Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-11-01
A LAST WORD.

TER IS due the people OF the COUNTY,
will have elected President of the
United States. The campaign just
closing has been an educational one'
and the issues have been fully dis
cussed in the public press, by circu-
lars and other literature, and from the
platform. Mr.. Bryan has visited the
people of the East and West to pro-
claim the Democratic policy, and
Theodore Roosevelt has been the ex-
ponent of the Republican theories,
No person of ordinary intelligence
can plead ignorance of the issues up
on which the two parties are divided
The REGISTER advises its readers
to vote the Democratic ticket. We
believe a change in the policy of the
government to be for the best inter-
ests of the people. The two candi-
dates, Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Bryan,
are both men of personal probity and
unimpeachable character, SC it is only
a question of policy to which the at
tention of voters is directed.
In our opinion one issle over
shadows all others in this campaign,
and that is the question of the grow
ing power of the trusts. They have
flourished and waxed fat under the
Republican administration. Mr.. Bry-
an stands squarely in opposition to
them. He has his remedy against
them, and no man can doubt that he
would use every influence to regulate
or destroy them if he were President.
Four years more of unrestrained pow
er by the trusts may subjugate this
entire country to them. Indeed, they
have already in some instances proven
themselves stronger than the govern
ment, for at this very moment the
Armor Trust has the Secretary Of the
Navy by the throat and he is helpless
in their clutches. He knows that the
manufacturers of armor are robbing
the government and the country knows
it, but he cannot resist them nor the
influence that is back of them. And
no voice comes from the White House
in opposition to the steal-a steal so
palpable and so great that the Secre-
tary Of the Navy dares not yield until
after the election, for he knows that
it would lose thousands of votes for
the Republican party the moment tits
consummated. Does any man believe
that Mr.. Bryan would permit his ad-
ministration to be held up by the Arm
or Trust?
The various trusts have grip al
ready on this government that will
be hard to shake off, With a contin-
uance of Mr.. McKinley's policy it
may be fixed so firmly that only
revolution will loosen it. There will
be more trusts and their power will
be greater. Elect Mr.. Bryan, and
these Ubiquitous combinations will get
a death blow.
Mr.. Bryan stands all right on the
question. He would give
those people self-gOvernment andwith-
draw our troops. He sees the dangers
and the difficulties of foreign aggres-
sion and Of great standing army
Mr.. Mckinley has changed his policy
on these matters at each passing
breeze.
Above all, Mr.. Bryan is with the
great masses of the plain people-the
farmers, the laborers, the men in the
humber walks Of hfe-as against the
few who would control by their wealth
and influence the government for their
own selfish purposes. Mr.. Mckinley,
although a man of blameless life, has
not had the force Of character to resist
The evil influences of the public plum
1erers, and his own amiable inten-
tons have been over-ridden by the
men who have gathered about him.
The sturdy courage and franknsss and
strength of character of Mr.. Bryan is
needed at Washington.
The dangers that beset our govern
nent are many and varied, from at
home and abroad. We believe Mr..
Bryan to be best able to meet and
overcome these dangers, He will
never permit injustice to be done the
people if he can prevent it.
Vote for VIM. J. Bryan next Tues
day.