The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-10-08
The REAL INTERESTS
OF WORKINGMEN
Question of Vote Must BE Answered
by Eject on Opportunities
For Labor

QueSllOn OF VOC EEtuSC tSe &AAlSWGEGN
by Eject on Opportunities
For Labor.
1t lies with the workIngman. who
desires to vote intelligently in the
coming election to sit down and Tea-
ton of Mr.. Taft or Mr.. Bryan. In
SO far as it is business question
which affects his opportunities for
employment, the comfort OF his Fam
lily, and the bringing up of his chill
dren, it is a question which should be
considered without passion and with
out regard to class prejudice. Mr..
Bryan or Mr.. Debs may succeed In
demonstrating to their own sattstac-
ton that they are the only friends OF
labor. The real question for the in
telligent laboring man Is not merely
the genuinenesS of their friendship,
but what good it is likely to do him.
The question which the business
man is asking himself In regard TO
the election is, what aSSuranceytt VIII
give him of the opportunityato em-
bark with safety and success in new
enterprises II he believes that the
election of Mr.. Bryan Will Keep the
country in a state of unrest and anX-
iety, then 1t Is certain that ne VIII ~.
make no plans to extend his plant or
establish a new one. 1t is certain also
that he will keep the product OF his
mills down to the minimum OF visible
demand Railways, deprived OF
traffic in new building materials and
manufacturers goods, will find their
earnings at low ebb, and Will MAKE
no effort to improve their equipment
and extend their lines. If MIR. Bryan
should be elected, even IL no serious
panic ensued, 1t Is practiealiy certain
from the attitude of the business COM
munity, that there would be doubt,
curtaiIment OF output, and
the abandonment of projects now be-
ing formed for adding to the prodHc-
ing and distributing equipment OF the
country.
What do these things mean to the
workfngman? When the American
Locomotive Works passes it's dividend
it means a serious loss to those VINO
have invested In It's stock. When ~
goes further and closes its plant at
Providence, as it has recently done,
1t means that working men are
thrown out of employment. ALREADY
as a result of the shock OF last au-
tumn business generally has been
cent. This is disclosed by the falling
of in the gross earnings OF the rail-
ways, as well as by the receipts OF
the government. 1t required some
months for the railways to pull down
operating expenses to compensate the
reduction in gross earnings and BRING
net earnings into corresponding
proportion. This is being accom-
plished, in many cases, by the dls-
charge of competent employees and
event diminishes the consuming pow
er of the country and tends to accen-
tuate the evil of diminished produc.
ton and stagnant trade.
The influence of the election OF MT.
Bryan would be disturbing to the
business community. Whether there
Is Justice in the distrust which is telt
for Mr. Bryan is not the practical
question. It Is a question OF IacC.
Mr.. Bryan has not only committed
himself in the past to projects IKE
free silver, which every other clvtl-
lied country has abandoned, and to
government ownership OF railways
but he has not sought to reassure
business men recently as to a dednlte
and sincere Change of attitude on
these questions. on the contrary, the
convention which nominated him at
Denver declared that II an emergency
again arose requiring the issue. OF
currency there should be currency
eral Government. In other words,
the pauacea which Mr.. Bryan ohers,
now that he has abandoned free Sill
yer, is another plunge into the mtre
of greenback imitation.
Whether this is right or wrong In
itself it'means an upheaval In our eX-
listing monetary system, which II It
were within the range OF practical
legislation would lead every prudent
financier to convert his resources into
gold obligations or to transfer them
abroad. 1t Is this sort OF pronounce
ments which have hardened the heart
of the business community against
Mr.. Bryan in spite of his many at
tractive Qualities and which would
tend to make four years of his admin
istration years OF restricted trade, ST.
lent mills. idle cars, and perhaps. even
depression and panic approaching the
severity of those gloomy years which
followed the panic of 1893.