in number and of immeasure--
able value. Many of which, especial
ly in the Rocky Mountain states, are