The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-10-30
COERCION RAMPANT FOR Nc
KINLEY.


applied in the north to the merchants,
operatives, clerks, commercial travel
lers, etc. A dispatch from Chicago
dated 25th to the Baltimore Sun says
that the only hope the republicans have
of carrying Illinois is ceorcion-com-
pelling employees to sacrifice all their
manhood in obedience to the harsh
mandates of the bosses, the rich en-
ployers and the Mckinley tools of in
fanny. The dispatch tells of the vigor-
Gus efforts the republicans are making
to capture that state, so important for
Mckinley. They will hesitate at moth
ing, will stand upon no fear of doing
wrong or practicing Infamous oppres-
sion. There is a determined effort to
sink the laboring man to complete and
silent slavery and steal from him every
vestige of political rights. The repub-
ncans claim the state by $4,000 and
more. The dispatch says:
"But if the republican leaders ac-
tually have sincere belief in the truth
q. of the stupendous claims they are pa
rading before the country 1T seems
rather strange they deem it necessary
to be working with might and main
q to secure what they declare they al
ready possess. Heaven knows they
, worked hard enough in 1896, but they
= are working much harder now. In all
their bOasting in 1896 they were secret
-ly in panicky and apprehensive frame
of mind down to the counting of the
votes. This is precisely their condi-
ton at present. They are boasting
that Bryan will be defeated worse than
Greeley in 1872; they are offering heavy
wagers at long odds, but they will not
draw a long breath of relief until, il
such shall be the case, the count de-
-monstrates the truth of their claims
The democrats have scarcely any
campaign funds. So high runs the ex-
.citement in Chicago that last Sunday
between forty and fifty political meet
ings were held, and equally divided be-
tween the two parties. They call this
most inaptly Christian nation" 1t
is far more heathen than Christian.
We do not believe the south has fallen
yet so low as to do as Chicago does,
whereof we rejoice. Read this and
wonder, for it was on Sunday: "One
minister at a democratic meeting said
he could prove that President McKin-
tie of Manila that it would have been
a good thing if Dewey had sailed away
and left the island
1t is hoped that the great labor strikes
will help the democrats. The dispatch
says.
MANY thousand mechanics and skill
ed Iaborers have been out of employ
ment for months, and 1t is said there
has scarcely been a house put up In
. Chicago since early summer. This has
inevitably produced discomfort
The labor unions are not pleased with
President Mckinley because when they
demanded that the contractors Tor the
new postoffice building should employ
. only union men the secretary or the
treasury. acting under directions OF
Mr.. Mckinley refused to interfere. The
Chicago working man has not had a
full dinner pail"
That the correction game is working
there are abundant signs. a few days
since the Illinois Steel company "shut
DOWN in several of its shops, thus
throwing 1000 men out of employment.
Scarcity of work is given as the rea-
son, which seems very singular in this
remarkable era of Mckinley pros
perity.
Eight or ten great stores allowed a
republican poll of all employees. They
, were told in advance that all the en-
ployers-the bosses-were heart and
; soul for Mckinley. The dispatch states
that as "an inevitable consequence the
poll resulted in favor Of Mckinley by
: about eight to ten. The poll was car
Sried to the headquarters Of the Nation