The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-24
A WHEELING DRUMMER

The Travelling Men are Not Out Of
Employment, Democratic Orators
to the Contrary Notwithstanding.
To the Editor OF the Intolligenccr.
SlR:-Having noticed that number
of partisan newspapers are giving con-
siderable space to the alleged exodus of
commercial travellers from the sound
money party to that which assumes to
blame the present administration for
the position taken by certain trusts or
combinations In reducing expenses by
decreasing the number of their travel
ing statesmen. and that this matter was
being dwclt upon by Democratic spell
binders, decided to make an invests
CATION on my trip through Ohio, Indi.
ana and Kentucky.
find the actual state OF affairs really
the other way The shoe is on the other
foot, so to speak. 1t is true that there
are some drummers talking trusts"
but l observe they are the same men
who,' four years ago. talked free silver,
and helped to talk 1t to Its grave. The
large majority of the travelling sales
men are supporting. and Will vote for,
the sound money champion, William
Mckinley, knowing that the number of
statesmen who have been dispensed
with by the trusts. even if the admin
lstration can be indirectly to blame,
which Is not admitted, Is great deal
more than overcome by the number
given employment by reason of this
great prosperity which we have all en-
1oyed since our last national election.
They argue that II Bryan should, by
any possibility, be elected, the sales
men who lost their positions by the
formation of the trusts. and who have
been unable to secure other employ
mcnt either on the rond. or otherwise,
II there are any such, will be largely
reinforced by others who IRE now en-
ployed by concerns which cannot be
classed ms trusts. And, further this
would be n calamity Indeed, rs q large
number OF men have been on the rond
so long and so continuously, they are
not fitted for any other kind OF en-
ployment. and would, In case OF Bry-
ans election, and the loss of their pres
ent positions. be In sad plight, In
deed. There is n demand in nearly
every discussion In which I have taken
part. or been listener, for clear ex-
planatlon' OF the connection between
the formation and manipulation OF
trusts" and the Republican adminls-
tration, and I must confess n satisfac-
tory explanation has not been given.
These nre conservative views, and have
not. been arrived at hastily. and are
shared by very large proportion Of
drummers, merchandise brokers and
hotel proprictors with whom I have
lost no opportunity 10 talk on the sub
ject. I1si
l thought when I left home that mat
tiers political were pretty warm. hut I
find they are warmer In this state.
have only been In Kentucky a'llttle less
than week. but have covered conBid-
cradle territory. The bis fight Ia on tho
governlshp, and It looks like Yerkes
Will be the winner. In fact, It Is claim
cd by the Republican side that he will
run from 5000 to 10000 ahead OF his
ticket. md / am informed. some con-
servative Democrats concede this will
be the case. As to the national ticket.
1t Is unquestionublc that Mckinley will
carry the state. The figures arc being
placed Mt from 5000 to $4,000, but 1t viii
probably he about 5000 or 5000. Four
years nGo I stated that Kentucky would
so for Mckinley, and the result fulfill
cd my prophecy. - , y -
Yours respectfully.
WHEELING DRUMMER.
| g. pnrtu npt = . 3 . d