Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-10-12

Columbus, O., October 1.-THE Han
ma managers realize that the greatest
danger to his candidacy may lie in the
vote of organized labor. If that vote
is cast solidly against him his defeat
is certain. If fair percentage Of it is
thrown for his legislative tickets in the
cities of Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus,
Springfield and Dayton, he probably
will be returned to the Senate.
Hanna himself is thoroughly aware
of the situation and is doing all he can
to win favor among the wage earners.
For years he has been known as the
''great labor crusher," and has been
rather proud of the appellation. But
since he became a candidate for the
Senate he has grown to be unduly SEN
sitive on this point. He now proclaims
on every stump that he was the first
employer in Ohio to recognize labor
unions
"Hanna's claim that he was among
the first to recognize labor unions in
Ohio is true" said man at the Neil
House the other night. "The trouble is,
though, that the recognition was mani
tested with a club.
OBJECTS TO UNIONISM.
Instead of conceding the right of the
workmen to form unions, Hanna is on
record as having refused to employ
union labor. His opposition delayed
the establishment of unionism among
Cleveland workmen at least ten years
and it was because of that opposition,
which was at all times aggressive and
often violent, that he was given the
name of labor crusher.'
THAT was a long time ago, of
course. 1t was years before Hanna
dreamed Of becoming candidate for
public Office. His first ambition was to
secure wealth. Now that he is mill
ionaire he yearns for political honors.
If he is returned to the Senate he will
be candidate for President in 1906"
Hanna is depressed by the thought
which he cannot get rid of that the
workmen are opposed to his candidacy.
He visits the factories, but the wage
earners do not enthuse over his coming.
They shake hands with him cordially
enough, but their sullen looks betray
their real feelings. In his public
speeches Hanna devotes mosts of his
time to denying the charge that he is
nne-aas- ee e-e,@-i-@l l~-l- e---r7--7
FRIENDLY TOWARD LABOR.
IT employ 5000 men in Cleveland and
eastern Ohio" he says, "and | leave it
to them to say whether or not / am
labor crusher' or even a hard task
master. 1 say in my own behalf that
I am the friend of organized labor. I
have always paid the highest rate of
wages and I have never refused any rea-
sonable demand coming from the men
employed by me or by the corporations
in which I am interested. appeal to
my employees to testify to the truth of
the statements here made. If any man
in my service will say that have spo-
ken falsely I will retire from the race
for the Senate"
Day after day Hanna delivers this lit
tie speech, and he seems to regard it
as a complete refutation of the charge
that he is labor's foe. In the meantime
no man in his employ has rushed into
print to say that the great political boss
has spoken truth.
1t strikes most people as funny that
there is not even one man among Han
mas 5000 employees who will make pub
lie proclamation of the fact that his
employer is the friend of organized la
bor
SAFETY IN SILENCE.
1t is not surprising that his employees
decline to testify to the truth of the
charge that he is a labor crusher. They
are not anxious to be thrown out of
their jobs at the beginning of winter.
They have not yet tasted the sweets of
that prosperity which Mckinley prom
Used and which Hanna says has arrived.
The times are still hard with them, and
they are willing to keep their lips sealed
if they can thereby retain their places
in the shops and mines owned and ope-
rated by Hanna.
The Cleveland dictator has tried CO.
ercion in political campaigns before,
and he does not hesitate to resort to it
now when his own political existence
is trembling in the balance. When he
refers to his employees for vindication
he feeels pretty safe. He knows that
few people will take the trouble to con-
suit his employees, and he expects the
latter to say nothing calculated to dam
! rsnnN MoTHEn'S /:
Il ! FRIEND /