AN 0IMi
TO "WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN: Greater in defeat than . -future fame,-or made more conspicuous your name in history. The
your detractors ever were are, or ever can be, in victory, you are . Wageworker supported you because of the things for which you
today, as you-have been for twelve , years, the leader of a host of stood. It followed your flag because it was the flag of industrial
devoted followers. You have today, as you have had for twelve years, - independence, the flag of social reform, the flag of justice, the flag
a host of followers who would rather go down to defeat with their of equal rights. Today, the defeated candidate for the presidency,
banners flying .than to win a victory purchased at the sacrifice of you have unequalled opportunities for continuing a work that no ?
principle or won by coercion and intimidation. Last Tuesday you other living man is better fitted, than you to perform. "With voice .
received more intelligent, thinking, patriotic votes than were ever 'an pen you can go ahead with your work and continue to be in the;
before cast for any candidate for the presidency. , No man voted , future . what you have been for the past twelve years the greatest
for you because he was afraid of losing his job by opposing you. moral and political force in the world., ' ' '
No man voted for you because an employer played upon his fears. The Wageworker is not as one without hope, though it confesses
No man voted for you because he expected by so doing to secure a that the future looks dark. Greed sits enthroned in high places, and
specjar privilege to rob his fellows. No man voted for yon because ' special interests have made handmaidens of ' those who should be
he wanted to protect a special privilege or strengthen his hold upon , 'servants of the people, i Conscienceless dollars are of more moment
dishonest dollars wrung from honest toil and sweat. No servile, than human rights, and human equality is a hissing and byword in
slinking voters were driven to the polls by arrogant taskmasters the mouths of selfconstituted trustees of divine providence,
and ordered to vote for you. 1 .The man who led the children of Egypt out of bondage was
The men who voted for you, Mr. Bryan the great masses of not permitted to lead them into the promised land. ' Napoleon,' who
them voted for you because they believe in your principles,' rely , ; swept Europe with fire and sword, died an exile before the code of
upon your statesmanship and trust hnplicity in your honesty and -'lawswhich he promulgated forced every nation but one in Europe
integrity of purpose. The- votes you received were votes cast by - to grant constitutional government to the people. Lincoln, died be
mcn who think above their belt lines. You have every reason to be 'fore the dream of a house no longer divided -against itself became
proud of the great following you have 'millions of men who prefer a ideality.,' : .. ,
defeat under your leadership to victory under the leadership of some Under the inspiration of your voice and pen the- conscience of
man whose platform is expediency and whose principles are weather-. this nation has been awakened, but, it may be that the fates
vanes set to every passing freeze. decree that before that conscience is made manifest in the oust
The Wageworker is not prepared to sfly that organized labor ing of the money changers from the temple you shall have-passed
.failed to measure up fully to its opportunity. But it seems that from the scene of action, But the future historian who writes of
organized labor dil not do as it should have done. Perhaps the.':' that epoch in which the people refused longer to be coerced, bullied,
threat of idleness had its effect. Perhaps men who would loudly', flattered and robbed, will devote his most stirring pages to recount
declaim their willingness to die for their country were afraid to , ing how you blazed the pathway to the reform. ' Three years did the
assert their manhood because thy feared that in so doing they might Carpenter of Nazareth walk and talk, and He rallied about ' him
miss a meal or two. Perhaps, fear ruled where reason should have but twelve one of whom proved false. When He went down, reviled
held sway. Whatever the cause, you did not receive from organized and condemned, even the faithful eleven gave up hope "and dis
labor the solid support that you should have had. The result of banded. And yet the reforms which He taught, the principles whiclv
Tuesday's election simply means that there is no "organized labor 5 He enunciated, sprang'Hip from what seemed to be eternal death,
vote," and that the "organized labor vote" need not longer be con- and today those principles hold sway in the hearts of untold millions,
sidered a factor in the national political equation. It may be that after a while, after the faithful have, scattered, hope
But The Wageworker does believe that the organized labor vote less and heartsick, that the great principles for" which' you have
in Nebraska is something that must be reckoned with hereafter. It contended, and which have been rejected, will spring up from the
stood loyally by you almost to a man. Here, in the state where you ashes of defeat and grow in the hearts of men until they shall rule
are best known and most loved, you received a vote of which any the world. If this be not so, then why continue the Btruggle. '
man might be proud. Your state, your congressional district, your Mr. Bryan; The Wageworker has followed you to defeat, and
county, your city and your precinct heretofore overwhelmingly, 'it is willing to do so again and again. It feels today that the war
against you have all registered an expression of the love and esteem , is lost, but may have been only a battle. You have but to' raise the
in which you are held, now that the people among whom you live . rallying cry if it was a battle lost,' and The Wageworker will again
have learned to know you. '.'- ' come to the front. And with it, as its comrades, will come thousands1.
So far as your personal fortunes were concerned, The Wage- of earnest, thinking patriotic men who can neither be driven by
worker did not care whether you were elected or defeated. An elee- threat of hunger nor purchased by promise of full, dinner pails, to
lion to the presidency would have added nothing whatever to your fight under your flag. THE WAGEWORKER,,
