Fergus County Democrat., 1908-03-31
Widows and Orphans.

"AOOWS dHO OIpNduS.
Mr. c. w. Drinkard, of this city,
recently wrote the following letter to
Bryans Commoner, relative to the
plea of the rich banker and capitalists
plea for the protection of the widows
and orphans OF the country:
Ihe COmmoner reaches here on
time filled with truths the average
reader very much needs to know.
Eminent educators have told us that
an ignorant voter with ballot in his
hands is more dangerous than an
enemy in the field with arms in his
hands. Considering the fact that of
the $4,000 papers and periodicals
which are published in the United
States, at least four-fifths are either
the open advocates or silent specta-
tors of the system of greed and graft
that is invading every department of
business and government, it is en-
couraging to know that there are a
few names, even in Sardis, which have
not detlled their garments and who
have stood like Davids mighty men
in the fore front, battling for the
rights Of the people.
The first among these stands W..
J. Bryan. And as l would say Of the
Commoner in politics takes the place
of the bugle call in the army. 1t is
veritable arsenal of shot and shell
for battering down the strongholds OF
fortified, illegal and legalized robbery.
was particularly pleased at the
way Mr.. Bryan Carried the War into
Africa and hoisted the 'Emint Finan-
cier,' Mr.. James Forgan, on his own
petard.
l notice that, like every other bene-
ticiary of special privileges, Mr.. For
gan places the widows and orphans
in front of the firing line. Mr.. For
gan saye the stock in his bank is
largely owned b. irphans and widows.
Now we are not advised Of the num-
Der of orphans and widows who
have contributed, by the sweat Of their
brows, to bringing his bank stock up
to $3.50 per share but who never have
arl never will own any stock in his
bank. Mr.. Forgan may confine his
philanthrophy to his own bereaved
depositors but government cannot
afford to be so narrow. No doubt,
there have been ten widows and
orphans made in building up the repu-
tation of banks to one having de-
posts in them. The very fact that
people will pay 50 per cent more for
bank stock in some cases than in 9TH
ers is evidence that the banking sys-
tenn needs something behind it
stronger than individual honesty.
But | must not play Falstaff by
stabbing Hotspur after he is dead.
only want to tear away that favorite
shield of all specially privileged
classes You cannot touch the banks
but out goes the bereaved. If rail
roads are regulated you are confront
ed with the same plea and SO all the
way through every grade of corporate
rascality It reminds me of what my
grandfather used to tell me of the
Indian wars in pioneer days. At a
certain fort, the young folks were
out berrying when skulking bank OF
Indians sprang up and gave chase
The few men of the fort opened fire
several redskins bit the dust, but one
brave rushed forward, grabbed a
young girl and making shield of her
backed off out of range and then
tomahawked and scalped his victim
Come gentlemen, give us rest on
the widow plea. l was left an or
phan at years of age, yet l sweated
out ST 900 to build a railroad And
never knew whether some widow
got it or whether the railroad presi-
dent bought titled son-in-law with
the money | do know that myself
and family had to help sweat Out
pretty large dividends on the stock
of that road as long as we lived in
reach of it.
My wife was left an orphan at sever
years. l know she, her brother and
mother raised crop of tobacco
hauled it to market and, after paying
their taxes on a railroad that had beer
wrecked by these philanthropic gen.
tlemen, had just 40 cents left. The
tariff beneticiaries are all widows ane
orphans, l suppose, considering The
coddling they have received from the
republican party Do they consider
Pierpont Morgan an orphan that they
hand him out such liberal chunks o.
the peoples money?
How many widows has the doughty
Hartman under his broad and sweep
ing wing? Or what particular widow
has he in view while irrigating hi:
railroad stock?
In Bible times the manslayer hae
five cities of refuge but our moder1
buccaneers of industry could Civ.
Moses pointers every day in the year
They dodge behind state legislatures
congress, the senate, the courts ant
if the president refuses to play watcl
dog for them, poor Tray" loses hi
job. And as last resort they tax,
refuge from the wrath of an outraged
people behind the skirts of widows
Ye Gods, what sight! The de
generate sons of the heroes of e.
are now struggling to forever faster
the yoke of industrial slavery upol
both black and white and when driver
from every other position they dis
appear ebhind the matronly skirts o
fictitious widows For this last resor
is like much Of their stock, nothing
The voters will soon be called up
on to decide between these expensive
Ola rdians of the fa w and dem0c