Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1908-07-16

again. But II is not so tearSOme as
formerly. The people are familiar with
its antics. and have become wiser
through the bitter experience of Repub-
lican panics. As President. Mr. Bryan
would be hroad-minded, cautious con-
sentative and just. That he would set
frowning face and stubborn front against
dishonesty, lawlessness, and all forms or
encroachment on well-defined popular
rights, is certain. But always he would
act deliberately, judiciOusly and justly.
SO as to conserve the just rights OF
every man and every interest. Some
times Mr.. Bryan has made suggestions
of policy that did not command my I'M
qualified approval. | have more than
Onse discussed with him questions about
which We were not in full accord did
not find him impatient, petulant or dog
matte. On the contrary, he likes man
who thinks for himself and speaks his
own mind. He does not believe himself
incapable of mistakes, and he invites dis
cuSSion with a view to correct action
and the evolvement of beneficent results.
As President he would gather around
him the wisest, most thoughtful and eN-
perienced men of his party, and the
highest aim of his administration WOulo
be not to tear down, but to build up,
and to do the greatest possible good to
the greatest number. A man so splendid
ly equipped as he is for public service,
and with his high aims and ambitions,
cannot be dangerous to his country or
the great body of his cOunrrymen. His
administration would become distin-
without stunts spectacular or spasmodic-
1t would be run solely in the interest
of the people, would be made glorious
with great achievements and stand for
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 pass now
to the discussion of conditions and poll
cies.
THE PANIC.
1 have adverted to the fact that in 1896
and 1900 Mr.. Bryan was pictured by his
enemies as the dark evanSel OF industrial
ruin. Methods of deception without
parallel-scandalous, mendacious and I'M
mOral-were adopted to excite apprehen-
sion that Bryans success would be the
equivalent of disaster Not only so, but
a mOnStrOuS. wholesale Indictment was
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 idleneSS. of restitution and soup
houses! SOup-hOuses, particularly, were
worked over time. In fact, these melan-
choIy pictures were often painted on a
vast soup-bOwl; but however painted, the
Democratic party was always swung IN
the background as the grim, over-shadoW-
ing angel of destruction. ana 90 you
not remember the wild howl with which
they burdened the complaining air be
cause Cleveland issued bonds in time OF
Deace2 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 boastlng.
The grandilOquent assurance with when
they proclaimed their superior proweSs in
statecraft and higher capacity for sue
cessful government was confounding IN
its very audacity. PanicS, bond issues,
financial disturbances, industrial depres-
sions, were evils impossible. they shouted,
under a Republican administration. As
long as Republicans ruled the sun would
surely shine, without even fteecy cloud
let upon the sky. But how, alas, have
these proud boasts eventuated, and how
have these captivating promises been full
filled? 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
of successful challenge. And what has
happened? What has become of the per-
ennial sunshine and what of the fieecy
clouds? For nine months now we have
had the devil to pay. a storm, long brew
ing, broke with startling suddenly upon
the country. Nearly every bank in every
state suspended payments, and scores of
them tOppled to q fall, carrying wreck
and ruin to thousands. The banks every
where, unable to realize on II cir securi-
ties and meet lawful demands ,Apon them,
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 cheek the
growing havoc. These bank issues de-
positors, supply houses, wage-earnerS,
were obliged to accept as money, trusting
to luck, or go without l refer TO TINS
not to reprOach the banks, for, althouSn
this action was Violative of the law, L
approved it at the time, and 1 approve
it now. 1 approved it on the theory that
contiagration. They did wisely to take the
hazard. But the banks were not The only
sufferers. The great industrial establish
ments of the land have either reduced
their pay-rollS and output, or shut OIL
their furnaces and closed their doors.
Although enormous quantities of agrlcul-
tural, mining and manufactured products
were piled up throughout the country,
there was no money to handle them, nor
markets to absorb them. AS n conse-
quence of this, freight traffic fell away
until the transportation companies nave
been on the verge of bankruptcy, and
many, indeed, have been forced into re-
ceiverships. As late as March 10th, OF
the present year, the management OF the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company is
sued a statement to the effect that at
that date that company had 9,2OO ldle
freight cars standing on yard and side
tracks and in shops, out OF total OF
81, 500 cars. Those idle cars represented
a non-prOdUctive investment of Sl9, zoo, 900.
About the same time I was informed by
a prominent official of the great Burning
ton System that that system then had
more Than "a. OO0 idle cars. These are but
examples of Il condition universally pre-
vailing among the railroads. This panic
storm, which, with varying severity, mas
swept the land, has affected in relative
degree every industrial activity of the
country. For months there was universal
Stagnation, disastrous and pitiful, and
deep depression still prevails IN every
section. Tens of thousands of waSemen
have lost employment and thousands have
been driven to want. could I'LL pages
with authentic accounts of Wage-losseS
and resultant restitution. 1t has been
stated on excellent authority that 800, 900
railroad employees alone have been laid
off in all branches of the service. Only
a short time ago Mr.: Mellen, president OF
the New Haven Railroad Company, pub
licly stated that the panic had so Serl-
OUsly affected business that his company
had been compelled to reduce the service,
and that since December 10Th they nad
dismissed 5000 men. Right here in Mis-
souri, approximately 10, 900 men, repre-
Senting all departments, nave Deen lald
off or discharged. But 10 these must pc
added that still greater army sent lorth
downcaSt, and too often empty-handed,
from shops, stores, mines and other heldS
of industry. The aggregate IS appalling:
There have been bread riots-real bread
riots by hungry men, women and chill
dren-in cities like Chicago, Buffalo and
New York: and to relieve n most menac-
ing situation thousands of unemployed
men We're given temporary employment
on public works in Philadelphia. There
have been more soup-hOuses in the east,
and more people supported by such chart
ties than ever before. And not only in
the east, but even here in bounteous old
Missouri the grim necessity of the SOUP
house was forced upon the people. Hear
this from the Springfield, Missouri, Re
publican, 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 300
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
NV fellow-citizens, this is the same old
song of the soup-hOuse, only it is sung
in a different tune and by a different