La Junta tribune., 1900-10-17
a TRUST sMAsnERs HOLIDAY.

The Democratic party" said Nj.
Bryan. in his Indianapolis speech OF
acceptancc, has no desire to discour.
ase Industry" Mr.. Bryan's repeated
assertion OF sympathy with the farmer
and the working man are well known.
Such are Mr.. Bryan's professions. Yet
~ the direct result Of Mr.. Bryan's ef.
forts Nebraska Is threatened with the
loss of Its second largest manufactur-
ing industry using raw material from
the farm.
In 1887 reaidents Of Nebraska City
organized the ArHo Starch company
and built factory. The concern has
been continuously prosperous For
many years 1t has given steady en-
ployment to nearly 800 persons. paid
them each year from $4,000 to $780,
600 in wages, and bought each year
LOCO, 900 bushels Of corn from the
neighboring farmers.
In 1899 the Argo Company sold it
plant for cash TO the United States
Starch Company, which In turn sold II
to the National Starch Company. The
Areo and United companies divided
their assets and were dissolved. Their
shareholders had made . good profit
and were perfectly satisfied. The fac.
tory continued in operation. II stilI
working with full force, and neither it,
employees nor the farmers who sell II
corn make any complaint
But Mr.. Bryan was anxious to give
the country an object lesson" So be
stirred his friend Smythe. the Populist
attorney general OF Nebraska. to begin
action against the National starch
Company as q trust. II this suit should
tt,n
closed. 300 people thrown out of work,
and the neighborinH farmers deprived
Of an assured market for 1,O00. 900
bushels OF corn each year. Ruin stares
Nebraska City In the face, for one
third OF Its population II directly in
terested In the starch factory. Con-
sequenily the people Of that unfortun-
ate town raised such a clamor that on
Wednesday evening Mr.. Bryan went
there TO excuse and defend his attack
upon them.
He told them that they ought to be
glad TO sacrifice their property and en-
ployment to the cause OF trusf-smash-
Ing, md rebuked them for defending .
.'trvst. Then he consoled them with
this promise: ''If, by the aid Of the peo-
pic OF this county and state. am made
president. will do all can to dissolve
the starch trust and leave the Argo an
independent Nebraska City company" !"
He did not explain how he could COM
pei 4 dissolved corporation to resume
business, or how he could force Its
former shareholders to operate . fac
tory which they sold at q profit and
were paid for more than . year ago.
That the people OF Nebraska City per-
mitted Mr.. Bryan to speak without any
Interruption proves them to be strictly
Ia aw-ablding and courteous.
The policies Of former presidential
candidates have been assailed ~ tend
ing to destroy industry and throw men
out Of work. Mr.. Bryan is the nrst
presidential candidate to take direct
measures to deprive farmers OF an as
sured market and to throw 300 work
ing men and women into the street.
The American people have In Mr..
Bryan's attempt to ruin Nebraska City
an object lesson" In his love for the
farmer and the laborer which they
should not forget. For such deliber-
ate assault upon the work and wages
Of hundreds OF people, merely to make
a trust-smasher's holiday, recent indus
trial history affords no parallel.-Ch Chi
cago Inter Ocean.