Labor's True Friend

In the speech delivered to the workingmen of Omaha at Syndicate park on Labor day, Sidney J. Kent, who claims to voice the sentiment of the toilera in the workshops, extolled WilHam J. Bryan as "the great friend of labor." It is truly said that he who makes two blades of grass grow where but one blade grew before is a human benefactor. We ask in all candor what William J. Bryan has ever done that would entitle him to be classed as a benefactor of labor? When and where bas he ever given employment to a laboring man? When has he ever contributed in any way to the wage fund out of which the workingman is paid? Has he ever built a house of his own? Has he ever 'invested a dollar in a factory or a mili? Has he ever hired a man to till the soil or produce anything that men eat, drink or wear? If Mr. Bryan lias not contributed directly to the employment of labor or assisted in the up of any industry, has he done anything that would indiT'pctlv nromote the welfare of labor or ameiiorate the condition of the laborer? Does Mr. Bryan's congressional record show a single biiï or a single vote by which the condition of the working classes has been bettered or thejr opportunities for employinent at living wages been multiplied? Six years ago Mr. Bryan made his first congressional canvass on free trade lines. His great nightmare was the surplus in the treasury, which he said must be rednced by thè abolition of the protective tariff and the free opening of our markets to foreigu coinpetition. His great cry was that the American laborer was outrageously imposed upon by the factory lords, w'ho were enriching themselves at the expense of the producer. He wantod the laborer to have the opportunity to buy cheaper clothes, cheaper shoes, cheaper hats, cbeapcr blankets, cheaper tinware, cheaper crockery and cheaper everything. In the turmoil of the campaign agamst prohibition the workiugmen overlooked their Interest in tho tariff, and Mr. Bryan slipped into Congress. There he had the opportunity to show his frieudsliip for labor and put his theories into practice. What did he accomplish? Did e get an appropriation for a single public building or any public work on which a laboring man might fiud employment? Did he encourage the erection of more faciories and the patronage of home industry that would enlarge the demand for American-made goodsV Did he not deliberately and persistently slab every American industry Üiat required protection against the competition of soods made by low-paid foreign labor? Did he not glory in shutting up American corduge works and American woolen milis'.' End he iiot apelare tnat me United Statos would be botter off without a single tin factory in it, and did he not scout at the idea that America waa able to work its own raw material up into manufactured artieles without the aid or consent of any other nation on The' great friend of labor, indeed! What has labor to thank William .1. Bryan for? ís it ber-ause be voted for free-silver bilis intended to debase the curreney and reduce the valué of the wage-earnor's savings? ís it because he has made himself the advocate of the silver-mine millionaires, who care nothing for the wago-worker or the farmer, excent to use him to bolster up their own fortunes? If AVilliam J. Bryan has a right to pose as "the great friend of labor," on what ground does hi ütle rest?-