Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-03-22
Cincinnati Correspondence.
CtYcISNAu, March l7th. 1860

CtNoINSAH, March 18th, 1860.
In political circles the fernent in our city, dur.
ing the past week, has been rather exciting, and
not without interest even TO lockers on. Several
weeks since the Hon. DAVID ToDD, a member
of the State Legislature from this county present
ed bill, and requestedits enactment into law,
for the purpose of making it a punishable offense
for working men to combine aud "strike" for
higher wages. The working men of the city con.
vencd in public meeting for the purpose of ex.
pressing their sentiments upon the subject and,
making all due allowance for feverish excitement,
there was in that meeting Of over five thousand
men, sufficient cool and calm delibcration and ac-
us own hands, immured himself in his political
grave; and, as far as this community is concern
cd, there is but little probability that he will ever
be exhumed, whether his act was committed
thoughtfully or rashly. The stigma is most too
much for any man TO recover from. The working
men of our country are too closely allied to7the
ballot-box, to leave it safe for political tricksters
to tamper seriously with their individual rights
And, certainly. working men have as much right
combine to increase their wages as capitalists
have to combine to decrease them. If there is any
possible justice or public good to be obtained in
law to regulate one side ofthc case, all the bene-
fits would be doubled by applying 1t to the other
side But the safest plan with this delicate sub
ect is to let it rest uponis merits and permit
it to be governed by the laws of trade the laws of
supply and demand. If trade is brisk and work
plenty. the demand for vorkmen will cause wages
to go up; iftrndei " dull, the demand will decrease
and wages will necessarily 60 down. Whatever
present advantages there may he in ''strikes," cx-
perience proves that they result in no permanent
good, and the great object of lawmakers should
be to harmonze the great interests Of capital and
labor.
There appears to be determination upon the
part of our leading business men to have the next
National Fair held at this city, and matters have
so far progressed as to indicate this determination
thousand dollars, required by the National Asso
citation to protect them against loss has been com
piled with, and energetic committees have been
appointed to complete the arrangements. This
great movement is being conducted under the
auspices Of the Mechanics and Manufacturer Ex.
change, which is sufficient warranty that what.
ever is done will be done right.
On Thursday morning last the western part Of
the city was thrown into state of the most in.
tense excitement by an accident that happened in
one of the Public Schools. During the recess one
Of the little girls, about nine years of age was stir
ring the fire, and accidentally set fire to her
clothes and was in a moment enveloped in flames
Some children and one of the female teachers
were in the room, and their screams and the
shrieks of the burning child soon brought male
teacher from another room. He drew off his coat
and threw it around the child, aud thus partially
smothered the flames, and, taking the child into
the yard, the fire was extingushed at the hydrant
But the child was so severely injured that it can
not recover. OF course, in such crowd Of chill
dren, the widest confusion ensued, and the report
Immediately spscad throughout the neighborhood
that the School house was on fire, and parents
rushed from all directions to look after their little
ones The extent of the accident is cause of grie
enough--but fortunately, tho report that the
house WAS on fire proved unfoundcd, aid our city
was saved calamity in which many lives must
have been sacrificed; for the buildings are very
large and several hundred children attend in each
Yours respectfully,
ECLOTIS.