Evening star., 1900-09-26
Republican Advices Regarding the
Coal Miners Strike.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IMPROVING
Railway Men viii Oppose Bryan's
Election.
MANY BOLTlNG DEMOCRATS

/
| cate that thus far the strike in the coal
regions has had no reflex action on politics
Representative Loudenslager, in charge
| Of the congressional headquarters, said this
morning that up to this time there appears
| to have been no mixing up Of the strike into
politics. Apparently, he says, the strike is
being kept within the lines Of a business
proposition between the employees and their
employers. There Is a general idea, ne
| says, that the party in power is apt IN
| some way to be held responsible for un-
satisfactory conditions in any direction, but
| thus far the dissatisfied laboring men ap-
pear to have recognized that they are deal
ing with individuals, some of whom are
democrats and some of whom are republi-
cans, and who. in the aggregate, represent
about all creeds and forms of thought, and
| that politics has nothing to do with the
case.
Interests of Labor.
"The fact is,'' he says, that while it may
be claimed, and perhaps justly in some
cases, that the laboring man does not get
his full proportion of the advancement in
the value of what he produces, this fact
cannot be denied that in periods of depres-
sion he has no chance of having recog-
niZed and acceded to a demand for an In
crease of wages: but when times are pros
porous ana WORK is plenty. II he does not
get all that he feels to be his due he gen
orally gets something and the chances are
in favor of his demands being granted, in
part, il not to some great extent. The
laboring men realize that their best oppor-
tunity lies in a continuance OF prosperity,
and even discontentment with things as
they are will hardly lead them to endeavor
to make matters worse.
Mr.. Loudenslager says that the situation
in Pennsylvania Is improving. and that
within the past few days there has been
general awakening, activity taking the
place of apathy, and that the managers
tion is going to have any materially inju-
rious influence on the republican prospects
in the several congressional districts.
In Maryland and West Virginia.
The situation in Maryland and West vir-
gina is every day becoming more satsfac-
| tory from a republican point of view. Con-
servative men in each of these states say
that they can hardly be regarded as doubt
| full, or at all events that they are the least
doubtful of all the so-called doubtful states.
The Wellington disafecton In Maryland APP
| pears to have made very little impression
and throughout the state very large num-
| Der of influential democrats decline to sup
port Mr. Bryan. The most powerful busi-
| ness interests in the state are opposed to
an interruption of the present prosperous
conditions by experimenting with a new ad-
mnistration on extremely opposed lines Of
policy, and among the most earnest, con-
servative supporters Of the administration
| are found prominent and influential demo-
Gratis.
Railways Oppose Bryan.
1t is said that Mr.. Bryan has lost the
| support of many very strong men through
out the country who earlier in the cam
paign expected to support him. The rail-
road interests and all interests allied to
them in the entire country will. 1t is said,
be practically unit in opposition to Bryan
on account of his persistent declaration of
an intention to make war on the railroads
through the amendment of the interstate
commerce law by adding stringent pro-
visions If he should get in a position to do
So In 1896 the railroad interests, together
with other great enterprises, were soditied
in opposition to Bryan. But considerable
number of big railroad men, who, prior to
1896 had affiliated with the democratic
party indicated an intention to support
Bryan this year, feeling that there was no
danger of his financial views finding ex-
preston in law, and that their business in
terests would not be seriously jeopardized
by his election. The quieting Of their alarm
on the financial question, however, has been
counteracted by the apprehension of the
disturbance Of business interests through a
general disposition on his part to hit every
head on which the sunlight Of prosperity
shines and to endeavor, through legisla-
ton, to hamper and hinder all great enter
prises merely because they are great and
prosperous.
1t is said that If Mr. Bryan had contented
himself with doing battle against the trusts
or against Imperialism, or both, he might
have had the support of many business
men who will now decline to vote for him.
but that his disposition to make an issue
OF everything existing which does not meet
his approval has tendency to consolidate
against him all the interests which his
scattering fire threatens The great rail-
roads OF the country represent an immense
capital are the backbone Of all commerce
and industry and represent in direct en-
ployment million men or more. BY going
out OF his way to attack the railroads and
to threaten restrictions by legislation which
would hamper their business and develop-
ment, it Is said that Bryan has arrayed
the entire interests against him.
Influenced by Employers' interests.
How far all the employees of the rail-
roads will be influenced by considerations
Of the interests of their employers Is un-
certain, but in 1896 there was perfect har-
mony between the railroad managers and
their employees, and at this time there Is
very general contentment on the part of
railroad employees in all lines Of work. and
1t Is presumed that they will very generally
have the same community of interest. I'm
less labor troubles, which there is now no
good reason to anticipate, arise before cleo
ton, 1t Is believed that Bryan will lose very
heavily in this vote.
This condition applies more particularly
to the eastern country, but Is likely to be
felt more or less In every quarter, though
in the west, where Mr. Bryan's fancy par
tlcularly dwells, 1t may be Offset by the an