The Forrest City times., 1900-10-26
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Capital Correspondent Writes of Re publican Scheme to Defeat
 Bryan.
COERCION THREATENED BY TRUSTS.
Combines-GuerrilIa Organiza tions of Capital Are Restless and Uncer- tain-The Meaning of Bryan's Elec- tion.

The democrats propose to strike back at the trusts and corporations that are using intimidation tactics to compel their employees to vote for Mckinley. The democratic national committee recommends that all democrats and their allies refuse to buy goods made by firms using intimidation to deprive their employees of a free vote. A list of such firms, so far as known, will be published broadcast by the democratic committee. But democrats are asked to look up such instances as come with In their own observation and apply the remedy suggested.
 To refuse to buy it's goods is to strike at the dividend-paying power of trust or corporation. This is its most vul- nerable point. It is the one way in which the consumer can register an ef- fective protest against the illegal and immoral methods that are being em- ployed to reelect Mckinley.
 | The trusts began by displaying to their employees bogus orders and con-
  ing that the order should be ''void in case of Bryan's election" This scheme was worked in '96 with great effect. This year employees are not to be frightened. They remember the scarci- ty of work and depression of industry after they had been coerced into aid ing McKinley's election. They reason that Bryan's election could have had no worse effect. They are restless over the new and unconstitutional poli- cies adopted by Mckinley. Working men will vote their convictions this | time.
 A Trust Threat.
 The trusts are now threatening a general lockout of workmen until elec- tion is over. This also was done in '96. There will be a difference this year. The wage worker will face temporary lockout, if need be, in order to pre- | serve his right to vote as he chooses. He will help to elect Bryan in order to | settle once and for all the possibility of coercion tactics becoming a permanent feature of republican campaigning. Republicans profess sympathy for labor, yet it is the republican party which is trying to take from the masses their right to vote as they please. This Is very serious matter. If trusts and combines are permitted to use coercion this year without an effective protest, every succeeding campaign will find the people less able to assert their rights as free citizens.
 The trusts, in their concerted at- tempt at intimidation, are showing clearly that they intend to make help less slaves of the producers of wealth. They assume that the consumers are already helpless under their exactions.
 This is not entirely true, however. The farmers of the northwest have for more than year refused to buy barbed wire fencing because the steel and wire trust put its prices so high. The result was that this trust soon dropped prices several pegs, and is now anxious to have the farmers buy barbed wire at all most any price.
 The cordage trust is in difficulties be- cause the farmers refused to buy twine at the outrageous prices it charged They established and patronized local twine plants in more than one state.
 These examples are cited to show that the trusts can be brought to terms II the consumers choose to 20 without their goods for little time. The crime of attempting to take away the right to free ballot is very much greater than that of putting up prices. If men are not going to have the right to vote their convictions un- der republican trust domination it is about time halt was called. Demo- crats all over the country will refuse to buy goods from firms that intimi- date their employees.
 A Republican Scheme.
 The whole cry of business depres- sion in case of Bryan's election is a republican scheme to influence voters who do very little thinking for them selves. There will be change if Bryan is elected. Trusts and corpo- rations whose chief assets are watered stock will be insecure. The water will be squeezed out of their stock. They will be forced to adopt legiti. mate business methods. This will rem der the legitimate merchant and the public more secure than under the present administration, where wildcat combines are encouraged.
 The trusts that have been plunder- Ing the people in order to pile up biz dividends for themselves will be inse- cure under Bryan's administration They will be forced to give an account of their transactions. Their cheap ened methods of production will be applied to give the consumer lower prices instead of the exorbitant tar ifs now levied.
 Yes, if Bryan is elected the guer- rllla organizations of capital will have good reason to feel restless and ipse- cure. They will be put under legal re- strictions and the public will be pro- tected from their rapacity.
 If Bryan is elected the coal combine will pay it's miners more wages and da1 N~I Il