The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-29
THE WORK OF TWO PARTY MEN.

The present employment of a Republican
and a Democrat who have achieved ma
tional reputation is in so marked contrast
as TO challenge comparison. Senator Hanna
is now very well known TO the American
people. He has lived down as much SLAM
der as has ever been directed at one man
in the same time. For four years he was
represented as an ogre, so that his name
could have been used to brighten timid
children in Bryan households. Mr.. Hanna
has lived this down. During the campaign
Of 1900 he was potential. in settling the an
thracite coal strike. His political oppo-
nents, who hoped for a victory out of a
bloody collision between labor and capital,
attributed Mr.. Hanna's interference to his
campaign interests, declaring that he had
no interest in the well-being of labor.
Months ago, when no campaign was pend
ing. Senator Hanna became one of the pro-
motors of an organization whose aim was
TO prevent strikes. Indeed. he became a
leading spirit in the movement. He de-
clared that to get rid of strikes would be
the greatest blessing that could be be-
slowed upon the American people. He has
faith that it can be accomplished. Be
cause Of his ability and zeal he is at the
head of the Civic Federation. The present
week he has been directing efforts to the
preventing of a great strike in the anthra-
cite coal region. He may not succeed, but
his efforts are as earnest now as they were
in October, 1900, because he is convinced
that labor and capital may be made friends
instead of foes.
The Democrat who has attracted atten-
ton during the same period is Mr.. Henry
Watterson. Just now he is very Jealous
in the Democratic vineyard. Unfortunately.
work in that vineyard is not in the direction
of harmonizing the two industrial forces of
the country. 1t is more than unfortunate
that some of Mr.. Watterson's party act
as if they could best promote its interests
by melting distrust and hostility between
labor and capital. Mr.. Watterson has not
heard of the threatened strike involving
10000 men. Indeed. he has been giving in
terviews and telegraphing EDITORIALS to his
paper from Washington. His imagination
is reused by his own ghost of Imperialism.
In the military bill he sees imperialism
and the President sending troops TO large
cities TO break UP public meetings. At a
time when the populace of the greater cities
was never more peaceful. because full en-
ployment brings the conditions of peace.
Mr.. Watterson sees turbulent communities
and the exercise of imperial power to sup
press gatherings of citizens. Thus he could
rouse in the minds of the ignorant the fear
of an imperialist President and of an army
used to suppress freedom of speech. In
other words, Mr.. Watterson is doing that
which in other countries arouses an ex-
citable populace to distrust and hatred of
government and authority. In fact, he in
suits a law-abiding people by assuming that
they are liable TO be arrayed against the
rulers of their own country.
Thus it appears that while Senator Hanna
is devoting his time and efforts to pre-
venting a great strike and in leading a
movement designed TO fuse the industrial
forces of the country into a harmonious
whole, Mr.. Watterson seems to be an in
viter of strife and a promoter of harmful
supicions. The only danger of lawless as
semblages in cities to which Mr.. Waiter
son refers in connection with the army bill
would lurk in the adoption of Mr.. Waiter
sons industrial policy, which begins with
%denouncing the manufacturers of the coun-
try as 'rObber barons.' Fortunately, the
American people are not likely to forget
1894.