Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-07
InonE FACTS ABOUT LABoR-wHo

/
GUSTA.
There is nothing that tells like home
facts. What everybody knows nobody can
successfully deny. 1t is often said when
wespeak of the Administration at Washing
ton or of the affairs of New York that they
are distant matters, not understood 10y ev-
ery-day people, and therefore of little in
terest to them.
Well, let us come close home, then, to
the very doors of our people here in the
city OF Augusta, aud notice few
facts bearing upon the question of Labor
and the growth and prosperity of our city.
Let the people of the city of Augusta be
the judges whether we speak the truth or
not, for they know the facts as well as we.
Workingmen Laborers Friends of In
dustry in Augusta! an effort is made by
the democratic party to lead you to believe
that it is better friend to Labor than the
republican party, and under its direction
and support a so called Labor Reform
movement has been started. Now let us
see how few plain home truths give the
lie to such an assumption.
1t is known and acknowledged now by
every reasonable man in our community
that the establishment of the Sprague Man
ufacturing Company here is the main re-
lance of the city for its growth and sup
port. Without it the grass would be
growing in our streets. Only for it there
would be no factories building, the Kenne-
bee would be running unobstructed by a
dam to the sea, tenements would be withou,
occupants, laborers would have nothing to
do to earn bread for their families, and
property would be sadly deprecated in
value. Look at its influence upon Labor
| thus far:
Every quarryman is employed.
Every stone mason is busy.
Every bricklayer is at work.
Every hod carrier has something to do.
Laborers with the spade and pickaxe find
employment
Joiners are in brisk demand.
Blacksmiths have to hurry the forge.
Teamsters and truckmen are well en-
ployed.
MachinistS are occupied.
Operatives tend the looms and spindles
Painters, GLACIERS, plasterers and lum-
bermen have their labor increased; even
the sewing women are crowded with work.
And while the farmers and gardeners in
the vicinity of the city find better market
for their produce, there is not mechanic |
of any sort whose business is not improved |
Instead of grass growing in our streets, |
and decay showing itself in dilapidated |
and vacant buildings, there is industry
everywhere, no man or woman need be
idle who will work, and the city shows
prosperity in improved and growing build
ings and other marks of progress. Mind
You, that the Sprague enterprise is not by
any means the only important industrial
feature Of our city, but the employment it
gives serves to increase the demand for
Labor, so that.all find work, more than
they can do, and wages are consequently
higher than they otherwise would be-
Are these things true or false The an
swer can be made by the humblest man
within our limits 1t would be brazen au-
dacity and folly in Us to state things other
wise than they are, for every man in Au-
gusta knows the facts and would brand us
with the falsehood at once if we stated an
untruth. These are not matters in Wash
ington nor in any other distant place, but
right at home, among friends and neigh
bors.
Now, then, we come to the question
what party if any supported and aided in
the establishment OF the measures which
have thus increased Labor in our midst.
Was it the democratic party, just now ex-
pressing so much sympathy for the labor
erP Was it those persons who aspire to
lead in a Labor Reform movement No,
it was neither of these pretended friends
of Labor. They opposed it at every STEP
Look at the votes in the Legislature against
the needed legislation Look at the files
of the Maine Standard! Here is proof
enough to show who did not aid to enlarge
and improve the field Of Labor at home.
True, there were few individual demo-
Gratis lbe it said to their honoD who gave
their assistance in the matter, but the par
ty vote. the party spirit, the party organ
of the democracy went against it and
would have crushed it if they could.
Workingmen !! Laborers! Property hold
ers true friends of the prosperity of Au-
gusta our city is indebted for the best
Labor movement ever accomplished in
our midst to the Republican Party. Their
votes sustained it in the Legislature. Their
efforts carried the enterprise forward. |