The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-14
Pay of Railway Employees Better Now
Than Ever, and Country Mer-
chants Prospecting.
CONFERENCES AT CHICAGO
TAGGART, MARTIN AND OTHERS
TALK WITH MIR. BRYAN.
Indianians Tell Him Democracy
Prospects Are Good-ButIer to
Desert POpulists.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
CHICAGO, Aug. 13.-Ex-Governor Altgeld
is slated for attorney Of the United States
in the event of the election of Colonel
Bryan. This will be news for corporations
in general and for trusts in particular. The
fact of Altgeld's selection for this place is
one of the secrets which was not to be
allowed to escape, but the ex-Governor's
confidential friends could not keep it en-
tirely to themselves and the matter is be-
ing quietly discussed among the elect.
When approached for confirmation of the
report national leaders enter denial. They
fear the reflex effect of an announcement
of the Altgeld selection. Altgeid may not
take very conspicuous part in the CAM
paign. but he is in the entire confidence
of Colonel Bryan, and is one of the few
men the Nebraskan leans on for counsel.
1t will be Altgeld TO whom Colonel Bryan
will go for legal and political direction
of national finances when he gets into the
White House. This suggestion will no
doubt contribute TO the peace of mind of
those whose interests are more or less
dependent upon the undisturbed admins
ildtiOll VI licdSuiy
Before he leaves Chicago Mr.. Bryan will
have infused his personality into the cam
paign machinery. He is in Chicago for
that purpose. The national leaders have
been waiting for him and repressing
their enthusiasm until they could as
certain exactly what he wants. Mr.. Bryan
insists this year on having the entire cam
paign run according to his own ideas of
the best methods to pursue. Four years
ago he was given the right of way, first
because he demanded it, and second be-
cause the boundless enthusiasm of the man
was the star feature of the occasion. Since
then Mr.. Bryan thinks he has learned all
there is to know about practical politics
and that he is armed with his full former
equipment plus the knowledge sipce ac-
quired. If his estimate of himself were
correct he would be very dangerous, but
his opponents refuse to take him at his
own appraisement, and insist that he is
impracticable and destitute of the qualities
of real machine leadership-machine in this
case meaning organization. They say he
is like the superintendent of a great es-
tablishment who lacks the ability to get
work out of either his lieutenants or the
forces under them. They say the trouble
with him is that he tries to do too much
himself and involves himself in a maze
of details and of headless schemes. This
hostile criticism, while not subscribed to
by Mr.. Bryan's friends, is recognized by
them as not being without force. They
do not entirely like the idea of being per-
sonally effaced from the campaign, and
are restive under the embarrassing condi-
tions imposed on them by the personal con-
trol of man whose education has been
largely in the school of failure; yet there
is nothing for them to do but to acouiesce
in the proposition that Mr.. Bryan is the
whole thing and that his faintest wish
is law. He will have il no other way, con-
sequently If they are to remain i'm the
Bryan band-wagon, they must not rebel.
The danger OF railway strikes appears tc
be passing away. There was determined
agitation for a time TO enlist this grea,
army of workers in a general movement
for an advance in wages, but the masse:
OF railroad men were not in sympath,
with the attempt and it seems to hav.
cause labor disturbances in that aIarte,
appears 10 have been grounded on falls,
premises. The theory was exploited tha
railroad employees are not given the proper
share Of the increased railroad earning,
and that they should be let into more gen
erous participation. The point was raised
that they were getting no more pay tba,
during the long season of depression. ant
that they are entitled to an advance II
pay. The fact is railroad employees. tha
is those who are actively in the transpor
tation departments, such as engineers
fremen, conductors and brakemen, an,
those who have the handling of freight
have been earning more money ever sine
business began to improve. Wherever /
is possible the pay of railroad men is fixe,
business is dull there is less freight to car
| ry-fewer miles and less pay. With NOR
business, more cars are used, more mel
are employed with greater mileage an,
more pay. Thus while there is no an
nouncement of increased wages i'm goo,
times or OF decreased wages in bad times
the pay of the men fiuctuates with tn
amount of business handled This plan /
found to work satisfactorily. both to rail
road corporations and to employees. TIL
scheme is the capitalization of fifty years
experience
XXX
I have been around among wholesal
merchants lately TO personally learn iron
them the condition of trade in the prov
| inces." The prevailing impression ha
been that the country stores are packe
full of unsold merchandise and that ther
can be no substantial Improvement or re
vival in manufacturing until these countr
stocks are reduced. find the back coun
| try trade situation rather better tha
represented. Country stocks are large,
| is true. but heavy and continuous de
mand for all classes OF goods Is reported