The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-12-28

are anxious to work for this pittance, but
cannot get even this, their suferings can
easily be imagined. The force of me-,
chanics at the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western Company's shops in this city
was again reduced last Saturday, thus
swelling the already large army Of the
unemployed. Trouble is feared in this
city if something is not done to give
them employment, as the men whose
families are feeling the pangs OF hunger
are getting desperate. With view to
find means for alleviating their suffer
ings and averting the threatened danger
to tho business community a joint session
Of the city council was held last eve,
ming. at which = petition was received
from committee representing 2,OOU
workmen asking for work or bread. In
a communication to the councils the
Mayor says:
.:Most pitiable sights are presented to
me almost daily. Men, young, strong
and willing to earn their bread are aban-
doning all hope of work. while men with
wives and children to support are IN the
most wretched existence, as, from day to
day, after vainly hunting for employ
| ment, they are compelled to 60 to their
! homes without one word of cheer tor their
! desponding families. would not dare
to attempt to enlarge upon the suffering
that is in our midst. 1t is NOT ialone the
laboring men, but the number OF me-
chanics now in want is alarming. Dur
g ing the summer there was not the actlvl
ty in the different branches OF industry
= that was hoped for, and to-day want ant
: suffering are in our midst beyond th'
conception of US all"
$ The councils have TINS far failed to de
d wise plan Of relief, except the employ
e ment OF few hundred men to work O.
. sewers throughout the city.
If aid for the suffering poor was eve
needed anywhere, it is needed here a
,. present. A young man who had sougt
= in vain tor work. on Saturday.last com
! mitted suicide. preterring sudden deaf
to slow starvation.
= In this connection we quote the TO
. lowing from the Winona Herald:
- There are no business prospects. Ba
ID as the state Of business was all last sun
ID mer, it is infinitely worse now Ever
- interest continues to suffer from the PR
- tractcd contest over the Presidential ele
p ton, and in many departments Of tra'
he dullness amounts to stagnatlon. Banke
II. and merchants who were partisans b
- fore the election, have laid aside ths
- partisanship, and now only ask that t
rightful decision, whatever it be, may
80 speedily rendered, and that the busine
- interests OF the country may not
~ ~ wrecked by political tricksters. Tho,
~ ands Of Republicans would welcome I
-, - news Of Tilden's election, Tor, at Ia
,eu ~ they are beginning to see that the clecti
~ Of Iilden means peace and Ia chance
80 retnrn to prosperity, while the ciecti
~. Of HAYES implies. at best, an exasperati
~ uncertainty till the fourth OF March ne
"s' The present uncertainty is fast dem
alizing the people. 1t is not that Il
"a "a greatly tear actual strife, though
'Id Ia thought that Grant is in the White Ho
~" dees not comfort them lany. for, .
- bumble-bee in q swine's mouth, so
|, a. President without discretion. But tho'
80 they trust that the common sense OF
pI American people will prevent an {
- break they know that the least ripple
:. - of excitement at Washington will abs
popular attention throughout the ]
and continue the present s,agnatisr
trade. Moreover, our business men q
aSE. already become, in manner, demo
lied: they have been waiting for
-. last two years for something to turn
nsr. v and they have found waiting their
,mo- hold. Nothing but absolute peace
lsory qui .tness will breed any busines en-
who prise in the panic shaken breast"
read, We do not believe that the pre-
!. e'' r. hard times are due t. the prcsidei
, the difficulty. They are the legitimate Fl
nally Of the most pernicieus ffnxncial pe
and ever submitted TO by an intelligent |
con- pie. If the presidential muddle was
tied tomorrow times would notimPr
nue. They could not. The TACT that in j;
;1ug ary 1879 the people have to pay
az debts in gold, with paper currenc,
'to.r duccd one-half, settles that ques,
'ss We have Just begun 10 descend into
auu ocean OF suffering.
no~ 4 MORAL PROBLEM.