Documents

Congressional Record.

Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congress

es.

Official Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention

Held in Chicago, Ill., July 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th, and lith,

the money Question," in North American Review, Dec. 1896.

Bryan, W. J. "The Issue in the Presidential campaign," in

The Nation, May 6, 1897 and tnrough the Canvass of 1900.

The Outlook, December 25, 1897.

New York Times, Dec. 21, 1896.

New York Daily Tribune. July 20, 1897, and through the

PARTI

THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN OF 1896

Di scontent

The quarter century before 1896 was marked by a growth of discontent and restlessness on the part of the small farmers

and workingmen of the country.

The panic of 1873 had resulted

in the bankruptcy and the closing of many small business houses

with a resulting acceleration to the movement toward industrial

or gani za tion.

This movement was practically completed by the

panic of 1893.

In a surprisingly short time big business had

recovered itself and the "rush toward integration of industry

began."

It was a great era

of trust building, the director

of one corporation was a director in others, and these "gener

als of finance" were largely interested in financial speculation rather than in the actual management of the plant. Per

sonal contact with la bor ceased to be.

At the same time, the panies of 1873 and 1893 forced many

unions to disband.

Dues paid by the members were low and no

adequate system of benefits was provided.

Scores of these or

ganizations collapsed under the stress of hard times. Individual

1 bargaining with its attendant evils became the order of the day.

The workmen of the country turned to those imperfect rem

edies which their leaders held before them.

The remedy which

seemed to be on the lips of all was the redistribution of land.

To the belief that the great corporations of the country con

1. Frank T. Carlton, History and Problems of Organized

La bor (New York 1920) pp. 69,70.