Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-02
Iron Making md PoIi,ics.

AFOH MahInS ana POLITICS.
In Estill county, a sparsely settled region in
the eastern part of Kentucky, the manufacture
of iron has long been carried on in a small way
under the name of the Red River iron works.
Within year or two some men of means and
experience, learning the capacities of the place,
its supply of ores, fuel and power bought the
works and employed large number Of men and
much money in charging them and preparing
to increase their product, This important addi
ton to the wealth, population and resources of
that section of the state would, of course, be
warmly welcomed by the people, and every en-
couragcment offered to the enterprsing promo.
tiers OF the work. 1t might have been so if these
men hsd been democrats and southerners, but
as they were nothern men and republicans. the
kentuckians thought their political opinions
more dangerous than their contribution to the
material prosperity of the state was valuable.
and they have therefore been constantly
harassed and annoyed by all the means which
the chiyalric denizens of that region know how
10 use. Their workmen have been kukluxed
they themselves have been socially prescribed
and villihed, and strong efforts have been made
to drive them away.
Since the recent election, when the republican
vote of that district was much creator than eyer
before winch was true also of many other dis
trlets IN Kentucky, the democratic papers of the
state have resumed their denunciations of these
iron masters who have been guilty of the atro-
cious crime Of bringing their capital and skill
into the county. Among other enormitee
they were charged with "takng part in the
politics of EStill county," as if that were an in.
tolerable impertinence. Iwould puzzle anybodv
but Kentucky crossroads democrat to think
of reason why the men having the LARGEST
property interest in the county should not take
part in its politics if they chose. But the "Con.
1ederit Y Roads, are somewhere in that peioh-
Dorhood, and the Rev. Mr.. Nasty, exp. NJ, is the
leading political manager. The officers of the
company having had their operations embar-
i1ssea ana their investment imperilled by per-
secu'loh and borne it patiently thus far, have
"eou PROVOKED by the recent taunts and
perhaps encouraged by the increasing renrbl;con
sHehgth IN fhat section to sneak tbeir ,,;rds
A communication from them anneors 4, ~
Kentucky Statesman, in which, ,bo, co., a..
their ouleet has been solely 10 make the hoe, =,
car wheel iron cheap enough to eomno,o :, a,
market with that made in other sections. 49,,
have, in pursuing this object, spent prca, do:
OF money and employed sometimes as NAM, :,
one thousand men; they have never sought !,
influence the vote of any one of them, nor take
any part in the politics of Estil county beyop
casting their individual votes. They expire,
some doubt, however, whether this course ca
be justified and announce that in future the
propose "to exert their fullest influence OF
way or another, as they may dee
best fori the good of the whole cou
try. They inquire why those el
gagged IN the iron business should be exclude
from participation in politics, any more than IL
managers of county newspaper. We migl
suppose that no satisfactory answer could
given 10 this question, but they look at the,
things differently in Kentucky. There il
considered almost sacriegious to compare the d
vine right Of democratic editors with the scant
federation accorded to republican iron master
In spite of all, Estll county is likely to be
generated, politically and industralIy, and ii