Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-23
PLAY THE LAST CARD.
TRUST MANAGERS WORK AN
OLD SCHEME.
Claim They Are Taking Contracts
Subject to Cancellation if Bryan Is
Elected Democrats Meet Monopoiies
on Their Own Ground.



taking contracts subject to cancella-
ton il Bryan is elected. 1t is not an
entirely new scheme. but it is being
worked more progressively and thor
oughly than ever before. Employees
are shown these orders and threatened
with lack of work if Mckinley is de-
feated
The Democratic voters propose to
meet the trusts an their own ground
There is already a widespread move
ineut against buying goods from any
trust which attempts to coerce its EN-
ployes into voting for Mckinley. As
fast as the trusts send out these nc
tices of contract void if Bryan is
elected" the workmen pass along the
word to their comrades and there are
now thousands of voters of all par
ties eager to show their resentment at
his high-handed proceeding of the
trusts, by not purchasing their goods.
The trust absolutely needs consum-
ers for its products, but there are mgny
trust products which the people can
do without until after election, in order
10 give lesson. Workmen are not go
ing to be scared this time as they were
in SO. They know that their employ
ers will continue to do business as long
as they find it profitable, no matter who
is elected
There are two points to be specially
noted in relation to this clause which
trust concerns are putting to their con-
fracts. Ia the first place they are send
ing agents all over the country to place
bogus contracts. The orders with the
coercion clause are, in many cases,
placed only for campaign purposes.
There is no intention of having them
filled even if Mckinley is elected. Bona
fide orders would not be numerous at
this time, because there is q depression
in all branches of trade There is not
one-f0urth the demand for manufac-
1ured articles outside the absolute nee
essaries of life, that there was year
and . half ago Workmen can rest as
sured that vote for Bryan viii not
lessen their chances of immediate or
future employment A vote for Nc
Kinley In SO was followed by a year
of the worst industrial depression ever
known in this country Then, too,
number of manufacturing concerns are
threatening TO close permanently" if
their workmen help to elect Bryan. The
cold fact is that no business firm closes
down while it is making money. No
political campaign is allowed to inter
fere with the accumulation of profits.
But there is q shrewd scheme concealed
under this threat of closing. Many
manufacturing concerns have produced
more goods than they could sell. 1t
would be distinct business advantage
for them to close down for few weeks
just now, so as to work off the sur
plus. Trusts have put the prices of
goods so nigh that the masses had to
consume less hence the overproduction.
The refusal all along the lone to pay
better wages, meant in the end that
the workman had nothing with which
30 make himself profitable consumer
IL will be remembered that in '96
many of the firms that threatened to go
out of business if Bryan were elected,
actually did make assignments after
Mckinley was successful The result
would have been the same, no matter
who was elected. once a firm became
insolvent
There is a general revolt of wage
workers and consumers against trusts
A stand has TO be made sometime If the
privilege of a free ballot is to be kept in
tact. This is the campaign in which
the trusts will get their object lesson. 1t
lis going TO be severe one, and the re-
fusal 10 buy trust manufactured goods
is likely TO be felt long after election.
The coal miners are displaying re-
gnarkable fortitude and perseverance.
Alanna thought they would jump at 10
Der cent advance in wages and forget
that recognition of their union was
essential If the advance was to last be-
yond election day.
The miners have learned by bitter ex-
nerience that they have to meet organ
cation with the same instrument. Their !
union is very feeble compared with the
coal and railroad combine. but il is in
auitely better than trying to deal with
the trust as individuals.
The miners are displaying great fortl.
Jude ia thus refusing an ante-electlon
brihe 4 man has TO be hungry To re-
aslze the sacrifice involved in turning |
away from meal when il is offered.
These men, however, are firmly con
WINGED that their condition will become |
worse and worse unless public opinion
and a Democratic President forces the |
coal trust to do something more for |
them than carry out Hanna's campaign |
plans.
Wage workers and. in fact. all classes |
Of humane and right minded citizens.
ARE applying the logic of the miners sit |
nation TO their own ease They feel |
that al the trusts are getting ready to !
cut wages and lengthen the hours OF |
labor and put up the price of products |
ON this account the miners are re- /
ceiving much generous assistance. They |
are fighting a battle against a trust for /
the whole country Indications are not |
wanting that they will hold out for |
months If necessary. in order TO secure |
some Improvement in their conditions |
which will be permanent.
The Republican campaign press bu- |
Teau is trying TO make the workingmen |
believe that President Mckinley is a 1
union man.
In 1899 President Mckinley was ten-
porarily made an honorary member OF /
the Rrjcklayers' Union. on the occa- i
sion of his placing the corner stone OF i
she Federal building in Chicago.
The Republicans are sending out an I
elaborate story OF the ceremony. Ii is
proving a boomerang Union labor is 1
pointing TO the Presidents approval OF /
martial law in Idaho and his neglect to /
have his Congress PISS any labor leg
islaricn The ment.jn of the Brick /
layer incident has SEX the whole labor /
press 10 analyzlng President NcIic- |
gey'S non-union attitude toward labor.
Hanna the Whole Thing.
Mr.. Bryan called Stteution TO the ne /