The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-10-27

you cast your ballot either IN the Inter
| est of the masses or the classes.
A man cannot serve both God and
Mammon, neither can he serve both
the Democratic and Republican
parties.
AS far as the personality of the Con-
gressional candidates for this district
is concerned, we have but few com
ments to offer.
The Republican candidate, Mr..
Woodin, is a man who was, so to
speak, born with silver spoon in his
mouth.
Being an only son of wealthy
parents he received every advantage
that money could procure. Being
educated in our institutions of learn
ing, supplemented by extensive travels
in foreign lands, surrounded by luxury
and refining influences has made him
a polished gentleman of the world.
Whether such training, such sur.
roundings, has been instrumental in
making him acquainted with the needs
of the common people we leave you
to answer.
One thing, however, is certain, and
that is, that no matter how kindly in
tentioned he may be he will necessar-
lily be obliged to, obey the dictates of
his party.
The Democratic candidate, Mr..
Polk, comes from good old Democra-
tic stock. He, in a superlative de-
gree, possesses those traits of charac-
ter which ever constitute the attri-
butes of the ideal candidate.
Born and raised on a farm he is of
the people, knows their wants and
will serve their interests. He be-
lieves that the masses are entitled to
enjoy the same rights and privileges
as the classes.
He believes in equal rights to all
and special privileges to none, an d
when elected to Congress will support
such measures only as will benefit all
people alike, and will oppose those
measures which would antagonize
the interests of the masses.
Like all men who lived the early
part of their lives on the falm, he
fully recognizes tine fact that existing
conditions are detrimental to the best
interests of the agriculturists. He
will join other patriots to change
those conditions for the better.
At the age of sixteen, Mr.. Polk en-
tered Leh;gh University and credita-
bly, completed both the scientific and
engineering courses in four years.
His first experience in his present
vocation was as day laborer working
at one dollar and twenty cents day
and by untiring energy and close at
tention to his tasks worked his way
up to his present position.
Having passed through all of the
stages from laborer to manager of
one industry and part owner ofanother,
he knows the wants and hardships of
the working man, and what is to his
great credit, bears those facts in mind
in his treatment of men In his employ.
He has adopted the system of paying
his men every two weeks in cash, will
accept no orders-hence sharpers can
not prey upon his mems earnings, is
radically opposed to the company store
system holding that the men should be
paid in cash and spend their earnings
as they like.
This reveals the character of the
man and stamps him as friend of the
laborer.
When the cries for help from starv-
ing and down trodden Cubans were
waited to our shores, he donned the
uniform and joined the army of llber-
ators. Here again he showed the stuff
he is made of. And when through the
inexcusable neglect of the war depart
ment his comrades in arms were strick.
en- with the deadly typhus he pulled of
his coat, laid floors In their tents and
tenderly cared for his sick boys.
Here is a man brave asthe bravest
gentle as the gentlest, and it is ofsuch
that heroes are made. Do you wonder
then that the soldier boys worship himi
Oh yes, they willvote for him, every
one of them; and the men in the mines
and shops will also vote for him ant
so will the farmers.
| The man who has the milk of human
kindness flowing in his veins needs NJ
trumpeter to proclaim it. 1t is stamped
upon his brow and when you NEE
Rufus K. Polk you will discern thu
mark with the naked eye.