People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1896 — Page 5

INFAMY RUNS RIOT

In Gowdy’s Attempt to Disfranchise 30,000 Populists, And the Members of That Party are Thoroughly Aroused. Populists to Their People. An Address Prepared by Gathered in This City. Gowdy’s Attempt Will Go Down to History as the Crime of ’96. The Populists, Aroused by the , HighHanded and Outrageous Plans Formulated by the Republican Hoss, Issue an Address Advising Their People How to Act—Gowdy'a Instructions Rightly Hranded as Infamous. From the Indianapolis Sentinel. The exposure in The Sentinel of yesterday of the infamous attempt of Chairman Gowdy of the republican state committee to override the law and through his election officers disfranchise 30,000 voters in this state whom he was unable to buy, created a political whirlwind as it aroused all to a realization of the gravity of the situation and the danger that is imminent. x Subsequent developments growing out of this exposure • proved beyond doubt that the fear was well grounded. On the heels of The Sentinel’s publication of the intended fraud came the admission of the repub? lican chairman, and from him was forced a copy of the letter which he sent to his underlings throughout the state instructing them to refuse to count the fusion votes and thus possibly secure on the face of the returns a plurality for the republican ticket. Mr. Gowdy last night said he intends to insist upon his instruction being carried out and this threat is significant. He is opposed by Attorney-General Ketcham and other leading republican lawyers, but he is determined that nothing shall stop his corrupt methods. Mr. Gowdy in instructing election officers not to add the vote of fusion candidates appearing on the two tickets takes a position directly opposed to the rulings of the courts in the matter; opposed to the calm and judicial investigations of the election law by the courts of the state; opposed to the rulings made upon the same question by Attorney-General Smith for republicans and democrats alike; opposed to the direct warning of Attorney- General Ketcham. Populists Are Indignant. Among the populists of the state the letter has aroused the gravest fear and the most intense indignation. Populist leaders see in the intended move a scheme to disfranchise them by throwing out every one of their votes. This would possibly defeat the democratic x state ticket and throw the state to McKinley, as the democratic electoral vote would be divided. Never has such an audacious crime been attempted, say the members of that party, and they are determined to defeat this scheme at all hazards. They will first of all render it ineffective by stamping the rooster and thus voting for their electoral ticket and for silver men for the state offices who can be elected. Where oefore there were a few who would have voted for their own state ticket through impartial understanding of the situation and the importance of their voting otherwise, now there is no doubt as to what the populist vote will do. It will make its vote count double for silver and against republican fraud by stamping the rooster and thus placing beyond all danger the counting of their ballot. Last night there met at the

state headquarters of the populist party a number of the leaders and the following address was issued, which deals directly and squarely with the situation: Tfie A ddrewt. “To the Members of the People’s Party of Indiana: “Since the former address by this committee many things have transpired, which, taken with preceding transactions, are conclusive that* it is time for all honest men to act in close and fraternal union and make the victory so large and conclusive that the branded enemies of our country may be overwhelmed Lest you may not now readily recall the many unlawful and dangerous acts, we will again place some of them before you. The first act of the usurping intent of the English money power was its open and complete control of the republican convention at St. Louis, when so patent and flagrant was that dominance that a large and influential section of that party, which loved country above and beyond party, walked out of that convention, and their patriotic example has been followed by a host of intelligent and honest members of the same party. “The next step of the English money bosses and their American minions was, if possible by any means, to prevent the people’s party from nominating Bryan. Failing in that the next step was by the use of money to corrupt prominent populists and newspapers and in conjunction to foster and furnish money to construct and build up a gold seism in the democratic party/ Now, as the campaign is nearing its close, the money power, finding itself baffled and as a last and final move the money bosses have determined that if they cannot prevent the patriotic union of all the financial reform forces, they will through their election boards practically disfranchise the members of the people’s party, whom they can ffiot buy, coerce, nor cajole into an abandonment of their united electoral ticket. Fortunately for you they are feeling so secure in their contemplated move that we have an outline of the latest conspiracy against the people furbished by chairman Gowdy and appearing in the Indianapolis News of date Tuesday, Oct. 27, as follows: “ ‘The Australian ballot law was intended to give to each voter the right to cast one untrammeled ballot, and to have it fairly counted. “« ‘Because of fusion between the democrats and populists in candidates for electors in the several districts of the state appear on the ballot under both the rooster and the plow—the democratic apd populist emblems respectively. It is clearly the intention of the law that the name of a candidate shall not appear upon the ballot more than once. We urgently request that you instruct the republican inspectors and judges to refuse to count the votes under the democratic and populist emblem together. In other words the votes cast for the candidate under the populist emblem should be counted as the total vote for the populist candidate and the votes under the democratic emblem should be counted as the total vote for the democratic candidate. The total should not aggregate the votes cast under both emblem. “ ‘lnstruct your inspectors and judges to firmly refuse to add the total votes together in any event under the populist and democratic emblem.’ The Great Conspiracy. “Here is outlined the great conspiracy of modern politics, and the boldness of the money bosses is appalling. We know that the masses of all parties if they know the facts will rebuke such infamous attempts to inaugurate a new system to prevent a fair vote and an honest'

THE PEOPLE’S PILOT, RENSSELAER, IND.. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 29, 1896.

count. This latest conspiracy can be effectually thwarted by the people, it is respectfully submitted, in two ways, viz: One way is to retain the control for the future of all election boards for ourselves and allies by voting the rooster electoral and state ballot straight. This will stamp out the modern conspiracy, preserve our liberty and effectually preclude present complications. The other way is when the plow and hammer is stamped to require the election officers in every precinct to be on their guard and be courageous, vigilant and persistent in demanding that the law shall be honestly followed. Sec. 52 of the election law provides for such emergency, and reads as follows: “ ‘The board shall then proceed to canvass the votes, begining first with the state bailors and completing them before proceeding with the local ballots, by laying each ballot upon the table in the order in which it is taken from the ballot box, and the inspector and the judge of the election, differing in politics from the inspector, shall view the ballots as the names of the persons voted for are read therefrom. In the canvass of the votes any ballot which is not indorsed with the initials of the poll clerks, as provided in this .act, and any ballot which shall bear any distinguishing mark or mutilation shall be void and shall not be counted, and any ballot or part of a ballot front

which it is impossible to determine the elector’s choice of candidates, shall not be counted as to the candidate or candidates affected thereby: Provided, how ever, that on protest of any member of the board such ballto, and all disputed ballots shall be preserved by the inspector, and at the close of the count placed with the seals of the ballot packages in paper bags, securely sealed, and so delivered t’o the clerk of the county with notification to him of the number of ballots so placed in such bags, and of the condition of the seals of the ballot packages. The poll clerk shall also record on the tally sheets, memoranda of such ballots and the condition of the seal of the ballot packages, and in any contest of election such ballots and seals may be submited in evidence. On completing the count and recording the same on the tally sheets, all the remaining ballots, except those marked, mutilated or otherwise defective, as in this section herein before described, shall be distroyed by the election board by totally consuming by fire before adjournment, and thereupon the election board shall immediately make a memorandum of the total vote cast for each candidate and deliver a copy thereof to each member of such board. No person other than the members of the election board, poll clerks and election sheriffs and United States supervisors, if any be appointed, shall be permited in the election room during the election, except for the purpose of voting or during the canvass of the votes,’

Can Checkmate It. “Under the provisions of such section any attempt by inspectors or others to violate the law can be successfully checkmated. Make all such ballots contested and disputed ones, and require that they be preserved for evidence in the courts; and do not be intimidated or cajoled from such duty. Both-methods we submit will most surely accomplish desired results. The evident object of the money bosses is that in case the election is so close as to make the Indiana electoral vote the deciding one then to count in McKinley and repeat the Til-den-Hayes fiasco and fraud. Freemen, such desperate, cor rupt and monarchical methods must be met with intelligence, courage and the highest qualities of patriotism, Liberty is the

stake, and if this last crowning infamy is permitted to succeed we are thenceforth slaves and serfs. In view of the new danger to which we are exposed how important that all election boards and courts be secured to ourselves and allies, and thereby kept out of the hands of our enemies. It can be readily seen that if the whole election machinery was now in the hands of the money bosses and their tools we should have no rights respected and would be utterly helpless. Under such apparent and pressing danger party lines and party names are nothing—but principle is the overshadowing thing. Leave all questions of party names and party organization to take care of themselves in the future after we have settled that the people have rights and the courage to maintain them. “We make no claim to dictate the course and action of others. We have • therefore, given you some facts and confidently rely upon your intelligence, your patriotism and zeal for the common good in meeting Ichis new emergency with that calm, many self-reliance which has always characterized the true populist. May the country not safety rest assured that the flag shall not be trailed nor polluted by our patriots?

“Julius Rosenheiner, Chairman. “F. D. Craig, Secretary. “Approved by “D. F. Kennedy. “M. C. Rankin, “S. M. Shepard, “R. Gregg, . “L. W. Hubbell.”

The Iron Law of Wages.

By “the iron law of wages” is ment a law incident to our present economic system. This law of wages is claimed to have been discovered py Ferdinand LaSalle, but whosoever was the discoverer of this law, did not alter its grave significance. Hence, this law of wages, meaning simply that there is a tendency in wages to just in proportion as the cost of reproduction of the laborer decreases. This law is no economic fiction; it is a stern reality, substantiated by facts too numerous to be specified in this short article. When there are millions of men, women and children who are slowly but surely starving to death; when there are hundreds and thousands of those who work early and late and cannot earn enough to keep a roof over them, rags upon theif backs, fire in their stoves and sufficient food in their stomachs to sustain themselves in good' health, who can doubt this cruel law of wages? Let others say what they will, but as for myself, I say this iron law of wages does exist, and results most cruelly to the laboring masses. They who work in the factory and in the mine, they who do the hardest and most dangerous work, those who are the most useful members of the comunity. about without clothing or shelter. Is it becailse they do not deserve comfort that they suffer in poverty? No. Even the meanest boodle politician will tell you that if there is any class that deserves comfort, it* is the wealth producing class.' And yet they who do all of which civilization boasts, go around with empty stomachs, not because they do not deserve food, but because our present economic system does not permit them to have it. • Now the quesoion likely to occur to every intelligent person is whence comes z this depression? Why do wages tend to fall so low that hundreds and thousands are driven to the most 'desperate crimes? Why do wages (the compensation for toil, as some politicians are proud of puttipg it) tend to fall to that point at which it is much the same to the laborer whether he works or not, starvation beidg

his portion in either case? It is our present financial system, the gold-standard, that makes the dollar so dear and so few of them. Why is it that socialism and anarchy is staring in the eyes of the aristocrats of the gold-stand-ard countries in Europe? It is on account of the desperate condition of the laboring classes ttyere. Let us understand, that all this talk of men being free and independent, is not true. Wage earners are not free and independent. When land and instruments of prodution are monopolized and those who have all tne wants of a human being, have nothing, save their labor power to gratify them, it is absurd to &peak of them as free and independeiit men. No man is free who has no access to the Soil upon which he chooses to make his livelihood. No man is free whose livelihood depends on others. As a well known economist has said: “Without land man is almost helpless, without tools he is dependent, and without both he is wholly dependent—he is a slave. And this is precisely what our present monetary and industrial system has made of the laborer. The capitalist does not own the laborer, but he owns that without which he cannot live. And this, as we shall point out later, is how the laborer comes under the “iron law of wages.”

Had been free and independent, as he should be under our form of goverment, that is to say, had the laborer had free access to the soil and machinery, his wages might have been established by the fruits of his Mr. The iorn law of wages could not hurt him because if his wages were not as high as he could earn for himself, he could refuse them. He could work for himself and dislose of his commodities by selling or exchanging them with those who were in need of them. But, under the present monetary system the laborer can not afford to refuse wages, no matter how low they may be. He must accept the wages offered to him or commit suicide, because the laborer of today has no land, no tools, and cannot employ his labor power without selling himself for exploitation. The laborer of. today sleeps in another man’s house; he works in another man’s shop, he uses another man’s tools. He can exercise no will of his own with reference to the compensation for his toil, the present monetary system has rendered- him helpless. What monopoly in land began, monopoly in machinery has finished. Thus comes the laborer of to-day under the biting pressure of the iron law of wages.

’ But as we grow accustomed, the hardest drudgery is imposed upon us with impunity. When a man feels that a thing is inevitable be ceases to complain, even though it may be an evil of the most painful character; he will seek a remedy at the ballot box. The necessity to labor for a bare living, just as the necessity to die is being looked upon as a very ordinary thing. Work seems to the toiler the greatest boon in life. The meanest and hardest drudgery is always welcome to those whose lot has been made miserable by our existing capitalistic system. And with of men falling over each other in the struggle for an opportunity to work, what becomes of those who refuse to work for low wages? Under such pressure there is no downward limit to which wages may not be pushed, except that beyond which the laborer cannot reproduce himself. Now I hope it will be clearly understood why all but the most skillful laborers are forced under the law of wages, without regard to their personal merits or demerits, with regard to the

multiplication of the effectiveness of their labor powers. And when industrial training Schools make all workmen skillful, then what we call “skilled workmen” will be just as poorly paid as the rest. The only point in determining the compensation for toil, is, “how little can the laborer live on?” When this is divided you have also divided the workman’s wages. And so anything tending to reduce the standard of living tends to reduce wages. This is just how the law of wages will operate. Why do men work now for children's wages? . Because children take the places of men. Why then, are children’s prices lower than those of men? Because it costs less to reproduce a

child than a man. It is true that, with the aid of machinery, a child or a woman, can produce as much as a man, but they can live on less and cap offer their labor power for sale at a lower rate of wages. Thus, everybody’s wages tend to come down to the lowest point of anybody’s wages.- Such is the iron Jaw of wages favored through our present monetary system; as we mentioned at the outset, this is not a natural law, but it operates under all forms of government with gold-standard, everywhere the same way, as we see in Europe. Hence, for the purpose of making ;his law of wages ineffective, it is necessary for silver to regain its lost foothold in comparison with gold; it is necessary for us to return to the free and unlimited coinage of silver and gold at the parity ratio of sixteen to one without reference to any other nation on earth; as it was introduced by our fpreathers and founders of our government, and was practiced until 1878. Through this Me shall regain true peace, economically, protection against all evils and prosperty. Tiy this is done we shall always be slaves to those who own the means of life. Till the opportunities of labor have >een set free, we shall always have our wages cut lower and lower; that is, we shall always get a smaller and smaller part of our products. There is no political freedom without economic freedom; neither is there economic freedom without political freedom. No man nor country can be truly free until both are politically and economically free.

PROF. C. H’S.

A just money is a memorandum of value due the bearer from the common-weal th, paid by the public to its servants as evidence of value due them from the people whom they serve; paid by public servants to the people for the things their wants demand; paid by the people to the public treasury as evidence that public servants have been paid. The above ia a unique and succinct statement of the real nature of money taken from the Archer Ritual. A thorough comprehension of this definition and its perfect application to the functions of this mysterious thing called money would revolutionize the business of the entire world. Why the american people insist upon going all the way round by the Bieck Hills every time they go to the grocery, is beyond comprehension, when the direct route to the grocery is so short. * M w If we elect Bryan the holders of money will immediately seek investments, for with a knowledge of the fact that the circulation will be increased by the opening of the mints to silver, will come the conviction that the appreciation of their money must stop, that prices must advance, and that now -is the time to put it into property. Look for money to come into circulation as soon as free coinage is a fixed fact.

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