The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-04-28
From t !! \! WASHINGTON \ I |
EVA M'DONALD VALESH WRITES on
THE COMING POLITICAL ISSUES.
The I:uertO Rico and Occur d'Alene
Infnmfes as Factors to Bring
About McKinley'x Defeat The
Trusts Campaign PrOgranl-Ad-
miral Dewey the Tool Of Demo-
cratic COnspiratOrs.

Trusts Campaign PrOgram-Ad-
miral Dewey the Tool Of Dem9-
cratic COnspiratOrs.
True to it's traditions the Republi
can party has fastened carpet-bag
government upon Puerto Rico. For
nearly two years Puerto Rico has been
| under the military control of the Unit
ed States. The people have been found
to be orderly, peaceable, and eager for
American citizenship. The fact that
the island, which is about the size of
the state of Connecticut, has a popula-.
ton nearly 100000 larger than that
thickly settled and prosperous COM
/ monwealth, bears testimony to the in
dustry of it's inhabitants. It's leading
citizens are men, of education, intelli
gence and integrity. With their vastly
superior knowledge of island condi-
tions, they were exceptionally we'll fit
ted to establish thorough local self
government This aspiration has been
ruthlessly crushed and the way paved
| for government by officials appointed
from outside the island, non-residents,
having no direct interest in the islands
prosperity, and subject to exactly the
same influences which made of the car
pet-bag government of the south re-
proach to the republican party which
can never be wiped out.
The Republican party has also vio-
lated good faith and the constitution
by a tariff. No question has created
the anger and protests within the Re-
publican ranks that have arisen over
this miserable measure. Hundreds of
! thousands Of Republicans have had
| their eyes opened at last to the mean
| ing of the control which Mark Hanna
and Mckinley have upon the destinies
of the Republic. A revolt greater than
that of 1896 is impending.
Add to the anti-imperialists, who al
! ready number hundreds of thousands,
among those who have left the Repub-
lican party the enormous list of those
who resent the pro-British attitude of
the Administration, and these latter
accessions from the Puerto Rican af-
fair, and what hope can there be left
for McKinley's reelection?
During the debate Representative
Richardson, the Democratic leader, on
the floor of the House, covered the Re
n pub Leans with confusion by holding up
81 the two opinions prepared by Judge
II Magoon law clerk of the an 4 Depart
men and legal adyisor Saof Secretary
!. Isae IS Wa gaa
Ily the opposite viiey fors ler 1oc.
ument Secretary Root ndeaVoredsatC u tC
suppress and the. latter was issued il
st tits stead. Mr.. Richardson asked what
the country would think of a Secretary
of War who, under orders from the
White House, compelled his subordin.
ate to stultify himself by writing the
views and to all the authorities which
he had quoted. He threw further con-
fusion into the Republican ranks by
facing them with the charge of Pres
ident Schurman, of Cornell University
one of President McKinley's pet mem
bers of the Philippine commission, thai
the trusts had come down to Washing
ton and choked the Republican leaders
out Of their former free trade position
Political LOckOuts.
Preparations by the trusts to shut
down some time before election, to a
second time bulldoze their workmen
into supporting Mckinley, are already
on, the sugar trust having ordered all
it's factories to- ''store sugar." so as tc
make it ahead of the demand and then
close down. The same program can be
followed In a hundred different direc-
tions. The present production of pig
iron Is several thousand tons a week
above the demand: Enormous stores
of steel ignots, tin plate, glassware OF
every description, cotton goods and va
rious other textiles, lumber, hardware
and other articles controlled by trusts
are in process of accumulation. Work
men, get ready for the shut down
Save up your money and prepare for
the famine. The coal trust would like
to arrange for shut down but the big
strikes prevent.
The struggle promises to be protract-
!; ed. The miners stand a good show OF
winning in the end, because the de.
mand for coal is heavy and the oper.
III ators have not had an opportunity te
, accumulate the vast reserve store OF
r coal with yhich they are usually equip.
( ped to meet a strike.
The Homestead strike Of 1892 was an
!, important factor in defeating Harrison
and the labor troubles of 1900 will have
their effect upon the fortunes Of Nc.
ISinley., The industrial masses Of the
Igreat cities will have the use Of the
Military in Idaho to sustain the per.
init" system as an example of what the
Administration believes ought to be
) put into effect wherever labor troubles
t appear s.@
i Admiranl Dewey's Candidacy. :.
l Has been handled in a way to excite
Y the regret Of his friends. The small
: clique of gold Democrats who have
;, been promoting the Dewey boom coult
> all be put into a pullman car withou
crowding, and if the car went through
a. draWbridge the only loss to the Worlt
WouId be one Pullman car. II tn,
II TIan1Gnratic Marty were tn take an,