The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-06-11
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A New York Paper Comments on the
WTeeklng Of Mckinley Banner,
New York, June 5.-The morning
Journal, speaking of the tearing down
of McKinley's picture by the Mckinley
woFkingmen,s club Of Wilmerding, Pa,
says:
The enFaged Workingmen of Wilmer
ding, Pa, who the other day tore down
Mr.. McKinIey's campaign portraits,
denounced his advance agency ass
fake and his prosperity as a fraud, are
nevertheless calm enough to disarim-
mate and spportion blame. Though
they have been discharged by the
Westinghouse AIF Brake company,
they do not hold it responsible for
their loss Of employment, since they
say the company, owing to hard times
throughout the country, has no work
to give them. Some of these working
men we're prominent among the pill
grims who last fall helped along the
Mckinley canvass by enlivening Can
ton with "labor parades." Now they
are out for Bryan aud free silver.
The men of WiImerding and their
disappointed kind throughout the
country are to be pitied for their idle
ness and the hardships it entails, but
their manner Of testifying TO their
change Of political opinion will not
via them respect either on the score
of their intelligence or self-control.
Moreover, sympathy with their misfor-
tune cannot 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 working
man between elections is to get his Ia
Dor as cheaply as possible, and then to
do him out of as much of his wages as
special legislation in the interest of
the least needy makes possible. They
were sheep who did as they were coun-
seled by the wolves-WhOse appetite
for mutton has been Unsuitable since
the world began. These laborers de-
serted the cause of labor and took
their pay in promises. Their mentors
in politics engaged to secure for them
the continuance of the gold standard
and more tariff, and this engagement
is being sacredly observed.
Meantime the trusts go on 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
itself by tearing down the portrait of
the president of the party of the
trusts.
Teh experience which the working
men and other citizens whose interests
lie with theirs, who participated in
November's republican success are IN
dergOing is educating, however IN
pleasant. When next they see every
trust in the country, every predatory
rich man, every beneficiary of the
thieving tariff, every holder of spe-
oial privilege, every selfish plutocrat,
every man who profits by present con-
ditions and would lose by a stable
monetary system and just govern
ment of equal rights-when the next
workingmen of Wilmerding and their
kind see all such rallying to the sup
| port of political party and shouting
that devotion to their own pockets is
patriotic enthusiasm for the national
well-being and honor, perhaps common
sense will suggest that it is wise foi
the fleeced masses TO take the other
side.
| The portrait-tearing incident at vii
merding is but one little puff of smoke
! from the great smouldering fire that i;
burning just below the surface of this
country. When the eruption 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 stake
things from those who make things
will be scattered, and we shall have 8
trial at government by the people fol
the whole people by way of change.