The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-09-12
Qua sEw.YoRK LETTER.
NEW York, September 8, 1877.
POLITICAL

NEW York, September 8, 1877.
POLITICAL.
Don't take any stock 10 the rumors
that have been set aflost here as 70
the intentions of Senator Conkling.
Senator Conkling did not come home
to organize a raid upon the admins
Itration, he is net in opposition TO
President Hayes, Dor will he be.
or course Senator Conkling would
have liked it better had be been al
lowed TO control the patronage OF
the State as be has done for so many
wears, but be recognizes the proprie-
tv and justice Of the Presidents ac-
ton, and aequiesces heartily in the
new order Of things. And next
winter be will be the most effective
supporter the President viii have in
the Senate. And, by the way, the
Republican party of the State OF
New York was never ia so comfort
able a condition as now, and the
Presidents civil service reform is
what has done it. The spoils ques-
ton out Of the way, there is no long
err any difference. Gov. Fenton is
back 10 the ranks in full accord with
the party of the State, aud all are
working together as amiably as
could be wished. The people Of the
State, of both parties, believe in the
President, and they will show it at
the polls. Only the disappointed are
growing. and as everybody knows
the impulling motive of their growls,
they a do no harm. The best cap
ital the President has is the fact that
within two weeks over a hundred
useless officials have walked the
plank in this city alone, aud there
are more being led to the slaughter,
The TACT Is, the President is gaining
ground daily, and whoever opposes
him will be ground to powder by the
people for whom be has instituted re-
forms that are actually reforms. lie
has smashed machine politics, and all
honest men, Democrats as well as
Republicans, have faith 10 him, and
are having more every day.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Robert Il. Roosevelt, an old citi,
zen, and a very good man, has ad-
dressed an open letter to the Mayor,
asking that the city begin public
works in order to give work to the
starving unemployed. 1t is true that
there are q vast number of men In the
city who would work if they had
work to do, and it is also true that
unless they get work the city will
have 10 support them. Roosevelt
argues that the city might as well
get the value of the assistance it will
have to render, as to give it in the
shape Of alms. The newspapers are
criticising his lettsr severely, but |
can't say but that he is right, and
that all other cities and towns that
have unemployed labor should not do
likewise. R~oosevelt's proposition
does not go far enough. The thous-
ands of professional mendicants, the
beggars, organ grinders, thieves and
tramps should be arrested and COM
PEELED to work. Every man and
woman who cannot show visible
means Of support, stalld b. oonpell-
ed to work, even if corporal punish
ment should be found necessary, and
that would reduce the burden impos-
ed upon the people about q half.
Then, why not see the honest poor at
work on public improvements which
have got to be made sometime?
Should not the municipalities of the
country take advantage OF the cheap
ness of labor to build their new rail
roads, their public buildings, and
their streets, snd their everything
that they have got to build sooner or
later? This is the precise time in
which to do it. If they do not get
the unemployed at word of this kind,
the public will have to support them
anyhow, and why not get the worth
Of their support? In short, why not
get the value, in permanent improve
ments, for what We have got to pay .
/ believe in the strong paternal gov
ernment, which will act as a regula-
tor. When private enterprise is act
i've. the government a be quiet.
But when from any cause private en-
terprise becomes stagnant, and thous-
ands upon thousands of men, who
would work if they could get work
to do, are thrown out Of employment,
why should not this government step
in, and, taking advantage OF the
cheapness of labor. give them employ
ment on its work. This is the time
that custom-houses, p~ost-ofiees, and
other public buildings that the gov
ernme nt will have to have within ten
years should be built, and everything
else of g public nature should be
done. If a city or town has a rail.
road to build, a school-house to erect,
or anything else of the kind to do,
it cannot do q wiser thing than to
commence it now. BY this means it
will get its improvements done at
half the cost of four years from now,
aud it will give employment to that
portion Of the poor who will work.
The tramps should then be compelled
to earn their living, and the labor
question would be settled.
Donahue, the leader of the rail
road strikes at Hornellsyille, was re-
leased from Ludlow St. jail, having
served his time out, but was arrested
Immediately by the Sheriff of Steu-
ben county, end vas taken to Bath,
and put into the common jail. Don
ahue don't like this, for il iEterferes
materially with bis purposes. lie
had made 80 much p~otoriety by bis
connection with the strikers, that be
had made his arrangements 10 ut:l-
ize it, by starting a paper 10 New
York, devoted to communism and all
sorts of wild labor vagaries. His
sheet was to be named aTbe Striker -
and he confidently expected that
every laboring man who had 0 dollar
to spare. would send in his money,
and that he would at once be eleva,
ted to the pisse Of a leader of the