American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-03-29
The Baldwin Bill.


Ohio Legislature to prevent "slrikes"
and punish strikers has Justly aroused their
indignation. We learn that a mechanics
association is forming in Lancaster. We
hope their legitimate efforts to elevate
themselves morally, Socially and intslleCt.
ually may bsscrownsdwith success. We
publish below an extract from a commu.
uicatiou furnished the Independent P ress
at GAINESVILLE Ohio. that will be read with
Interest.
1--WE see that a certain man by tie name
of Baldwin, introduced Bill in the House
of REPRESENTATIVES Of THE free State of Ohio,
to punish Mechanics for daring to resist
the oppression Of employers, who are con
tinually grinding the faces Of the poor. by
the contemplate system Of paying for la
Dor. with the Sb5hihabls tisSh called
"ORDERs," and who ID many cases refuse
to pay at oil, unless discount of ten and
twenty and even thirty per cent. is given
them by their employees; when in certain
cases the poor men are compelled to raise
a little cash. But who is this Baldwin,
"that is cutting up such tricks before
high Heaven that the very Angels weep"
Why, he is the worthy decipls Of "Mr.
Nabob Todd" of Infamous memory, the
father ofthe Conspiracy Bill No: l. that
was introduced two weeks before the same
Baldwin, Bill Of ambiguous meaning in
one sense, but explicit enough to punish
honest Mechanics for asking for their hard
earned money from the greedy gras2ing
tyrants who like Todd" are fatiening and
growing rich on the life blood and sweat
Of the men who are SO unfortunate as to
serve such masters. What are they aim.
ing a: with their Conspiracy Bills. and
their "Bills TO pupish Mechanics" for
striking. when employers inAict prea,
wrongs upon the working men? Why
they suppose, because the working men Of
the free States have lost sight Of their own
interests, and mixed themselves up in the
foolish political questions Of the day. that
they--the mouied MEXICAN put en- the
ScreDs little tighter and squeeze more
work out OF their victims, and pay them
less for it, and if the men should have
spark Of freedom left, and should make an
effort 10 regain their rights, then put the
oonspiracy'lawrin force and crush them
Gown to tbe very dust Of the earth. and
kick them aite. wards for falling. @ 2s.
Perhsp; my readers may think that
| overdraw the picture, but they will come
to different conclusion if they 20 to the
City of Cleveland and enter the workshops
of Davy Todd, and certain Mr.. Bsldwins;
there you will find, I'm Todd's shop) a
foreman who will tell you that Todd's bill
is just and rit ht in all its provisions. and
il workingmen have the audacity to Strike
they ought to be punished. Speak to one
Of the men and you are told by the fore
man, "that he i'll do the talking and the
men must do The work." Go to Baldwin's
manufactory and ask one ofthe men EN-.
ployed there aqudstion and up steps boss
and informs you THAT the men OF this.
shop are al employed by the day, ""No
talking ailo,ced here Sri" "What do you
wish TO see, ""gool day sir, good day SIR"
'call again sir call again" This is a free
country, isit? This is land Of free
labor and free speech, is it? American
citizens are guaranteed BY their Constiiu-
ton, freadom Of thought, word and action,
as long as they violate no law, and
act right toward their fellow men. But
Todd and Baldwin are not satisfied with
using their men as il they were slaves, but
they must coin new laws and make them
selves odious to every honest man 10 Ohio.
lu 856 Todd came to Newark and spoke
for four hours about cur free county and
our noble institution, and TO listen to hin A.,
he appeared to be a sincere lover Of free.
dom. instead Of foul mouthed hypocrite
as his conspiracy Bin proves him to be-
WorkinGmcn are opposed to strikes more
than Employers are. and strikes never
would occur if strict justice was done by
Rail Road Corporations and other employ
ers, to the men employed. The Stuben.
vile IL Indiana Railroad Company, for
instance, often discharges men without
paying them a cent. nnd sometimes the
men SO cruelty wronged. have got to go ,c
the poor house and take their families
with them. Other men when they leave
the service Of this R. R. Company have
got to sell their time for thirty cents on
/ the dollar, in order to get some Of the
money that they honestly earned. They
would never get cent By any other
process. Some employers pay off with
orders on their own stores, aud in giving
their stale, musty goods, in ex,hapge fol
{ work performed, they cheat the Mechanic
thirty per cent II Todd aud Baldwin
would reform some Of these abuses, thai
laboring men have to contend against; and
if the Legislature Of the State would pass
law that would compel Judge Jewett tc
pay his men promptly, instead Of cheat.
ing them and swinding them, as is the
case now; and ifthe Presiden. Of the Ma
honng Rail Road would do his duty tC
his workingmen and ,res, them, and trust
them as il they had feelings, as other hu
man beings have, we would never hear
anything more about "Strike,, "sud"Todd
Baldwin. and Nero" could have teu
, party Of their own and travel through
"Hades" and fight with each other al
much as they please.
Let me say in conclusion that these two
infamous Bills. are insults that will never
be forgotten by the Mechanics Of Ohio
and | hopeevery workiugman in the State
will take time. by the forelock' aud snlis
in the great army Of Association; and then
those tyrauts will see that we too, can