The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-07
HEARST AT DAVENPORT.
Makes Vicious Attack on Labor Rec
ord of Mr.. Bryan.

Davenport. Ia, Sept. William r.
Hearst delivered an address in this
city at a Labor day celebration. Mr..
Hearst said in part:
81 intend to talk politics. because
we are all thinking politics at this
time, but 7 do not intend to make a
political speech or a partisan speech.
When L first urged labor unions to
go into politics. Mr.. Gompers dis
agreed with me, and declared that
labor unions ought to keep out Of
politics.
Now Mr.. Gompers agrees with me
that labor unions ought to go into
politics, but I do not agree with him
on the way the labor unions ought to
go into politics and inaSmuch as he
was wrong and 1 was right before,
maybe he is wrong now, and 1 am
mr.. Gompers thinks that the right
way is for all labor unions to lay their
votes in his basket like a lot of good.
dutIful political hens ana for MIN
then to take his basket to market, and
peddle the contents to the Republican
party or the Democratic party.
THE objections to this plan are
many and they are convincing and
conclusive.
First you can not afford to repose
so much power with any man or any
set of men. There is a distinct dam
ger that the contents OF the basket
NOutu Dt pEuulGu LOT the DGIle-
fit of the owner of the basket than
for the advantage of the honest trust
full layers of the votes. There would
be competition for the contents of the
basket of a kind that would debauch
and destroy your organization. Second
you would never be harmonious in
your ideas OF how the votes should be
delivered. You would be divided by
differences Of opinion. You would be
disrupted by discussions.
Third. you would get little or no re-
suit from such a system, for the men
elected would be primarily Democrats
or Republicans. They would be YOUR
friends before election but would for
get all about you after election.
Fourth, you have tried out the old
parties time and time again and found
them wanting every time, and It would
be absurd for you to waste your time
and your opportunities persisting in a
policy that has continually proved q.
failure.
''If any one tells you that the DEM
ocratic party Is new party with a
new attitude toward workingmen I
stand ready to prove that it is the
same old Democratic party with the
same old deeeitful attitude toward
workingmen.
When, years ago, workingmen were
in Washington arguing for what they
honestly believed to be best for them
selves and their families and their fell
low citizens generally and Mr.. Bryan
called them public beggars he did not
show spirit in sympathy with Ameri-
can labor or in harmony with American
ideas.
And when Mr.. Bryan the other day
appointed as the treasurer of the Dem
Ocratic fund this man Haskell, a mem
her of a secret citizens alliance. hos
tile to labor in a mean, cowardly way.
he did not show in that either a spirit
in sympathy with American labor or in
accordance with American fair plav."
Mr. Hearst then went into details
concerning his charges against Mr..
Haskell. quoting from resolution that
Mr.. Hearst said was introduced by Mr..
Haskell before a meeting of an ALI
ance. to bear out his assertions; and
the incident during which Mr.. Hearst
said Mr.. Bryan termed working men
public beggars" and manufacturers
robbers" Concerning the latter charge
against Mr.. Bryan Mr.. Hearst read at
fdavits from James Campbell of Pitts
burg, and Charles Bryant of Anderson.
Ind