The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-29
LABOR VOTE MAY DECIDE IT
BOTH SIDES CLAIM 1T IN PRESI-
DENTAL RACE.
Republicans Rely on Full Dinner
Pail Talk-Democrats Rely on
the Trust Object Lesson.
By Jos: Oil.

chicago. H.. OCTOBER H.-tSpecIal)-A
monster prosperity parade intended 10
show all Chicago is for Mckinley was
the great event of today in this western
center of political strife. AS show IT
was great. big success, but there is
grave doubt whether il proved anything
OF the thousands of people In line. many
Will vote for Mckinley. A good many
others will not. but they were in that
procession because they thought 1t GOOD
policy if not good politics, to be there.
The republican employers of labor all
over the city made 1t known to their men
some days ago that they ought to appear
in that parade. Many men who are go
ing to vote for Bryan thought II wise 10
take this hint as it was intended and
line up in the ranks by the side of their
employers who will be there in person.
The local democratic managers have had
reports from many men whom they know
to be democrats. telling of their intention
To march in this Mckinley parade for the
reasons indicated above. They have also
had inquiries from a number of young
men who asked whether they ought to
go into the parade or not-whether 1t
would be wise to openly resent this ap-
patent dictation from their employers
and run the risk of losing their jobs in
conSequemce--and sn every case these
have been advised to go ahead and march.
Good Pay for Macechers.
In addition to this method of securing
a big crowd of marchers, which has been
resorted to on all sides, the republicans
hired a lot OF people to fill out the ranks.
The boarding houses on the west side
were gone through from top to bottom
and available men were secured at -
head The names of men engaged in this
business of hiring marchers have peeh
given in the newspapers and 10 nave
more or less circumstantial details OF the
transactions. l know of several young
men. even in my limited Chicago ac-
quaintance. who We're In that procession.
but who will vote for Bryan. They are
employees of one of the big trusts, and
while it had not been intimated TO them
directly that they might lose their posi-
tions If known to belong in Bryan ranks
they thought discretion a long way the
better part of valor. and acted accord
nsly.
So, as | have said. 1t is difficult to say
just how much these prosperity parades
mean. There are a lot of republicans
here in Chicago and throughout the coun-
try-a mighty lot" as we say in Geor-
gia-and il may be that the size of these
parades is really significant Of the cleo
ton trend 1t may also be proven by eiec-
ton developments that these parades have
served their purpose of causing Labor
stampede into republican ranks.
The Real Doubtful Quality.
The deeper one endcavors to get into
this political situation. the stronger grows
the conviction that the labor vote is the
*" the unknown quantity. The men
who are generally reckoncd as making
up this labor vote are unusually reticent
HI
of both parties acknowledge this reti-
ccnce and are worried by it. The repub-
leans cndeavor to explain it by saying
that the worSingmen Of the cities are
naturally democrats; the fact they are
not talking now means. according to this
republican explanation. that they are
going TO vote for McKinley.-if otherwise.
they would be prOClaiming their support
of the party TO which they naturally be-
long The democrats see this thing very
differently They recall the threats made
to workuemen four years ago and point
10 the obvious fact that the workingmen
have not forgotten that experience, even
if they had received no reminders since
This being true. the voter does not care
Ia either lose his job or get into an ar
gument With his employer by proclaimins
his intention 70 vote for Bryan. This. ac-
cordng 10 the democratic theory IS the
reason why the labor vote is silent as to
it's Intentions. and Il certainly seems the
more plausible explanation.
However. this is mere theorlzins-
Neither republicans nor democrats know
where that labor vote Is going. Both sides
think they know The republicans have
some veKy gctive Fmissaries At WORK
among the labor unions and believe these,
with the aid of the full dinner pail arsu-
mcnt will turn the trick for Mckinley,
the democrats. on the other hand, have
all sorts of assurances that union labor
all labor-is for Bryan. But because OF
the claims made by the other side, neither
is quite confident though loudly protest.
inc confidence Naturally this gives rise
to more thcoriZing Each side proceeds
to show why it must have the right end
Of the controversy. and the mystery only
becomes the greater.
The republicans bank on the men who
have work voting with the republican
party. -Four years ago, many of these
did not have work. Since then. thanks
to the Almighty MciIinley-here they are
expected to take off their hatS-they
have had work All credit for this pros
pcrity must belong to the republican adj
miuistration. therefore. the workingman
must. in the very nature of things, vote
for Mckinley. In eloquent terms they
picture him going home the night before
the election and talking it all over with
his wife John" she says things are
going better with US than they were four
years ago: you had better vote 10 keep
them where they are.
Conditions Not Convictions.
That is the republican picture and.
frankly, there may be more truth than
poetry in It. An astute political obser-
yer gave me an aphorism tonight which
he thought touched this situatiOn-he be
ing a republican Politics" said he,
lis becoming more and more a matter of
business. People vote their conditions
these days, not their convictions"
Which is aliterative and sounds well,
and may be true; but all republicans do
not agree to it as an abstract PROPOSE
ton.
A well knowa Ohio republican politi-
clan, a man active party management.
unICsomed himself on this subject in