The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-18
Wednesday, July 1S, 1900.
The Dictator's " Steel Trap Jaws"

The Spartansburg Herald need have no fear
OF danger to us from the Dictator's " Steel
Trap Jaws"
On the subject of supporting Bryan. we may
be pardoned for quoting some expressions
from citizens Of Abbeville. These expressions
were made In private conversation and With
out any intimation that they would be
repeated in print. We therefore cannot give
the names. but they are among our best and
most respected citizens.
!. A gentleman whose education, social
position and good character entitle him 10
the respect of his neighbors, said Il do not
believe the thinking people endorse Bryan
g. One OF the richest as we'll as on Q of the
most public spirited citizens W ho has done as
much as anybody 10 build up the town. said:
81 would not vote for Bryan under any consid-
Grafton. He has no right TO be President and
does not deserve to be President. shall vote
for Mckinley"
3. Another old citizen, who was good Con-
federate soldier, and well off today In this
worlds goods, said " shall vote for McKin-
ley"
4. A younger citizen and public spirited
buiness man, said: IL shall vote for Mckinley
i don't believe in any Of Bryan's foolishness."
5. Another prominent business man who
holds an important place in the welfare OF
the town, said:" am taking no part in poll
tics. l belong to nobody and shall vote as
please for Mckinley.
g. Another substantial citizen who stands
high in the opinion OF his neighbors, is re-
cognized as a voter for Mckinley.
:. politician who has been honored more
than once by a majority of the voters of this
county said, II believe large per cent OF the
Intelligent people Of this State are Republi-
cans at heart, bnt am free silver Democrat
and q believer in Bryan"
s. One of the best known mechanics In
this section Of the State, said; " 1 expect to
vote for Mckinley. don't want the business
interests of the country disturbed by either
Bryan's election or bis free silver foolishness."
g. Another citizen who has the good will Of
all Of our people, said. mckinley is good
enough for me. don't want any Bryan in
mine."
We have not heard the following parties
speak, but we learn that they have spoken
substantially as follows:
II. A good merchant is opposed to Bryan.
andifavors the election OF Mckinley.
II, One of the oldest and best merchants in
town, whose credit is frst-class and whose
estate is well up in the tens Of thousands. is
unqualifiedly for Mckinley.
u. One OF the oldest and most successful
merchants of our town is strongly In favor of
Mckinley. He may not vote the Republican
ticket, but Bryan will not get it.
Is. A citizen who has taken an active part
in many improvements in the town, and who
represents big money, does not want Bryan
elected.
IA. A young man who did good service in
the Spanish war, and acquitted himself with
credit to his home people is for the gold stand
ard. He believes 1t to he 10 the best interest
Of the country to re. elect Mckinley, but
owing to his lifelong Democratic association
will probably vote for Bryan.
Again: we would state that no man has
been interviewed for the purpose OF getting
his opinions published. The expressions
came from men representing large part of
the wealth, the intelligence and the business
interests Of the town. There may be, and
doubtless are, great many Bryan men In
town, but we have not heard them speak
Among politicians there must be Brayn men.
and on election day It is possible that many
OF the men named above may refuse TO vote,
or else stifle their own personal convictions
to comply with party demands. But certain
II Is that the adhcsivcness TO party lines is
not strong among the representative men of
this section.
Tue business men, as rule, can be divided
as follows: A few may vote for Bryan, a
number may not vote atall, and some may
vote for Mckinley. That is the way 1t looks to
us just now.
When man seeks to be president with the
avowed purpose of tampering with the busi
ness intererests OF the country, he should be
required to take back seat.
We have no recollection of having heard
any citizen who takes a leading part In the
business Interests OF the town, or who repre-.
sents the monied interests. say that he favor
ed the election of Bryan, the Dictator.
or oouse, 1t Is expected that the politicians
are for Bryan. 1t is also expected those who
accept ready made opinions that may be
furnished 10 them, are for Bryan. But the
,opinion expressed by the first who Is quoted
1s our own belief. 1.-THE thinking people 90
not endorse Bryan" Those who do their own
thinking know that the tariff has turned
hundreds Of millions of gold 10 this country
and that the circulation per capita is greater
today than 1t ever was. They do not want to
see the business interests disturbed. They
know that 1t is worse than pure rot TO try to
make out that the gold standard and the Re-
publican tariff had nothing to do with the
buildidg Of our cotton mills. and it is foolish
to contend that the unprecedented prosperity
cannot be attributed to legitimate causes.
II Bryan, the Dictator, with "Steel Trap
Jaws" polls big vote this year at Abbevlle
It is certain that many of the best men and
the most representative citizens will yield
their own judgment. We do not see how a
greater calamity could befall this country
than the election Of the Dictator. Imperial.
ism is better than stamping out the citizens
rights at the instance OF any Dictator.
Speaking for the Press and Banner, we do
not see how any man. who does his own
thinking, can favor Bryan, whose platform
appeals for the votes of the greatest trust on
earth-the labor unions-whose members SO
often defy the laws OF the land, commit
murder Of inoffensive men for no other
reason than for wanting job, and destroys the
property OF the corporations which refuse to
submit to their demands.