The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-03-05
MIR. HANNA GIVES A POINTER

| Atlanta Constitution.
The news that Mr.. Mark A. Hanna
who heralded Mr. Mckinley as the ad
vance agent OF prosperity, has forced
the men employed in his mines at
Pittsbu-g to sign contract to work
for year for 60 cents a ton, is Uf con-
siderable public importance. The
men, it is said, were given the option
OF signing the contract or refusing to
work, and they signed it rather than
see their families starve. They had
been expecting to get 70 cents ton.
Now, If any other employer except
Mr.. Hanna had compelled his men to
sign Il contract to accept the lowest
rate Of wages for the next twelve
months, the fact would have been in
teresting, but it would have possessed
no public importance. But Mr.. Han.
ma is known and recognized every.
where as the drum major Of the Re.
publican procession. He caused Mr.
Mckinley to be nominated by de-
claring in the West that his candidate
was for protection and bimctallism
and in the East that Mr. Mckinley
was for gold and a fairly reasonable
amount OF protection.
The nomination was made accord
ingly, and when the campaign was un-
der way, Mr.. Hanna declared that Mr..
Mckinley was "the advance agent of
prosperity" All the orators and or.
gans took it up, and hailed the Ohio
major as 'the advance agent OF pros,
perity," Mr.. Mckinley himself, ac-
ceptlng the title with Il smile, an
nounced that lie and his Republican
friends would "Open the mills to la.
Dor, and, by raising the prices Of man
ufacturcd products, make better mark.
cts for the farmers" On numbers
OF occasions he asked the crowds that
assembled 1t his front door" Have
the Democrats made you rich? Well,
put your trust in the Republican
party. We know how to make the
people prosperous"
Now, the question arises and it is a
serious one, does Mr.. Hanna believe
that Mr.. Mckinley is really the ad-
vance agent Of prosperity? Does he
really think that the Republican
party can restore prosperity? II so.
it is indeed passing strange that he
should bind workmcn in his employ to
accept starvation wages for twelve
months. Did not Mr.. Hanna realize,
when he set about his business OF
compelling the unfortunate miners in
his employ to bind themselves to ac-
cept panic wages for another twelve
months, that his position as the great
drum major OF the Republican jubilee
band would leaye horribly bad taste
in the mouth OF the public? Or did
he feel that his great feat OF electing
Mckinley gave him the right to ap.
ply the screws to his employees?
There is but one reasonable infer
ence to be drawn from Mr. Hanna's
action in this matter He knows that
the Republican program will not re-
store prosperity, and lie is taking
time by the forelock. He knows that
the depression now prevailing will
grow deeper, and he, therefore, makes
haste to protect himself by compelling
his miners to accept starvation wages
for the next twelve months.
And this is the answer that the
great Republican manager gives to
the hopes and expectations Of the peo-
pie.
Meanwhile, we hope Mr.. Hanna is
mistaken in his private views. We
hope the Republicans will restore
prosperity before the year is out.