The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-16
Circulation Statement.
The Labor Vote.

publican managers to organize the la.oi
vote Of the country. To put it in another
way, we might say that neither party yet,
by formal proclamation or INFORMAL susses-
tion, has made direct appeal to the wage
earners for their suffrages. OF course, this
will lie done after while by both parties.
and the workman, always looking fer light
and leading, may appreciate at this early
stage of the campaign few helpful hints.
In the first place, the term labor vote is
too comprehensive easily to be defined by
meets and bounds. Every man who earns
his living in the sweat of his brow is la
borer Every man whose sole capital is his
muscle. his skill. and his willingness to
work is a laboring man in the sense in
which the politicians Use the term. Amer
lean Industrial life is so differentiated that
We believe the definition here given is ap-
propriate for the purpose in view. The
number Of American voters that can be-
classified under this definition is not known
with anything like satisfactory accuracy.
though that it mounts up into the mi,iions
there can be no doubt. Whose, then, Or
ganizes this vote and throws it so,idly for
his candidate, that candidate will be e,e L
ed-provided. of course. the other elemt
of voters follow their natural political
predictions.
But the problem is the organization of
the labor vote. No attenp; yet mace in y at
direction has been successful. The failures
are SO many and SO complete that one is
tn ha Of Ia
undertaking. Still, the issues OF this cam
paign are so plainly defined, so sharp y
drawn, so lucidly enunciated that IT strikes
US there should be no trouble il oGgan.z ng
the labor vote solidly around the Demo-
cratic standard bearer. Indeed. we a.e in.
clined TO believe that already the wage
carriers of the country see where their in
terests lie as between the two great parties
and are preparing TO rally to the support OF
MIR. Bryan. Doubters may. with some sho y
of reason, say that the work people tad
this opportunity four years ago. ald that
they failed 10 utilize it. But both the liz
dustrial and political conditions OF the
country four years ago were vastly differ
ent from what they are today. The cam
Z
education. In that year the men OF Drawn
and muscle had TO be taught their A c.
in politics. Having thus obtained the rudi-
ments of an education they have had four
years in which TO finish the course and I'll
the signs indicate that tens of thousands
who matriculated in the school of which
Bryan was the master have come out full
fedged graduates-at least so far as the
Issues of this campaign are concerned. If,
therefore, much larger proportion O. The
labor vote is not cast for Bryan this year
than was cast in 1896, we shall be prone TO
endorse the contention OF the cynics that
something more reprehersible than igncr-
ance is responsible for its going wrong.
The Democratic platform is not a bid
for the labor vote. but rather warning
TO the working people that if they fail this
time TO aid the reform elements 20 hiring
the Republic back TO the old landmarks
they may not have another chance to do
so. The platform does not say they will
not have another chance, but it does say
that they may not have another. With
the lights before them this of Itself ought
10 be sufficient TO align the wage earners
of the nation on the side of the combina
ton of reform forces that are battling for
the Republics life. Certainly no laboring
man worthy of exercising the highest right
of American citizenship should need now
10 be told that but for the protective tariff
systematic embodiment of Republican
nj he. 5,tn
preston of McKinleyism-there would be
no trusts in those products of the farm.
the mine. and factory that are peculiarly
American. Unwittingly this admission
has clipped from some of the greatest
trust magnates in the land who have. dur
ing the past year. been called before
Government commission formed for the
special purpose of investigating the trust
question. The Democratic platform not
only declares explicitly for the destruction
OF criminal trusts. but 1t also proclaims the
sound and proper doctrine OF the abolition
Of tariffs from all articles controlled by
trusts. This point is very easily determin-
able. SO that there need be no auibbling
about what should and what should mt
have the unjust benefits of a protective
tariff when the Democrats get control of
the Government OF course. one of the
and Congress would be the reduction of the
present burdensome tariff system to the
Democratic basis-which is now. as il has
been from the foundation OF the Govern
ment, tariff for revenue only. But pre-
ceding this action would be the immediate
removal of the tariff from every article of
domestic production which is now includ-
ed in those gigantic Industrial combina-
lions that are hobbling the energies of the
nation by controlling the markets. Great
ing an artificial law Of supply and demand
and beating down the prices of labor all
thoroughly exploited since the last cam
paign that we do not believe il is now nee
cssary 10 produce detailed arguments
backed by facts and figures, to convince
any considerable number OF American pao-
pie Of the truth Of the contention here SC,
TORN or OF the correctness Of the Demo
rrstjc position. Not one word OF genuine
condemnation of the trusts is contained in |
the Republican platform. 1t is expected. |
Of course. that Republican orators will |
make lEsty ou;-r;es AGAINST the trusts |
AZ tae esinra.Sa 3.ceeeds ari breathe |
bloody threats OF determination aa.aias, |
them. But as Icing as the Republican party