The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-09-08
Our New York Letter.
New York POlitics---The Labor
Question---The'T and
Express Business.
NEW YORK, September I, 1876.


Don't take any stock in the rumors
that have been set afloat as to the in
tentions of Senator Conkling. He did
not come home to organize a raid
upon the administration, he is not in
opposition to President Hayes, nor
will he be. OF course Senator Conkling
would have liked it better had he been
allowed to control the patronage of
the State as he has done for so many
years, but he recognizes the propriety
and justice of the Presidents action,
and acquiesces heartily in the new
order of things, and next winter he
will be the most effective supporter
the President will have in the Senate.
The people of the State, of both par
ties will believe in the President and
show it at the polls. Only the disap-
pointed are growing, and as every
body knows the impelling motive of
their growls, they can do no harm.
The best capital the President has is
the fact that within two weeks over
hundred useless officials have walked
the plank in this city alone, and there
are more being led to the slaughter.
The fact is, the President is gaining
ground daily, and whoever opposes
him will be defeated by the people
for whom he has instituted genuine
reforms.
Robert B. Roosevelt, an old citizen
and a very good man, has addressed
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 a vast number of men in the city
who would work if they could get
work to do, and it is also true that
unless they get work the city will
have to support them. Roosevelt
argues that the city might as we'll get
| the value of the assistance it will have
to render, as to give it in the shape of
aims. The newspapers are criticising
his letter 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. Roose-
velt's proposition does not go far
enough. The thousands of proies-
sional mendicants, the beggars, organ
grinders, thieves aud tramps should
be arrested and compelled to work.
Every man and woman who can not
show visible means of support, should
be made to work, even if corporeal
punishment should be found neces.
sary, and that would reduce the bur-
den imposed upon the people about
half. Then, why not set the honest
i 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, and every thing that
they have get to build sooner OF later
In short, why not get the value il
permanent improvements for what we
have got to pay9 | believe in a strong
paternal government, which will act
as . regulator. When private enter
prise is active the government can be
quiet. But when from any cause pri-
vate enterprise becomes stagnant, ant
thousands upon thousands of men
who would work if they could get
work to do, are thrown ont of en-
ployment, why should not the gov
eminent step in and, give them EN-
ployment This is the time tina
custom houses, post offices, and othel
public buildings that the governmen
. will have to have within ten year
should be built, when the work vii
be benefit to the laboring classe
and a great saving to the government
Donahue, the leader of the. railroat
strikes at Hornellsville, was releases
from Ludlow street Jail, having serves
his time out, but was arreste'
Immediately by the Sheriff of Steu
. ben county, taken to Bath and pu
in the common Jail. Donahu
, don't like this, for it interferes ma
: terially with his purposes. He ha
j made SO much notoriety by his con
e nection with the strikes that lie ha
perfected arrangements to utilize il
by starting /; paper in New York