Smyrna times., 1900-08-29
BUSINESS MEN
SOLID FOR M'KINLEY
OUTSPOKEN AGAINST BRYAN AND HIS POL,
ICY FROM MAINE TO TEXAS.
Views as Expressed by Prominent Public
Men From Different Parts OF the
Country.

Kinley and Roosevelt i'll this campaign
is perfectly obvious and is admitted
even by the Democratic leaders. From
all sections, from New York and Penn
sylvania, from New England, from the
middle west, from the far west, even |
from the south. the cry is the same: |
mo Bryan or Organism for us. Give |
us Mckinley again and continued |
prosperity! Bryans election would be
a national disaster and would produce
commercial panic!
But this very unanimity of sentiment
among the business classes is i'll itself
productive of very great danger-in
fact, one might say the only danger
menacing the Republican cause this
year. That danger, that insidious peril,
is OvercOnfidence. 1t was this over
confidence that reduced the Republican
majority in congress to such narrow
margin two years ago; and. unless 1t
be at once eradicated, it might easily
lead to the entire wiping out of that
majority and the defeat of the Repub-
lican national ticket next November.
These are not empty alarmist words.
They simply express the exact situa-
tiOn. If the business men awake to
realization of the facts, if they once
see what they desire is worth working
for and that unless they do work for
it they may lose it. the battle will be
won. Everybody acknowledges this;
the Democratic managers acknowledge
it, and they are beginning to put forth
all their energies with the object of
winning over to their side as much of
the business vote as possible, or to
divert it from the Republicans. The
continued apathy of the business men
is what the Democrats especially pray
for 1t is their best hOpe-their only
hope.
Can the business men not perceive,
will they not perceive. that the result
of the election is mainly in their hands,
and that unless they exert themselves
personally, as they did so manfully
four years ago, the Republican ticket
may be beaten after all? 1t is not
enough to be passively in favor of a
cause. In order to insure its success
its friends must work actively for that
success. History proves this abundant
~, and history is always repeating it.
self. Let the business men of America
remember what happened in 1884 and
in 1892 and beware lest it happen
again in 1900.
We present herewith a number of
opinions of typical business men from
all parts of the country. as-they have
been expressed in interviews held in
New York city during the last few
days 1t will be observed that a large
proportion of the persons interviewed
are Democrats, but that without eX'
ceptiOn they declare emphatically
against Bryan. Also it will be seen
how general is the fear lest the pre-
vailing Overcontidence among the bust
ness community may defeat the end
which is so unanimously desired, and
bring about the very result which bust
ness men everywhere would most de
plore.
There is no doubt about the interes
of the business man who has money o.
property to save, in this subject Of tn,
danger from Organism; whether h,
comes to New York from the north O
middle west or the south. the Orato
usually speaks of the interest Of tn
business men Of his section i'm the is
sue of currency. All fear apathy. es
pecially in the east, and are anxiOu
lest New York fail in the impendin
crisis. 'The people are not awake here
is their general opinion. and they eN
press their feelings very earnestl
about the matter. Some from tn
northwest are anxious about imperia
ism and greater trade in the east, BIT
most of them are disturbed that til
Bryanites should attempt to obscur
free silver when it is really the mai
issue.
Sentiment I'm Indiana.
c. T. Allison Of Spencer, Ind, is NAL
nger of the department store bushes
of Sadler Bros Mr. Allison. though
business man in every sense, keeps
close touch with politicians and cond
tiOns in Indiana. He said:
81 know perfectly we'll that the Der
Ocrats are preparing to dump mo-
money into Indiana this year than WI
ever before spent in our state in Il
Democratic party's life. Free silver
unpopular everywhere in the state al
business men appreciate the disast
that would follow Bryan's electio
They know that Bryan is bound hea
and soul to free silver. They kno
that free silver is the real issue
spite the attempts of campaign ma
ayers to hide it in a mass Of rubbi
called imperialism etc"
This is the statement of a busint
man who voted for Bryan in 1896. T
name is s. S. Harper of Philadelph
and he is manager of the Bed Ro
Dredging company, which does
bulk of it's business in the west.
said:
Il take little interest in politics,
the blindest of men must be cognizi
or the fact that times are good, q
therefore we should let we'll enou
alone. 1t would be hard to conce
that the election of Bryan will not