The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-06-04
Discharged Workmen Tear Down
McKinley's Picture.

The New York Journal in an edi-
torial on Monday, concerning the re-
cent dismissal of workmen at Wilmer
ding, Pa, by the Westinghouse Air
Brake Company, because the latter had
no work to give them, looks at the case
in this manner:
1.-The enraged workingmen, who the
other day tore down McKinley's CAM
paign portraits, denounced his advance
agency as fake and his prosperity as
a fraud, are nevertheless calm enough
to discriminate aud appOrtiOn blame.
Though they have been discharged by
the Westinghouse Air Brake Company,
they do not hold it responsible for their
loss of employment. since they saXathe
company, owing to the hard times
throughout the country, has no work
to give them. Some of these working
men were prominent among the pill
grims who last fall helped along the
Mckinley canvass by eplivening Can
ton with Labor parades." Now they
are out for Bryan and free silver.
The men of Wilmdering and their
disappointed kind throughout the
country are to be pited for their idle
ness and the hardships it entails, but
their mode of testifying TO their change
of political opinion will not win them
respect either on the score of their in
telligence or self-control. Moreover,
sympathy with their misfortune cam
not but be mitigated by the reflection
that they did their best TO bring it on
themselves. They chose to accept the
leadership and advice of those whose
only use for the workingmau between
elections is to get his labor as cheaply
as possible, and then to do him out Of
as much of his wages as special legisla-
ton in the interest of the least needy
makes possible. They were sheep who
did as they were counselled by those
whose appetite for mutton has been ill.,
satiable since the world began. These
laborers deserted the cause OflabOr and
took their pay in promises. Their
mentors in politics engaged to secure
them the continuance of the gold
standard and more tariff, and this en-
gagemeht is being sacredly observed.
Meantime the trusts go Oh monopo-
lizing the natural resources of the
country, centralizing industry, and
through collision with the railroads
crush out competition, and control pro-
duction and prices to suit themselves.
If labor does not like the situation it Is
at liberty to go hungry, and amuse it
self by tearing down the portrait of
the President of the party of the
trusts.
The experience with the working
men, and other citizens whose interests
lie with theirs, who participated in
November's Republican success are I'M
dergoing is educating, however I'M
pleasant When next they see every
trust in the country, every predatory
rich man, every beneficiary of the
thievish tariff, every holder of a spec
ial privilege, every selfish plutocrat,
every man who profits by present con-
ditions and would lose by u stable
monetary system and government OF
equal rights-when next the working
men of Wilmerding and their kind see
all such rallying TO the support of po-
litical party and shouting that devO-
ton to their own pockets is patriotic
enthusiasm for the national well-being
and honor, perhaps common sense will
suggest that ii is wise for the fieeced
masses to take the other side.
The portrait tearing incident at
Wilmerding is but one little puff OF
smoke from the great smOulderIng fire
that is burning just beneath the sur
face in this country. When the erup-
ton comes, as in all probability it will
come in 1900, the party of the trusts.
the party of the privileged, the party
of all who take things from those who
make things, will be scattered, and
we shall have trial at government by
the people tor the whole people 10y way,
of change"