The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-09-28
w. NJ. RAPSHER,
THE PEOPLES CANDIDATE.

sher, was a representative man upon whom,
all parties could unite in rejoicing him to
the Legislature. We also stated that he sup
ported, by speech and vote, the cause of the
mechanics and laboring men, during his
term in office. We can make these statements
good, We supposed that every one of his
constituents was familiar with his record,
and that reference to the O8icial LCgiS'a-
tue Record was entirely unnecessary, still,
we are surprised to find that the Carbon
County Democrat in its last issue unfairly
represents him. That paper intimates that
he opposed the repeal of the " Company Store
| Bill, and that he championed the bill to attach
lcaqeS for store bills of all kinds.
1t is but fair to the editor of that paper to
state, that he did not pretend to say that
there was any truth in those charges,a he
simply stated that it was SO said, without
taking the trouble to examine the Legislative
Record, to see for himself whether the story
was true or false. We think that such ru-
mors ought not to be published, when their
whole tendency is to harm and in jure an in
nocent man.
We find that in relation to the merits of
the " Company Store Biz there is a wide
difference of opinion among good men, at
some places the workingmen wanted it pass
ed and at other places they did not want 1t,
and the editor of the Carbon County Democrat
is not at all familiar with the question when
he speaks of bill to repeal it. There was
no such law to repeal. There was a Bill in
troduced, known as the Company Store Bill
which if passed, would have become law,
which was to apply only to the Anthracite
Coal Regions. 1t was pronounced unconsti-
tutional by all the best lawyers in the Senate
and House, but the Legislative Record, clearly
shows that Mr. Rapsher nerer voted against it
or opposed it, while his remarks upon it show
that he was in favor of it with reasonable
amendments. At certain stage in the pas
sage of the bill, Mr.. Rapsher proposed an
amendment to the bill, to the effect that the
provisions of the bill should apply to all
business all over the Commonwealth so that
| al SldooCo VI luDollliS hICh houlu SC1 llAC
benefit of the law, and not those in the Coal
Regions only; and also a further amend
ment that the proposed bill should not inter
fere with the rights Of the poor man to make
any contract he saw fit and proper. For
this, certain parties pretended to find fault
with him. He evidently believed that the
bill should have been general, so as to give
all laboring men the benefit of its provisions,
and further, that the intelligent working
men of this State, are just as competent and
able to make their own bargains as those
who happen to be rich. He did not believe
that the intelligent mechanic and laborer
wanted the Legislature to appoint guardian
for him. We think that all classes of our
citizens will endorse the position which he
took, because it is sound and fair.
In relation to the other charge that Mr.
Rapsher championed the bill to attach wages
for store bills of all kinds, we can only say
that we have carefully examined the Legi8-
latiUe Record and have come to the conclu-
sion that the report, (if any such exist was
started in circulation through the meanness
and malice ofsome unknown fasifer who has
no influence or responsibility. We can salts.
fy everybody on this point.
Mr.. Rapsher never introduced, supported
nor had anything whatever to do with any
such bill, and we have the proof at hand
f There were only two bills in the Legsla.
! ture of that nature, to wit: One bill wa;
/ "An Act relating to boarding housekeepers
;, and authorizing tho attachment of wages O
{ persons indebted for boarding" This bill
f was introduced and read in place by Mr.
! SHoNK, of Luzerne county, (see Legislative
Record of 1877, page 1850 gentleman who
was elected as a labor-reformer, and who
f was in favor of the best interests of the labor
4 ing man. This bill, however, never cam,
= to a vote in the House.
S The other bill originated in the Senate
i and was introduced in that body by SENAToI
c GREER, and was entitled An Act providing
3 for attachments on wages fornecessaries fur
nished to families" (See Legislative Recort
of 1877, page 266.)
/, This bill never passed the Senate and con
sequently was never sent to the House 0
Representatives. No member of the Hous
), could be connected with it.
There is no truth in the charge that Nh
Rapshcr had anything to do with any sucl
a bill whatever, and we are authorized +
say that we have instructions to pay to an,
70 person the sum of fifty dollars who viii
prove the contrary,or who will show that h
|. had anything to do with it in its favor.
1t Instead ofopposing any measure beneficial
l. to the poor man the Legislative Record show
t. all the way through, that he stood up 70
n the rights of the laboring men, and Spo&
lie for them and uotei for them. 1t is full of il
/ Among other things, Mr., Rapsher, voted i
l. favor of" An Act, for the better protection G
n the wages of mechanics, miners, laborel
is and Others" Also, in favor Of An Az
l. giving priority in the trial of all claims fc
re the wages of manual labor in the courts