The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-05
THE EVENING TINES WASHINGTON MONDAY. NOVEMBER
Mr.. BRYAN LABOR'S HOPE
Baltimore Leader Discusses the
Workingmen's Rights.
Elk srience~ of the Past Four Years
Has Taught Them How to Vote.
The Republican lshonts for Pros
peTity-The Recent Strike of the
Goa! Miners-The Eight-Hour Bill.

~ hhHCFSs-Jhe Ef<-EEOur blfk.
BALTIMORE, Nov Edward Hirsch.
the well-known labor leader who has
been three times President of the BaIti-
more Federation of Labor, and President
of the Workingmen's Association, IN
interview regarding the issues of the cam
paign from labor standpoint, said:
THE Iaboring people have learned
great deal during the PAST four years. ard
the widespread intimidation of employees
by their employers in the election of that
year is one of the fouiest biots in the his
tory of this country Republican leaders
are now eldeayoring to use the same tao
ties, but 1t is not probable that their eff
forts VIZ be crowned with much success
this year. The workingmen have learned
that they are not given work from motives
of charity, but do know that they are
given work because their labor is profit
able and when profits are lacking their
services are dispensed with.
Il have no faith in the announcements
made that certain contracts would be null
and void in the event of Mr.. Bryan's cleo
ton; such statements are intended to in
timidate workingmen into voting the Ee
publican ticket. There is too much capt.
tai invested in manufacturing to permit it
to remain idle, aand the wants of the Ca
tion must and viii be supplied: and, as
, every fair-minded person knows. contracts
made on such terms are not worth the
paper on which they are written.
The past four years have proved that
la boring men are learning to think more
! and talk less. which certainly shows IA
vorabIe symptoms in the patient that has
been made sick of the loud moushed prom
| ises of prosperity which were TO fall SO
heavily upon the shoulders OF the toiling
masses.
| "Workingmen should make one mighty
| effort for their rights. The chances Tor
success were never brighter, and from my
| talks with many workingmen Mr.. Bryan
| is gaining ground and will march to VIC
| tory despite the opposition and many
| schemes that are being laid to turn voters
| from their course.
| you hear shouted by the Republican
! speIlbinders that the past four years has
! been an era of prosperity. For whom? is
| what l would like TO know. Wages are as
| low as they have been for years past and
! business is practically at the same old
stand.
| The recent coal miners strike is an OBJ
| ject lessen Did the coal barons grant the
! increase on account OF prosperity? Mo-
| When hungry men are battling for their
/ lives the battle is surely d desperate one.
J The striking miners made vigorous efforts
| to obtain their given rights and were
Upheld by right thinking men in every COM
munity. They are tired of being made the
victims Of false promises by tight fsted
employers and declared their rights which
j will now be respected Not only had they
/ been compelled to work for starvation wa
! Ses, but with the little mite they received
! they had been compelled to deposit that
small bit in the so-calIed companies
| stores where they were charged exorbitant
/ prices for the neeessariss Of life. Their
/ funds disappeared in short while and of
| course, went back into the Golfers of the
| corporation
The Republican speIlbinders also tell US
| that the workingmens interests are identi-
| cal with their employers. To certain ex-
| tent yes; but surely they are not Identical
with the brokers and Wall Street sharks
who are predicting Black Fridays and
/ other calanlities in case Mr. Bryan is
elected
4 was very much interested recently
| when informed that trainIGads of men were
| carried TO a mass meeting from Sparrows
I Point How long has IL been since there
was a strike at Sparrows Point for a short
er workday? About one year ago. The
representatives of the company positively
refused to even treat with their employees
Do the excursion managers of these trips
think the workingmen have forgotten the
treatment they received at the hands OF
| that corporation? l am informed upon
good authority that the works OF the Mary
land Steel Company viii be in full blast for
years 10 GENE, no matter who is elected ;
and don't think any of their contracts
Will be Cancelled if Mr. Bryan is elected
What has the National Republican
party done in the way of legislation for
the toilers2 Absolutely nothing Every
! session of Congress for the past four
years finds men advocating the passage of
law making eight hours a days work
for employees of the Government and work
| done for and by the Government, and at
| the close of every session during the Nc
Kinley Administration the bill failed Of
passage,
The Democratic platform provides for
an e1gbt-hour work day, a clause On gov
eminent by Injunction arbitration Iegis-
| lation, and several other planks directly
Affecting and interesting to the toiling
masses, and I cannot see how any right
| thinking workingman can vote 20 keep in
offlee an Administration that has done so
| little toward lettering the condition of
! the wage-earners of the country
Z have always contended that the cleo
| tion booth is the proper place for work
ingmen to carry their grievance. There,
shut out from the eyes of man. they can
feel satisfied in their own hearts that
| they nave done their duty by casting
| their ballots for those who have their
| interests at heart and will use their eff
| forts to give toilers more than a full
dinner pail.
81 have no hesitancy In saying that la
Dor is cheap enough as it is. and the
American worhngman has suffered great
1y through competition with imported ard
alien labor The possession OF the Phil
ippines as well as other non-supporting
possessions by this dAuntry means moth
ing more than another milestone around
the workingman's neck, as the Chinese
| horde is to the American citizen on the
Pacific Coast, which race is q soulIess
and spiritless one. without hope. pride.
| seIf-respect, or ambition. no aspirations
for the future, and are unacquain with
such things as human rights.
The wage-earneFs should consider these
things, and by comparing the platform of
both the Democratic and Republican par
ties, should find no hesitancy in casting
their ballots for the Democratic standard
bearer, William Jennings Bryan
a TOOL OF THE TRUSTS.
Charges Made by Labor against the