Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-06
HON. J. H. ECKELS
Tells Why as a Democrat, He
Supports Mckinley.
Unanswerable Arguments from a Lead
er Of Democratic Party.
Roosevelt Enters Mississippi VALLEY Aiier
Grand Work in Far West.

IN the Auditorium, tonight, to an audi
ence that packed the great hall as
tightly as it could be packed hundreds
Of people being turned away. The
meeting was under the auspices of the
Business Mems Sound Money Associa-
ton and embraced men of all parties
who oppose the is to plank of the Dem
ocratic platform. Mr. Eckels WAS in
troduced by VIM. Davis Of Chicago.
president OF the Amalgamated Associ-
alton Of iron and Steel Workers. who
made short address. The iron ana
steel industries We're strongly repre-
scented in the meeting. Mr.. Eckels
spoke as follows:
In opening his speech Mr.. Eckels
said:
II propose in this campaign, as a
Democrat. to support VIM. Mckinley.
the nominee Of the Republican party
for reelection to the Presidential " :
flee, and on that behalf | am upon this
platform"
The speaker went on 10 point out
that the overwhelming mass Of bust
ness interests in the country repudated
the statements ana the views express
ed and held by Mr.. Bryan. not from
political Or class prejudice. but because
they want only stability in money.
equity in law and wisdom Of word and
action in the executive They distrust
Mr. Bryan because he has made ii i'm
possible for them to trust him.
Who" he asked, are the men vino
have most at stake in this country ?
Are they the organs or the Tillmans,
the Altgelds or the WeaVers. the Townes
or the Crokers? | call your attention to
the fact that these men and all their
associates who write the platforms,
map out the policies and control the
action of the Democratic party as to-
day that party reveals itself are men
who know no calling but politics and
contribute nothing To the support Of
their fellows beyond the emoluments
of such political offices as they may by
chance secure"
Speaking to the lahoring men. he
said
Il am certain. despite some individ-
ual injustice here ana individual in
justice there. you are better off at
present ana will b. in the future, by
acting with those who employ labor
and not making common cause with
men who neither themselves labor
outside the realm Of politics for their
own advancement. nor give employ
ment to others
Mr. Eckels then took up the antago-
nism Of Mr.. Bryan To aggregated
wealth and the trusts. Banks. he
said, furnish the life blood Of trade.
The laborcr ought not to lose sight of
the fact that if it was not for the action
of banks in granting to the manufacture
,rs necessary credit during the process
OF manufacturing that wages might be
met before payment for the finished ar
ticle is received from the purchaser
within almost every great institution,
operation would either be greatly re-
duced or cease altogether.
Mr. Eckels warned the laboring men
against taking part in the assault on the
banks which would fan nowhere more
heavily than on the savings institutions.
THE difficulty with Mr.. BTyan's states
manship' he said, is that ii is states
manship Of prejudice, class distinctions
and misinfOrmation. IL is a statesman
ship which takes no thought of the NOR
row but contents itself with the political
advantage Ut today. Mr.. Bryan's leader
ship has neither ability for political or
ganization nor capacity for wise. safe or
conservative constructive legislation. In
the last analysis the leadership Of Mr..
Bryan demonstrates itself to begin and
end in denunciatiOn Of the existing order
The Speaker then went into ali elabo-
rate defence Of combinations Of capital
which. though large in the amount Of
capital invested. have regard for all the
rules which control in ordinary business
affairs.
He said that as a result OF the misin
formation what is called a trust is not 4
h. highest
complicated and efficient form Of ciYiliZa-
ton, made more manifest as man is more
ana more remote from the influence OF
ignorance and barbarism
In all this evolution in our industrial
world, said Mr.. Eckels. Il reassert that
no loss has come to labor. The economies
the other hand, whatever changes have
been wrought. and there have been many.
have been Ia his advantage.
Il am against the interference with the
affairs Of employer and employee by dem
agogic lawmakers. blatant politicians ANA
self-aDpointed leaders seeking personal
and political advantage AS against all
these | would set for the labor the wise
counsel Of those Of their own rank who
are not in politics and the business sense
Of right and justice Of their employers.
In the most Ella borate manner Mir. Eek
els pictured the disaster consequent upon
the enforcement Of Mr.. Bryan's views on
silver ana the effect upon the laboriug
man and said that he would rather for
all time to come forfeit his right 0f affii-
alton with the Democratic party than by
chance assist in giving place t. one who
might. YES. who would if placed in power.
work out By the incorporation Of his
financial views and socialistic theories
into the laws Of the land Il disaster 30
Widespread and a ruin 30 far reaching"
He said that he was not in favor Of the
war with Spain or Of colonial expansion.
But that expansion, he said is an ac-
complished fact. made ~ largely by Mr.
B-van'S cooperation. ANA dealing with
conditions as they are and not as they
might have been. prefer To trust the
wisdom and experience OF President Nc
tains some conservative elements in it.
to the vsgaries of MI. Bryan. supported
hy an organization which boasts that
within its circle the radical rules and
there is neither use nor place Tor the con-
seryative."