New-York tribune., 1900-06-23
THE SHADOW OF BRYAN
F. B. THURBER SAYS 1T HAS MADE can
ITAL CAUTIOUS-M'KINLEY
PROSPERITY.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: You ask II I think the reelection n,
President Mckinley will mean a continuance :,
the present high rate Of wages. and what vvoul1
be the general effect upon commerce and mann
features of a renewal for another four years %
the present Republican policies.
AS president OF the United States Export A.
ISOLATION I come In contact with leading house.
in ninety-eight principal lines OF industry situ
ated In thirty-fOur States who are members az
this association and have recently ATTENDED
two important commercial congresses-ths
Trans Mississippi Commercial Congress and the
Southern Industrial Convention-one west and
one east Of the Mississippi River and an.
therefore. in a position 70 state facts.
These industries have been generally prps-
porous during the last three years, and during
a portion OF the time exceptionally so. The
good times began with the election OF Presl-
dent Mckinley and the assurance that we
should have four years Of Republican policy
1t gave capital confidence to embark In new
enterprises and develop our wonderful resources
in fields forests. mines and factories This IN
creased the demand for labor, and a conse-
quence the rate OF wages has generally ad-
vanced. Good harvests have undoubtedly aided
in creating this Of prosperity. but the
shadow of a possibility OF the election Of Mr.
Bryan and the substitution Of Democratic for
Republican policy has already had the effect
Of discouraging the undertaking OF new enter
prises and TO prevent the development OF old
ones. Capital Is proverbially timd and con-
servative. and when the future is not clear pre-
fers TO wait before going ahead
I consider that the election OF Mr.. Bryan
would be unfortunate alike for labor and capt.
tai. II the Democratic policy of anti-expansiOn
is to prevail it means OversJOcked home mar
kets, idle mills and all the phenomena OF a COM
mercial crisis.
In addition TO great natural resources
this country has such command Of the forces
that now control the wOrld-steam, electricity
and maChinery-that We are able 20 produce far
more than consume With a pOpua-
ton of seventy-five or eighty millions we are
producing in most lines enough for one hun
dred and fifty millions, and we must seek
market for this surplus among the other thir-
teen hundred and seventy millions who cOnsti-
tute the population Of the earth
Republican policy means the protection OF our
home market and finding a place TO dump our
surplus abroad. II means the upouldng or
a American merchant marine 10 distribute our
own goods. 1t means a sound currency, which
will be the equal of any in the world 1t means
high wages for the Iaboring and good
profits for capital Democratic policy, l firmly
believe means the reverse of all this The i'm
pOrtant question for us Ill is: What party policy
will keep our factories going most OF the time
and pay the best wages? Democratic policy
has been a negative, fault finding, pull down
policy, while the Republican policy has been
a positive progressive, build up policy Re
publican policy means a full dinner pail. and
Democratic policy empty one-at least, so It
appears 10 me.
The Democrats are out and want TO get in.
They will try 10 do the issues OF the
currency, trusts and imperialism The cur
rency issue is practically settled that OF trusts
has been greatly magnified by sensational jour
ralism but il can be said that the Republican
party has led in enaCting legislation TO guard
against their evils and the Democratic party,
while inveIghing against trusts. has participated
in the profits of their abuses and has done moth
ing to curb them. The organization industry,
whether labor OF capital, trades unions OF trusts
is inevitable in this age Of steam and electricity,
and the good in them far exceeds the bad only
the abuses need 10 be guarded against Steer
them don't try 10 stop them. Motion means
progress; stOppage means stagnation and decay.
AS regards the cry of Imperialism, 1T is dlr-
fcuIt TO understand just what il means. but
there is clear line between imperialism and
expansion Republicans do not believe In i'm
periaIism involving the annexation and assimi-
latiOn Of sami-Civilized populations. which would
thus be enabled to compete with American
IabOrers, posse ssing the wants OF higher CIV
fizatiOn; but it does believe in policy OF ex-
pansion which will keep our factories running
and give American labor continuous employment
and good wages
If Mckinley is elected we can press forward.
leading the nations in the struggle for CONNER
ciaI supremacy. If Bryan is elected We viii
have to bank our fires. furl our sails and walt 10
see what Democratic craftsmanship has in store
for r. b. THU RBEH
New-York. June 10. 1900.