The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-07-18

Wiz I'LL 1OA t-Ao(A- oAa oRCLho LIS
own mind. He does not believe himself
incapable OF mistakes, and he invites dis
sd fhe evoivement of benefcent results.
As President he would gather around
him the wisest, most thoughtful and ex-
perienced men of his party, and the
highest aim of his administration would
be not to tear down, but to build UP,
and to do the greatest possible good to
ly equipped as ne is for public service,
and with his high aims and ambitions,
| cannot be dangerous to his country or
the great body of his countrymen. His
administration would become distin-
guished for things sane and practical,
without stunts spectacular or spasmodic.
It would be run solely in the interest
Of the people, would be made glorious
ever memorable in American history.
These. fellow-citizens, are the leaders
this the way OF their choosing and the
promise of their performance.
From the discussion OF men I pass now
to the discussion of conditions and poll
cies-
THE PANIC.
have adverted to the fact that in 1896
and 1900 Mr.. Bryan was pictured by his
ruin. Methods Of deception without a
neutrality-suspicious.. m~endacious and i'm
sion that Bryan's success would be the
equivalent of disaster Not only so, but
noisily proclaimed that Democratic as
cendancy was the invariable signal for
national retrogression. Do you not re-
call the multitudinous changes rung on
the so-called Cleveland panic? With
what pathetic eloquence were doleful pic
lures painted of depressed Industries. of
enforced fdleness, of destitution and soup
housesl S~oup-houses, particularly, were
worked over time In fact, these melan-
cho1y pictures were often painted on a
vast soHp-bowl; but however painted, the
Democratic party was always swung IN
the background as the grim, over-shadow-
ing angel of destruction. And dc you
not remember the wild howl with which
they burdened the complaining air be-
cause Cleveland issued bonds in a time Of
peace2 oh, how they called US names.
ugly names and trod upon US. Never
were attacks so insolent and exasperat-
ing. Nor, on the other hand, was there
ever such effusive and offensive boasting.
The grandfloquent assurance with which
statecraft and higher capacity for sue
cessful government was c~onfoundinS in
financial disturbances, Industrial depres-
sions, were evils impossible, they shouted,
under a Republican administration. As
long as Republicans ruled the sun would
let upon the sky But how. alas, have
have these captivating promises been full
filled2 For ten years the Republicans
have occupied all the executive offices
and controlled both Houses of Congress
by large majorities. For ten years they
have been supreme. exercising power so
absolute as to be beyond the possibility
happened2 What has become of the per-
ennial sunshine, and what of the feecy
clouds? For nine months now we nave
had the devil to pay. A storm, long brew
ing, broke with startling suddenly upon
the country Nearly every bank in every
them toppled to a fall, carrying wreck
and ruin to thousands. The banks every
ties and meet lawful demands upon them.
were compelled. with the enforced con-
nivance Of public officials, to issue script
shin plasters-based on their own credit,
to bridge the emergency of even current
and ordinary business and check the
growing havoc These bank Issues de-
positors. supply houses. wage-earners.
were obliged TO accept as money. trusting
to luck. or go without. 1 refer to this
not to reproach the banks, for. although
this action was violative of the law, /
approved it at the time. and / approve
1 would Justify a trespass to check a
c~onfagration. They did wisely to take the
sufferers, The great Industrial establish
mentS Of the land have either reduced
their pay-rolls and output, or shut off
their furnaces and closed their doors.
Although enormous quantities of agricul-
tural, mining and manufactured products
were piled up Throughout the country.
there was no money to handl them, nor
markets to. absorb them. As a conse-
quence Of this, freight traffic fell away
until the transportation mpanie have
been on the verge OF b~ankruptcv. and
many. indeed, have been forced into re-
the present year, the management Of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company is
ruca - statement 10 the erect that at
That date that company had 1920 idle
freight cars standing on yard and side
tracks and in shops. out of a total OF
$500 cars. Those idle cars representeJ
a non-productive investment of $40. 200 600.
About the same time 1 was Informed by
a prominent official of the great Burning
more than 40, 900 idle cars. These are but
examples OF a condition universally pre-
vailing among the railroads This panic
storm, which, with varying severity. has
swept the land, has affected in a relative
degree every Industrial activity of the
country. For months there was universal
stagnation. disastrous and pitiful. and
deep depression stfn prevails in every
section. Tens of thousands of wagemen
been driven to want l could fill pages
with authentic accounts of wage-losses
stated on excellent authority that 100000
railroad employees alone have been laid
on in all branches of the service. Only
a short time ago Mr.. Mellen, president II
the New Haven Railroad Company, pub
licly stated that the panic had so seri-
ously affected business that his company
and that since December 18th they had
dismissed 5000 men. Right here in Mis-
senting all departments. have been laid
off or discharged. But to these must be
added that still greater army sent forth
downcast, and too often empty-handed, |
from shops. stores, mines and other fields
Of industry. The aggregate is appalling. /
There have been bread riots-real bread
LUIS IL AlA6A lAGAH OAAC dUu GILL I
cities like Chicago. Buffalo and
New York; and to relieve a most menac-
situation thousands of unemployed
men were given temporary employment
on public works in Philadelphia. There
nave been more soup-houses in the east
and more people supported by such chart
than ever before. And not only in
the cast. but even here in bounteous old
Missouri the grim necessity of the soTp-
was forced upon the cop Hear
this from the Springfield. Missouri, Re
whose editor throated a wall
over the Cleveland panic and made the
air blue with frightful prophecies should
Bryan be elected:
"Calls for aid at soup-houses are In
creasing every day. More than 700
people were fed yesterday at the SOUP
house being conducted by charitable
organizations of the city. Though the
place was opened to the public only
last Saturday, hundreds have applied
for something to eat"
Ny fellow-citizens, this is the same OLD
song Of the -Soup-house, only Ii is suns
n a different tune and by a different
shoir.
And now what dare I say of the bonds
( possible we are in the midst Of halcyor
republican days? Bonds issued by Roose-
and Cortelyoui Incrediblei! Can
iuch things be. and overcome US like
summer dream?" Nevertheless, 1t Is
literally true that on November IS, 1907.
he Secretary of the Treasury, under the
of the President, made public
FER to sell SO. 100000 of two per cent
Panama canal bonds and 500, 600, O04 of
hree per cent treasury certificates of in
which, in substance and eff
ect. are nothing but bonds. For what j