The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-09-10
COERCED
WERE EMPLOYEES OF
THE BIG
Trust Mills Into Parading
at Opening
Glad to Get One Days
Pay But Free in Saying
They Will Vote For
BrYan-Gov. Hughes
the Drawing Gard.


1t was. freely stated by Republican
leaders of the Buckeye state present
at the opening Of the campaign today
that the national committee had per-
suaded the steel trust to shut down
its mills in tho Keystone state, where
they think they do not need votes, and
open all their mills throughout Ohio,
where the presidential result is in
doubt.
Several weeks ago the steel corpor-
alton started some of It's mills in the
Pittsburg district on short time. The
Republican national committee got
busy Immediately, with the result
that several thousand workmen
marched three miles over hot streets
in this city today, not to honor Will
liam H. Taft. but to qualify for steady
work, at least until after the presi-
Dental election, and to get the pay
for the days work.
With Governor Charles e. Hughes,
of New York; United States Senator
Albert ]. Beveridge, of Indiana and
Governor A. L. Harris, of this state,
as the attractions. the Republican
leaders expected to begin the cam
Youngstown, o.. Sept 5.-Relying
upon the assurances of their super
iors that the mills Of the United
States Steel Corporation in the
Youngstown and adjacent districts
would be running in full within the
next 81 days. several thousand en-
ployes of that concern paraded at the
opening of the Republican campaign
today.
The men we're also given a days
pay for marching, and on the basis
of employment only was the parading
done. The men took absolutely no in-
terest in the celebration as q cam
paign affair.
Because they live in Ohio, where
the Taft managers need votes, the en-
ployes of the United States Steel Cor
poration are to receive benefits dur
paign with an outburst of enthusi-
asm that would start an overwhelm-
ing Taft wave over the Buckeye state.
The affair had been well arranged,
and the program was carried through
with clockwork precision.
They had everything but big
crowd to listen to the address. There
were plenty OF people here, at least
$4,000 visitors thronging the streets,
but they found attractions more to
their liking along the highways and
byways
fr xuifh
parade. 1t was splendid demonstra-
tlon. Between 10000 and 1900 men
were in line. most of them employees
of trust corporations in and around
Youngstown.
But of this large number, fewer
than 800 were sufficiently interested
to even await the beginning of the
speech making. After the men had
broken ranks they scattered through
out the town, seeking pleasures more
to their liking.
The various bands put in their time
giving concerts In the downtown
streets. These attracted more voters
than the campaign speeches. AS the
crowd was returning from Wick park.
where the speeches were delivered,
one of the Ohio bands played a funeral
dirge on the most prominent street
of Youngstown.
Because of the appearance of Car
negie Steel Company employees, nom
union men. In line. hundreds of un-
ion men refused to go in the parade
The Republican managers attempted
to patch up the trouble. but failed to
do so. although it was announced
that all men who had been invited
were in line. Because of this breach,
A. @. Dinkey, of Pittsburg. president
of the Carnegie company, refused to
attend the celebration.
Instead he sent 80 company detec-
tives to protect his employees against
the threatened assaults of the union
men. This precaution proved unnec-
essary, as no attempt was made to
interfere with the procession.
The Republican leaders we're cha
grined at the small crowd that re-
mained In the park. Seats had been
provided for but few hundred the
would be glad to stand.
Governor Hughes was placed last
on the list of speakers to hold the
crowd, and 1t worked. There were
few dssertions from the ranks of the
audience during the speechmaking, but
It was woefully small to begin with.
The Democratic leaders of Ohio
were not disturbed by the celebration
here today. They witnessed Its fail
ure as campaign opener and insist
ed that 1t presaged heavy vote for
Bryan. They insisted that theswork-
ingmen In line of parade were not
there OF any desire to honor Taft,
but because they were practically
driven into 1t.
"Thsy may march for Taft today
said leading Democrat, "but most
of them will vote for Bryan in Mo-
Yember."
Governor Harris showed the des-
peration oe his party in his talk His
wis a temperance speech that would
have made a Prohibitionit candidate
sor president enYiOus. Almost every
ahing else had been cut out of his
address. He read every lire of II.