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PAGE TWO Public Opinion Throughout the Union READ THIS LETTER. New Boston, Mich., Nov. 15, 1907. Dear Sir: The developments in the matter of “the panic” since my letter of the 9th inst., are more or less serious, and I think of some interest to you. It was known early last May that the inner circle of the “In terests” had passed the word along among their close followers, to sell all exposed property or 11 get it into shape by December. ’ ’ They, the “Interests,” did not mean to pre cipitate a panic until about the assembling of Congress, and not then unless the Presi dent was still obdurate. But there was a relentless fight on between two thieves, viz.: Amalgamated Copper (Rog ers) and United Copper (Heinze), which cul minated in October. After Heinze’s fall runs were caused on all banks or trust companies with Heinze affiliations, for the purpose of eliminating Heinze completely and wiping out the score of many years’ standing, transferred from Montana to New York. Meantime the President had reaffirmed his determination to persist in his pursuit of “rich malefactors.” In order to “disciplin l him they made the Heinze incident earlier than they expected, an excuse for a panic, when there was not the slightest financial outside of Wall Street. The banks and trust companies in Detroit are most of them dominated by the 26 Broad way crowd, as I am reliably informed, and presumably under orders, passed resolutions and published them, that in the face of the financial emergency they would not pay checks for ninety days, and then only on no tice, for the purpose, as 'they stated, of pre venting hoarding. It was not believed when I wrote you on the 9th inst., that they could make the panic work. There was no one scared. Not one depositor in a thousand ask ed for money beyond daily needs, and would not scare. It is beginning to transpire that all products shipped to market are paid for in checks which the banks will not pay, as they already have substantially all the money lock ed up, and are gradually absorbing everything in the country. While they cannot create a scare, they may cause much distress, with the end not yet in sight. I do not write this for publication, but as far as it may have value for your informa tion. Yours truly, S. W. J. A MOST INTERESTING LETTER. Jefferson, Ohio, Nov. 11, 1907. Dear Sir: I was born in Ashtabula, 0., in 1866. Eighteen months alter this, father, who had served three years under Sherman in the 3rd Ohio Battery, was killed by the Lake Shore Railroad Company while coupling cars. Mother was left penniless with myself and a brother two months old. I was handed over to an uncle at the age of five, *who taught me the simple life and sent me to the district school. At the age of fifteen I began walking four miles to the Jefferson High School. Dur ing the winter, when the horses were not busy, THE JEFFERSONIAN. I rode one of them. The next year after this, my uncle, having moved further away, I se cured the position of janitor for the school building, which paid my board and tuition. This job I held until I graduated in 1885, working on my uncle’s farm Saturdays and vacations. In the fall of 1885, having inherited SIOO from my grandmother, I entered the Michigan Agricultural College. I graduated from there in 1888 with the degree of Bachelor of Science, having paid my way by teaching in vacations and working out of school hours. The fall of 1888 was the high-water mark of the prohibition party, and I voted for Clinton B. Fiske for president. The fall of 1892 found me married and farming a rented farm in Lawrence, Mich. I had joined the Populist movement, and voted for James B. Weaver, and I believe the Fourth District of Michigan, in which Lawrence is situated, gave her electoral vote to Weaver, Michigan at that time voting by congressional districts. The fall of 1896 found me renting a 240- acre farm in Keeler, Mich., the father of four children and shouting for Bryan and Watson. Wheat was then 48 cents per bush el, corn, 20 cents, hogs $2.40 per cwt., and bran 40 cents per bushel. Bryan again received my vote in 1900. In the fall of 1904 I was the comfortable owner of a 35-acre farm, just the size of Bryan’s. I was a farmer, however, and not an agricul turist. That fall I was for Hearst, and was a delegate to the state convention. Everybody at our county convention was for Hearst, so much so that it was thought unnecessary to instruct the delegates. Imagine my surprise, when two-thirds of the delegates from our county (Vanburen), following the lead of a county seat lawyer (Tom Cavanaugh), who had his tip from Dan Campaugh, swung our county for the Parker organization at our district caucus. Our county ruled the dis trict. The Fourth district turned the state for Parker. I saw money and whisky both used to influence our delegates. That fall I swore never again to have any thing to do with the rotten democracy, and voted for Tom Watson for president. Now I have sold my little farm in Michi gan and bought one in Jefferson, Ohio, not over 150 rods from the court house and the home of Ben Wade, vffiich is now occupied by his brother, General Wade. I want to help teach the doctrine of populism in a coun ty where there can be no demi-pops, because there are no democrats. I want your magazine sent to my address, including all the back numbers. Also your Weekly Jeffersonian. Enclosed please mid three dollars. If that is not enough send for more. Advise me as to the best way to serve the cause. Respectfully, J. C. STAFFORD. If you are looking for a wife, consider the good girl who is not ashamed to wear last year’s hat. THE UNEMPLOYED. The effect of the financial stringency on business has been seriously felt in many quarters and commented upon in various ways, but it has been gratifying to note that the failures in business have so far been so much fewer than would naturally have been expected. A great many factories and other business concerns, realizing the necessity of retrenchment and special precautions, began to better prepare themselves to meet the ad vance conditions by reducing their working forces. This action seemed to lessen the de mands upon their treasures and helped in the adjustment to the new conditions, but it en tailed a hardship upon many thousands of men and women who were thus thrown out of employment at a time when enforced idleness was most inopportune. In every industrial center this privation has been extended to i degree that has caused much suffering, which, although silently borne and not brought to public attention, is none the less severe and more extensive th’an is generally supposed. But in some of the cities the condition and needs of the unemployed have become so pressing the benevolent and charity organi zations have been unable to meet the demands for relief. In New York City the army of the home less and unemployed has grown so great, a conference of men representing all of the charity organizations in the city has been held to consider ways and means for relieving distress. The New York Times, in its report of the conference, says that it is estimated that there are 30,000 homeless men in New York City and of these only a comparatively few are of the professional vagrant class, the far greater number being men who are eager to get work but who are unable to find em ployment. One of the first steps taken by the charity conference was to decide to give out to the press a statement of the industrial con ditions in the city and to advise young men and others in the owns within striking distance of New York to stay at home and not come to the city with the hope of bettering their condition. —Nashville Banner. WILL CORTELYOU RESIGN? The New York World’s Washington corre spondent says: “The administration’s view of the Cortelyou statement is that Cortelyou was caught with the goods and has confessed. This correspondent also says that Cortelyou “is expected to leave the cabinet soon —some time this winter—perhaps soon after the holi days.” Whether or not the Cortelvou statement was credited at the White House, where the inside facts should be known, it did not read nKe a confession. If the charges wrought against the Secretary of the Treasury are true his resignation would seem to be in order, but he has been a faithful servitor of the President, and did efficient work for him as chair-man of the republican committee in the 1904 campaign.—Nashville Bapner,