Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-10-03

William jennings Bryan has made
= discovery which indicates tina ne
may yet become able to recognize O
plain economic truth when he meets 1t
In the open light of day. "The Re-
p~ub1icans," he shouts, @have made q
record on labor questions and the Re-
publican party cannot escape from
that record"
For once In the course OF his spec
tacu1ar and erratic career Mr.. Bryan
IS right. The Republicans have made
a record on labor questions, and the
Republican party has no desire to es-
cape from 1t. 1t Is q story OF sue
cessfuI effort in behalf OF industrial
liberty which has no parallel In the
history OF mankind. The frst chap
ter OF the Republican record was
written with the sword In a war
which destroyed tho institution OF
slavery and thus gave living force to
the self-evident truth proclaimed by
the fathers, that "all men are created
free" That momentous event for
ever established the principle that
American labor should be free labor,
and no longer exposed to the compe-
tition of the ~unrequited bondsman In
D projects of Industrial enterprise.
FlOll LAat EHiChAia SH0
Republican record on labor questions
as-grown step by step, chapter by
chapter to its present array of accom-
plished results. 1t includes the en-
acfment of laws enabling every Amer
ican~to share In the ownership OF
American soil. 1t brought into being
the free school system. thus enabling
the youth of the country to fit them
selves for the duties of life and I'M
derstand the responsibilities as well
AS the opportunities OF American cltl-
xenship.
The Republican record consists in
part of the creation OF the protective
system which has not only made the
American mechanic the best paid
workingman In the world, but has
also made the United States the fore
most manufacturing nation on earth.
1t has demonstrated that the national
energy which produces raw cotton,
wool, copper and iron ore a trans
form these elements into finished
products and sell them in competition
with the products of free trade labor
in the markets of the world.
Republican craftsmanship enacted
the eight hour law. II has %steadfast-
ly fostered the spirit OF good will be-
tween employer and employee. 1t has
constantly favored arbitration as a
means of adjusting labor controver-
sizes, 1t has instituted wise measures
{ o protect employees from accident In
mills and mines and has led The move
ment to establish an effective system
of factory inspection. The law re-
quirfng the use of safety appliances
on railroads is a Republican measure.
Republican policy favors al employ
ers' liability law, the restriction OF
child labor and the protection of free,
honest labor from the degrading COM
petition of convict labor.
The Republican record on labor In
cludes another achievement OF equal
i~npprtanee. The Republican party,
while favoring such measures as shall
seuQre-to the American workingman
wages far exceeding those paid In
free trade countries, also insists that
his wages shall be paid in honest
money. Bryan stands for the twin
deviltries of free trade and free sill,
yer, with industrial paralysis as the
logical consequence. RepdNlicanisn
stands for protected labor. honest
money and business stability.
The Republican party, as the ca
lamity candidate truly declares, has
made a record IN labor questions, but
he is deplorably tardy in discovering
1t. The American people have been
familiar with 1t at every stage of Its
making and 1t bears the seal of theil
hearty support and approval. The
record represents the most beneficeni
triumphs of Republican spirit and
purpose, and against it's story of hon.
orable and useful service in behalf oil
the common good Bryan and his as
sociate demagogues will raise their
noisy clamor in vain.