The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-11
BRYAN ON PROSPERITY.
Democratic Reply TO the Full Dinner Pail
Argument.

Special to The Washington Post.
Wheeling, W. Va, Sept. 6-FrOm this
time until the close of the campaign Mr.
| Bryan proposes 10 attack what he calls
the fictitious prosperity of the Mckinley
administration. He beg'n to-day in mis-
speech at Clarksburg 10 insist that the
prosperity argument of the Republicans
WAS not solid one, and he will emphasize
his assertions as the campaign progresses.
II was rather curious that he should have
chosen Clarksburg as the place in which
to maintain that the present prosperity is
not real for the little West Virginia town
is thriving place, with new factories in
| course of erection, a new short line rail-
road being constructed. and every otEer
evidence of good times being manifest.
The local committee had, however, in
/ formed MIN that the Republicans were
meeting every Democratic argument with
the reply that a change of administration
meant a disastrous blow TO material de-
velopment and universal employment.
Within the sound, therefore, of the fac
tory whistles, Mr.. Bryan endeavored TO
counteraet the Republican efforts to win
votes.
Prosperity" SAFE Mr.. Bryan, address
| ing a crowd of 1000 people who had gath
cred upon a wooded hillside in the city's
suburb, 'like charity, covers a multitude
of sins. the Republicans have given you
the gold standard, have allowed you to be
victimized by trusts. and will impose a
! large standing army upon you, and when
you raise your voice in protest the only
excuse they offer you is prosperity"
Prosperity Oniy Shia Deep.
In order TO prove that even prosperity
was not real, Mr.. Bryan insisted that the
Improvement In business conditions was
not permanent; that failures were incross-
ing; that the prices for farm products had
gone down, and the purchasing power OF
money was not as great now as il was
| four years ago. THE Republican party,
/ Mr. Bryan said. has not raised the price
| of what the farmer sells. but 1t has raised
the prices of what ne buys" Not only
! this, but Mr.. Bryan told of the strikes
| which had occurred or were threatened by
shut-downs which had been ordered, and
! said that starvation would face the labor
| ing man Just as soon as the little store OF
savings was exhausted. Having drawn
this picture, he uttc-5d the following sen
tence: "The ATTIC to multiply the
standing army can 49,. but two excuses
Ii is either to help some men exploit in
| foreign lands. or else 10 keep down IN
| this country by force the discomfort thai
! ought 10 be cured by legislation"
This sentence. so ucmlstakabie In It's IN
timat!on 20 the woTkingmen that they nae
| 10 fear the strong arm of the military
was applauded, but not 10 marked ge'
gree. Mr.. Bryan followed it with ths
| charge that there could be no real pres
perity In a trust-rldden country, and his
arraignment of the trusts evidently touch
ed 4 popular chord. Are trusts good
/ tiing@' he asked. mo" NO" came ID
/ a spontaneous, almost thunderons, chorus
I 'If they are" he continued, why doe:
/ the Republican platform denounce them
/ Are they a bad thing?" ne asked again
Yes" was the loudly-Yolced reply. '-Ther
/ Why" he inquired, has the Republican
party allowed more trusts 10 be organized
in the last three years than were ever or
| ganized beforeT'
Mr.. Bryan believes that a denial OF the
| existence of prosperity Is rot only cor
rect but that business conditions will be-
1 come so much worse in the next two
| months as 10 prove the truth of his state
/ ments. In expressing these views he II
/ following his own judgment, and Is espe-
/ cial!y paving the way. in case Of a Dem
ocratic victory IN November. for asserting
[ when the era OF depression comes, that its
/ beginning occurred in the Republican ad-
/ minlstraiion. There has been no opportu-
/ nifty yet 10 judge OF tae effect OF his ar.
gument upon the voters. but i would
seem that any efiort TO convince TIE