People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1896 — STRONG APPEAL TO LABOR. [ARTICLE]

STRONG APPEAL TO LABOR.

John N. Bogert of the American Federation of Labor Analyze* the Speech ol the Nominee and Make* Prediction*. This speech is very timely. It is more than an address to the workers in Chicago—it appeals to the tollers everywhere. It will bring out and crystalize the “labor sentiment” of the entire country. The attempts to suppress this sentiment will rather develop it, broaden it, deepen it, strengthen anl embolden it, make it more determined in its say. Inquiry from all parts of the industrial world will now be focussed upon the issues represented by Mr. Bryan’s candidacy. His strong expressions in behalf ol the common people; his quotations from Jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln; his demand for government without favoritism; his recommendation of arbitration in labor disputes; his advocacy of proper legislation on the problem of the unemployed; and finally his exaltation of labor organizations and their achievements, placing , them above associations of bankers, railroad magnatesand monopolists in their relations with the general public—all these will touch the responsive chord among the city workers and farmers. Mr. Bryan is distinctly a people’s candidate. 1 belive the plain people of this country—whom Abraham Lincoln loved—feel that they again have a candidate for president whom they can trust as they have not trusted any other candidate since Lincoln. .The history of our country shows four such true representatives, appearing at cyclic intervals in this country—Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, Bryan. These men were defenders of the rights of the people. They were called to leadership at critical periods of our history. We are now at a critical period. The crisis has brought forth the man to lead and win. Mr. Bryan is the embodiment of the principles for which organized labor is battling. Our platform might well be simply “Bryan!” This is labor’s golden opportunity, to be embraced with zeal .and utilized as the chance of a lifetime. And, thank God, that, although capital is banded together as never before, there is a steadily growing unity of'purpose among the workers that will, by election da'y, sweep aside this evil power and give an enduring triumph to the new and true Democracy. The idea that any considerable number of workingmen will vote for McKinley, especially since this far-reach-ing speech, is preposterous. JOHN BOGART, Organizer New York state Branch of the American Federation of Labor. The New York Sun, while professing to believe there is no possibility of Bryan's election, advises its readers, nevertheless, to protect themselves against all chance of loss from the success of the free silver craze by investing their surplus money in lands and other forms of good property, and to borrow more moifey to invest in the same way. This concedes the very point for which bimetallists have so strongly contended, that the opt .-ring of the to silver would cause money now hoarded to seek investment and Increase the value of all forms of good property, and especially of real estate, which is now so greatly depressed.