New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-15
BUSINESS MEN AROUSED.
MIR. BLISS TALKS OF THEIR VALUABLE
WORK FOR SOUND MONEY.


! ness mems campaign, and the Republican Ma
| tional Committee fully appreciates the activity
| of the various mercantile, manufacturing ana
commercial interests in behalf Of the re-electioh
of President Mckinley and the triumph OF the
| cause of sound money and National honor. On
/ Saturday many reports were received at Repuo-
! lcan headquarters from business mems honest
money organizations in various cities. all eVlhc-
| ing the greatest enthusiasm for the cause. In
the course OF discussion as to the great ser
| vices rendered by these organizations, Treasurer
| Cornelius N Bliss expI essed his views at some
| length
''The country" he remarked. ''ss we all re-
| member owed very much in 1896 to the united
| action of the business men, working together
without distinction OF party TO prevent the as
! aster OF the election OF Mr.. Bryan SO now the
country is again defended by It's business men,
| Democrats and Republicans alike. who are
standing like a stone wall against this renewed
attempt of the Bryanized. Populistic Democracy
| TO capture the citadel of governmental power,
'The managers OF the Republican campaign
recognize the invaluable aid rendered by the
business men, and wish to express their full
appreciation of it. The public at large also
knows of it, and appreciates it. At first. early
| in the present campaign, the business element
vas apathetic to degree. which appeared to
experienced politicians dangerous The cause
!
dence The business men had fought and van
ouished Organism in 1896, and since then COM
mercial prosperity had been so great and so
general that the business men. reasoning ac-
co1ding to business mans logic, concluded
that as everybody was satisfied. nobody would
vote for a change.
They did not reflect at first that there are a
great many people who do not reason according
to a business mans logic. They did not reflect
upon a Solid South, voting solidly against Its
own best interests just because of habit, preju-
dice and race question. They did not reflect
upon the numerical strength Of the idle and
vicious In the large cities, the extent of the
silver mining interests influence, the tendency
of some kinds of wage earners to be easily per-
suaded by demagogues. the extreme anxiety OF
the outs to get in etc.
but when at last the business men did realize
that there was a danger of Mr.. Bryan's election
they sprang into the breach nobly. Not only in
New-York City. but in Baltimore. Chicago Bos-
ton St Louis Louisville and all the large cities
of the North and also in the small towns, they
rallied almost as one man to the defence, and
have conducted it with all the promptitude. skill
and energy that are so characteristic OF the
American business man. They have organized
clubs and got them into perfect running order
with celebrity that passes comprehension. They
have printed and distributed documents. ar
ranged meetings. provided speakers raised flags,
held parades, and done no end of private. per-
sonaI missionary work They have furnished
many valuable suggestions TO the various Re
publican party committees. In a word, they
have shown that when 1t comes down to plain
question of common sense, there is politics
in business. and that the business men will stick
TO it through thick and thin that so cents equals
90 cents no matter how much the Democrats
may try to make them believe It equals 100
cents"
1t was suggested by one of the group sur
rounding Mr. Bliss that the business men, no
matter if voting unit, do not constitute a
majority of the citizens.
Certainly not" replied Mr. Bliss. They
alone could not elect Mckinley. The commit
tee fully realizes and appreciates the indis-
pensable support given to the Republican ticket
by the agricultural element and by the working
men, Those of the farmers who went over to
Bryan in 1896 have largely returned to their
allegiance. and the more intelligent of the work.
ingmen have refused to be lured to their de-
struction by Bryans sophistical and anarchlstic
appeals But the great feature of the campaign
is the almost perfect solidiication of the bust
ness men one side OF the line of battle. as
in 1886. Taking the two campaigns together,
this development is unique in American political
history"
Mr.. Bliss asked to explain briefly the
business men, Business men," he replied, care
little for political parties, and still less for po-
litical leaders, but above all they do dislike to
be made fools OF. They do like 20 make money
of course, but they do not put the dollar above
the man They are not given over TO base
commercialsm' accursed greed, but they
hate to be swindled. And when man or a
party comes along and tries to pull the wool
over their eyes, and undertakes 10 fOist any
such thing this free silver heresy upon them
they resent 1t. 1t is reflection, not so much
on their honesty, on their intelligence.
Business men possess many fine qualities, but
nRrh
of the fact that two and two make four And,
being sensible men, the Bryanite financial doc
trines are. unutterably repugnant to them.
Again, business men are far sighted, cautious
men. They are of practical experience,
who can tell better than the theorists like Mr..
Bryan what affect a certain line of financial
operations will have. They wish prosperity. not
only to-day, but also tomorrow and day after
to- morrow and next year and all the time. They
want IL, only for themselves. but also for
their neighbors and their customers. not only
for their own line of business but for all lines
of business, not only for New York but for
for the North and for the South, for the East
and for the West because they know that the
prosperity of all includes the prosperity of each;
and they know that the free silver policy, If
carried into effect, would mean calamity to each
and calamity to all.
Moreover, the business men, as a rule, are
honest men. Being honest men, they naturally
revolt at Mr. Bryans 60-cent dollar idea which
is an essentially dishonest proposition.
Then. too, the business eminently
patriotic men. They have proved this abundant
" on too many occasions TO enunerate. AL
though the business men are hurt worse than
ways supported the Government most patrioti-
caIly in all wars. and there is no exception
to the rule in the present case. They love the
flag and they do not love those who would pull
IL, any may hay, haa,