Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-10-11

President Mckinley VIII At
tempt to Stem the Tide.


strIke-WhOIe Country Is
to the Dangers of ImPerialism-De-
mocrncy's Prospects Very Bright.
Especial Washington letter.
President Mckinley will return to
Canton. A strong effort will be made
to revive the front porch campaign.
Mckinley realizes that Bryan Is max
ing thousands of votes by his epigram-
matte, clear cut and forceful speeches.
The drift is plainly Democratic.
Something must be done to stem the
tide. President Mckinley won't make
any votes by his front porch speeches,
because he will only talk to those al
ready committed to his cause. but he
will feel better to be busy. 1t is very
harassing to attend to business at the
White House and feel that the country
is passing adverse judgment on the adj
ministration of the past four years.
When at Canton. the President can
get his mind away from the Chinese
situation. He can do the ostrich act
and by hiding his head in the sand fat
ter himself into the belief that the
country does not know what he Is do
ing in China.
Already the Chinese expedition has
cost the country over S10.000.0O0. and
for what? Our citizens were rescued
several weeks ago. The troops are not
to be withdrawn except to the coast.
and Mckinley hopes that a reelection
will leave him free to take part in the
partitiOning Of China. The people,
however, understand this latest devel-
opment of Imperialism and militarism.
The country is o threatened with
a serious domestic disturbance. Some
thing must be wrong with the full din
ner pail when over 10000 miners 60
on strike in the anthracite region OF
Pennsylvania.
The fact is that these men average
about 90 cents a day and about four
days work in the week. For months
they have been pleading with the oper-
ators for living wages. They have Of
fered to submit their case to arbitra-
ton. The operators have refused their
request.
The coal combination really doesn't
car very much if the men do go on
strike. The coal output this year ap-
prOximates 56.UO0.0OO tons. The pro-
duction In August alone was $4,000
tons over the same month last year.
The coal barons will amply put the
price of coal up. They already an
pOunce IN advance of 81 a ton. So a
strike really means millions in their
pockets. because 1t gives them an ex-
cuSe to squeeze the consumer,
1t Is a striking answer to the Repub.
lican prosperity" argument that right
In the midst of the campaign these
thousands of miners should declare:
w might as well staFve idle ~
working"
1t is starvation for the men anyhow
unless public sentiment can compel the
coal operators TO pay decent wages.
The conditions in Pennsylvania are
terrible. The public will be shocked
to learn under what circumstances
these men and their families have been
dragging out an existence.
Hanna would have given a good big
alice Of his campaign fund to have de-
ferred the strike until after election.
But the operators are so secure Ia their
monopoly that they would not nuke
the slightest concession to the men.
They %eallously told Hanna they be-
iieved bis predictions Of q few months
ago that Mckinley would be reelected
without trouble, and they really didn't
see why a presidential election should
interfere with their private affairs.
This attitude is an emphatic remind
er that the trusts and combinations
merely regard the administration as
their too. They do not propose to
take advice from Hanna. They merely
dictate their desires to him and expect
to see them carried out.
II 81 well for the people tn eon.fd-
err his strike and decide whether
they can afford 40 have another fo1r
ears of n trust controlled admins.
The prospects, of Democratic success
grow brighter every day. The con-
science OF the country is aroused. The
republican policy Of sarcasm and eva-
sion does not satisfy the voters. The
facts as to the conduct of this admins
tration cannot be concealed.
Imperialism persists in Being a live
issue in spite of Republican efforts to
put the silver scare to the front. Az
Bryan said. a question like imperial
ism that affects the very foundations
OF government is much more important
than some y sSible financial legislation
which can To changed by any congress
IT not satisfactory to the people.
Now the Republicans are irving IN
make the pecple believe that the cleo
ton of Bryan will immediately disturb
the financial system of the country.
They neglect to mention the very obvi.
Gus fact that no matter II BRYAN IA
elected and with him a Democratic
house the present congress has still the
short session in which to amend tie
gold standard bill in any manner il
pleases.
They also neglect TO point out that
the senate cannot possibly get a Demo-
cratic majority until two years hence
ana not then unless the people prefer
H. The whole ReDublinaD oorrso a,