The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-08-10
The Laboring Man.


tion of the laboring man TO public
gaze and deplored with tears in their
eyes, his awful condition.
They depicted in glowing colors the
awful suffering existing among the
laborers OF the country and their fam
lies, on account Of the scarcity of
work and the small wages prevailing.
They told us the only remedy was to
admit the free coinage of silver, by
which method money would become
plentiful and wages would be doubled.
The Republicans did not deny the con-
dition, but had another remedy.
We all remember the sad plight of
the laboring man during Clevelands
reign and know that millions of idle
men and their families, who were will
ling to work for any kind of wages
they could secure, were unable to find
employment. We have not forgotten
what an army of men were tramping
over the country eager to do any kind
of work for morsel of bread. We
we'll remember that then there were
dozen men for every job offered, at
any wages they could get, and have
not forgotten the free soup houses
that were established in all the large
cities where idle laborers were fed
from day to day by the charity of the
wealthy. Neither have we forgotten
the charity organizations in the small
er towns where assistance was render
ed the families of strong able-bodied
men, simply because there was no
work they could secure which would
enable them to support their families.
How is it now? Do you know of
single bodied man anywhere who
wants work and can'tg get il? Do you
know of single family that contains
an able bodied worker willing to work
that is suffering for the necessities of
life? Do you not know that every la
borer in the country is employed, at
good wages, and that the soup houses
are closed and the local clarity So
cieties are all out of business, except
in cases of sickness or some other &C
cidental cause? Can you point out
single family of a laborng man that is
not better fed and better clothed than
it was three years ago? DO you sup
pose there is single laboring man in
the country who would like to change
present conditions for those of the
free soup house and tramp period?
The Democratic party has now
changed its tactics with labor. 1t
still sheds hypocritical tears over his
condition and tells him he is very
much abused citizen. 1t does not
now, however, try tc influence his vote
for the Democratic candidates on the
ground that he is not getting sufficient
wages, or on the ground that he is not
being employed. Oh, no. that would
be too transparent; but they are tell
ing him that the tariff and the trusts
have increased the cost of living to
such an extent that he is likely to
starve, that he can't make living for
his family, etc.
Does any labOrIng man believe such
rot? viii any laborer who passed
through the trying years Of Democrat
ic authority be deceived by this false
show of friendship? The Democrats
presume greatly upon the ignorance
of the laboring man and the treachery
of his memory. They think he has
forgotten their promises of the cam
paign OF '92 in which they induced
the laboring vote of the country to be
cast for Cleveland under valn prom
Use of a betterment of their condition.
Did the bettered conditions follow?
Did the Democrats redeem the pledges
that secured large number of labor
votes for Cleveland? You all know
they did not and all know the very re-
verse of what was promised followed.
The Republicans told you four years
ago that if they were successful in the
campaign they would open up the fac
tories, rekindle the fires of the dead
furnaces, and give you all work at in
creased wages. You believed. them,
as you believed the Democrats four
years before. Did they betray you as
the Democrats had done? Let your
improved condition answer. Be not
betrayed again by the glowing prom
ises of the willy serpent. Be not de-
ceived by false friends who have de-
ceived you once and who will do so
again simply that the leaders may be
enabled TO stand at the pie counter.
Why need you care IL your living
does cost you little more IL the same
power that caused your living to be
higher that the farmer who supplies
the bulk OF it might become more
prosperous, puts into your hands the
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