Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-24
PLAY THE LAST CARD.
TRUST MANAGERS WORK AN
OLD SCHEME.
Claim They Are Taking Contracts
Subject to Cancellation ii Bryan L.
Elected-Democrats Meet Monopolies
ON Their Own Ground.


Washington correspondents:
The trusts are playing their last and
most dangerous card in the campaign.
Nearly every trust In the country Is
taking contracts subject to cancella-
ton if Bryan Is elected. 1t is not an
entirely new scheme, but it is being
worked more aggressiyely and thor
pughly than ever before. employees
are shown these orders and threatened
with lack of work If Mckinley is de-
feated.
The Democratic voters propose to
meet the trusts on their own ground.
There is already a widespread move
ment against buying goods from any
trust which attempts to coerce Its en-
ployes into voting for Mckinley. As
fast as the trusts send out these no.
tees Of contract void IL Bryan is
elected" the workmen pass along the
word to their comrades and there are
now thousands of voters of all par
ties eager to show their resentment at
this high-handed proceeding Of the
trusts, by not purchasing their goods.
The trust absolutely needs consum-
ers for Its products, but there are many
trust products which the people can
10 without until after election, in order
to give lesson. Workmen are not 60
ting to be scared this time US they were
n '98. They know that their employ
ers will continue to do business as long
as they find 1t profitable, no matter who
is elected.
There are two points to be specially
noted in relation to this clause which
trust concerns are putting to their con-
tracts. In the first place they are send
ing agents all over the country to place
bogus contracts. The orders with the
coercion clause are, in many cases,
placed only for campaign purposes.
There is no intention Of having them
filled even If Mckinley is elected. Bona
fide orders would not be numerous at
this time, because there is a depression
in all branches of trade. There is not
one-f0urth the demand for manufac-
tured articles outside the absolute nee
essarles of life, that there was year
and half ago. Workmen can rest as
sured that vote for Bryan will not
lessen their chances Of immediate or
future employment. A vote for Me-
Kinley in '98 was followed by year
Of the worst industrial depression ever
known in this country. Then, too, a
number Of manufacturing concerns are
threatening to close permanently" II
their workmen help to elect Bryan. The
cold fact is that no business firm closes
down while 1t is making money. No
political campaign is allowed to inter-
fere with the accumulation of profits.
But there is shrewd scheme concealed
under this threat of closing. Many
manufacturing concerns have produced
more goods than they could sell. 1t
would be distinct business advantage
for them to close down for few weeks
just now, SO as to work off the sur
plus. Trusts have put the prices of
goods SO nigh that the masses had to
consume less. hence the overproduction.
The refusal all along the lone to pay
better wages. meant in the end, that
the workman had nothing with which
to make himself a profitable consumer.
1t will be remembered that in 90
many of the firms that threatened to 70
out OF business IL Bryan were elected,
did make assignments after