The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-31
MANY REPUBLICANS
SUPPORTING BRYAN.
Illinois Banker Announces That He
Has Abandoned Mckinley
and Imperialism.
GERMANS ARE STAMPEcING.
DisaffectiOn Among Illinois Repub-
leans Brightens Bryan's Pros
pect of Carrying the State
business Mans Views.
GERMANS ARE STAMPEDING.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Springfield. ILL., July ao.-The slump OF
Republicans from Mckinley and the Re
publican party this year begins to look like
a procession. In 1892 Will County gave a
Democratic majority. and ever since the
Republican majorities have been enormous.
This Is accounted for principally on the
ground that the immense steel mills and
barb wire and other factories have been
organized and dominated by Republican su
perintendents and managers. The work.
ingmen have been coerced and threatened
with lockouts and reductions in wages I'M
til they believed starvation stared them in
the face IL they voted the Democratic
ticket.
| recall the fact that in 1895 stampede
Of the rolling mill employees was started
among the men themselves for the Demo-
cratic ticket. for most of them are Demo-
Gratis at heart, and to hold them in line
the formal announcement was made that
there would be a reduction in wages. This
was about a week or ten days before the
election. and the directors of the steel
works put up a pitful plea of small profits
and unproductive contracts.
The influence of the Republican leaders
In the State and nation was brought to bear
on the rolling mill magnates and the result
was that the wage scale was not reduced
and the men. as usual. voted the Republic
an ticket. They had forgotten all about
their Democracy In the face of the graver
danger OF reduced salaries and a probable
shutdown of the works.
But Republicans who are removed from
the steel mills cannot be reached by threats
and coercion. The east end of Viii County
furnishes d case IN point.
Republican Banker for bryan,
Mr. NJ. c. Collins Is a Peotone banker and
a hfe-long Republican. He was a MEMBER OF
the ThiiIy-second General Assembly WI,
Supervisor OF feotone Township Tor many
years ana chairman Of the board for one
term. In 1885 he came within two votes OF
defeating NIiiiam Oaell VI Wilmington Tor
the State Senate in the Republican Conven-
ton.
MIR. Collins announced recently that he
would support and vote for Bryan ana the
Democratic ticket.
The declaration caused more political ex-
citement than VIII County has had Tor
many years.
Reasons for the Change.
My reason Tor coming out Tor Bryan"
said Mr.. Collins, lis that consider his Do
sttlon On imperialism and expansion right
and believe that issue to be the most I'M
portant one now before the people tins cam
p3i8n.
Il have no sympathy whatever with the
effort TO create a colonial system for Amer
lea and In making one nation subject to an
other The present poncy vi the sichiniey
In establishing d colonial
system In the Philippines nation that can
not become a state and that We do not want
in the Union with Its millions Of voters hep
Ing to elect our ruler. is radically wrong
1T is q radical departure from the princi- |
pies of the Declaration Of independence and |
The foundation principles Of our Republic"
Alexander AbandOns Mckinley.
Following closely on the heels VI the Col
Inns announcement came another from Will |
County. Like Collins. MIR. James ii. Alex
ander of LOckport has been a lifelong Re-
publican. He is president Of the Will Coun- |
ty Farmers Institute, and the most prom
Inent and wealthiest farmer in Lockport |
Township.
AZ the Republican Convention two years !