The labor world., 1900-01-06

was STRIKING commentary or
the adoption in the House Of the
bill to surrender to the National
banks entire control over the currency
of the country, that on the day before
the Globe National bank, of Boston,
should have been forced into insolv-
ency, a huge business concern with
$5,OOO,OOO of assets and only $3,OOO,O00
of liabilities. On the day Of the pas
sage OF the bill Wall street was struck
by.a a panic; in which $100,00O,0OO of in
flated values We're wiped out of ex-
istence in less than two hours wind
ing up with the failure of a trust COM
pany with over $S,0OO,OOO of liabilities.
The action OF the Bosotn bank re-
ferred to was directly due to the finan-
cial pressure of Standard Oil lnagnates
who wanted to compel the Globe bank
totsurrender control of. the Boston and
Anaconda copper mines. Such was the
power of these land sharks that they
actually succeeded in their criminal
purpose-no less criminal because the
law will never touch them. The same
Standard Oil crowd runs the state of
Idaho from the governorship down to
the last sheriff in the state, as though
it were private corporation, which it
is in fact. In Idaho the republican
and constitutional form of government
has been destroyed, and free born
American workmen must obtain a per-
nit signed and countersigned by the
creatures of the Standard Oil company
before they may enjoy even the poor
privilege Of seeking employment. These
facts are known and will be proven be-
fore a congressional committee. 1t
will further be shown that when the
Industrial Commission was investigat-
ing the strike among the Idaho min
ers last summer, scores of witnesses
were ruthlessly seized before they had
an opportunity to appear before the
commission, and thrust into the "bull
pen"
whom the republican party is about to
entrust control of the entire circulat-
ing medium of the country. The finan-
cial combination already exists where
by hundreds of millions of dollars can
be let loose or locked up. 1t will be
like a gigantic sponge to soak up the
wealth of the country and then be
squeezed out into the Golfers of the
ring.
The initial cause of the Wall street
panic is the scare which the Dutch
farmers of South Africa have given
the British Empire. The whole world
now recognizes what was predicted a
month. ago, that the fate of the Brit
isl1 Empire was at stake and that the
year 1900 may witness the partition
of the British Empire. Further Boer
successes may be expected week after
week. Great Britain, with all her Won
derful transport system, cannot throw
troops into, South Africa as fast as the
Beers can conquer and defeat them.
Parliament will have to meet in Feb
ruary, and unless the Salisbury min
istry be Immediately overthrown by a
vote of want of confidence and peace
made by their successors on the best
terms possible, the independence Of all
South Africa will be proclaimed and
the new government will be recognized
by several of the powers of Europe
English papers still harp on the
sympathy of the United States," yet
American sympathy is overwhelmingly
with the Beers. President Mckinley
and his silk petticoated secretary Of
state show their sympathy with Great
Britain, but such sturdy men as JUS
tice Harlan, of the Supreme court,
openly express their belief and hope
that the Beers will drive the British
into the sea.