Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-10-12

" and in its news columns. And yet
the negroes of the south who work OH
the share system on the plantations Of
rich Democrats and buy their stock
and groceries with orders on the stores
owned by white men would never
think Of complaining If they got $3.50 Il
year for their labor. On the contrary,
they are Systematically robbed and at
the end Of the year are hundreds of
dollars in debt to the white men who
get the benefit Of their labor and pock-
ct the money which they ought in hon
or to pay them. But it makes differ
ence whose OK Is gored.
The Democrats and the Strike.
The strike Of the coal miners may
prove to be d boomerang and strike the
strikers a more terrible blow than they
will be able to stand up under before
the strike is over. 1t looks as II this
movement was inspired by the crafty
political agents of the Democratic par
ty, which is desperately anxious to
make case against General Prospect
ty, who has been winning great many
victories in the industrial field during
the past four years. But It can In no
way discredit the present administra-
ton, and it will not help Bryan to the
presidency. 1t Is desperate and dar-
ing plot Of bunch Of conspirators
both in the Democratic party and the
labor organizations, the chief men In
which are known to be OF the Demo-
cratic faith. President Mitchell Is a
Democrat, and, while we would not
like to say that he might be susceptible
to the Establishments Of the leaders Of
the Democratic party and has yielded
for consideration to the anything to
beat Mckinley" cry, the circumstances
look suspicious and might not with
stand too close scrutiny.
Why are the Democratic newspapers
so greatly concerned in the strike
Are they seeking to make political cap
ital for their party? or course we all
believe that this strike was planned
and inspired by the Democratic board
of strategy and that 1t figured Oh
bringing it about just at this time with
view to arraying the common people
against the Republican party and de.
feating it by this sort Of an appeal to
their bascr passions and their ig-
norance of the real conditions. They
are relying upon the efficacy Of the
unspoken lie that the trusts are re-
sponsible for throwing $4,000 men out
Of employment and putting up the
price Of coal.
1t Won't Elect Bryan.
1t is a shrcwd, desperate game. but
the players have overreached them
selves. 1t won't elect Bryan, and it
won't hurt Mckinley. The Democratic
party isn't smart enough to fool some
of the people half Of the time nor oil
the people all of the time" and it can'
not divert attention from the vital Is.
sues in this campaign by precipitating
coal famine and posing as the cham
pion OF the workingman. The chain
gang system and the slave system II
vogue in the south are both Of Demo
cratic origin, and the victims OF these
systems are negroes and are In an i'll
finitcly worse condition industrially
than all the miners in the nation
When the Democratic party attempts
to inauguratc reforms, it should first
wash it's hands Of the dirt and filth
which is on them before engaging tc
exploit itself as the avant coureur Of
industrial reform. -s.
The Democrats Of the south, the EN-
ploying classes, are robbing the negro
laborcrs like pickpockets and doing II
by law, which makes the robbery the
more reprehensible and disgusting
The Democratic party Of the north Il
culpable because it winks at these
frauds committed upon the negroes OF
the south by its party without word
Of protest or censure. The sympathy
of the Democratic press for the strik'
ers in Pennsylvania is almost as sin
cere as that which it expresses In tear
full tones for the poor Filipinos.
Interests Of the workingmen.
And yet during the period Of Cleve'
lands administration, when the De-
mocracy had every opportunity to help
the workingman, there were more
shops, mills and factories closed entire
~ or working OH half time than there
have been Mt any subsequent period,
What guarantees have the working
men of the country that similar con-
dition Of industrial depression will not
characterize the administration Of VIII.
liam Jennings Bryan If the American
people arc foolish enough to elect him
to the presidency?
But the American people have not
yet lost their reason or their common
sense, nor have they forgotten how to
discriminate between demagogue
and an honest, straightforward man.
The Old story.
The best answer we have yet heard
to the Democratic query which is pro-
pounded whenever a white man in the
south says he is in favor OF equality OF
rights for the ncgro-yiz, Would yoD let
yOur daughter marry n "DiGgcr:''-V