The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-02-13
WAGES IN SCRIP.
The So-Called Truck System in the Iron
Regions.

The So-Called Truck System in the Iron
Regions.
It's Origin in the Hanging Rock Distr1ct--Ihe
Loyalty of Labor to Capitalize Mischief
Done by One Small Attorney-Hew Pro-
hibitory Scrip Law TTou1d Work.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette:
The payment of wages in scrip or or
ders. redeemable only in merchandise at
specified places, is one of the questions OF
the day Legislation is invoked to sup
press what is elegantly termed the truck
system" Gov. Bishop devotes to it.
condemnatory paragraph in his late mes
sage, and Labor Commissioner Walls, as
foreshadowed in extracts furnished the
press from his forthcoming report de-
clares it a most vicious and pernlclous
practice The distinguished notice 1t
receives would indicate the system as
fraught with untold evil to the indivldu-
al and the State, and that in its speedy
eradication depends the public welfare
Those who practice it are held up to rne
light as malefactors, disgraclng the IN
dustries they follow and the fair name
of the Commonwealth, while those who
submit to it are held as incapable OF per-
ceiving or protecting their own interests
AS the custom of paying wages in "other
than lawful money prevails generally
only in the Hanging Rock Region, which
is known to be devoted almost exclusive
Iy to the production and manufacture OF
iron. and which felt more than any other
the blighting effects of the panic, 1t is
not strange the furnacemen consider the
attack upon their practice as upon them
selves, and direct blow at their inter
| ests. The source from whence the aglta-
ton of a prohibitory scrip law came at
| first gave the matter rather tarclcal
cast. The entire absence OF any public
expression upon the subject shows how
little feeling was aroused by a measure
that, if enforced, would result in the
most serious consequences. 1t was the
opinion that the cause of the attack upon
the truck system" was as well under
| stood outside the district referred to as
in it, and that without doubt, the same
contempt attached to it elsewhere as at
home. 1t appears this opinion was some
what a mistaken one. A tall oak from a
little acorn has grown. 1t overshadows
several legislators, and from its branches
comes the sonorous voice of our worthy
Governor recommending compulsory pay
ment of lawful money in full
It is simply just word should be said
in behalf of a custom introduced in this
section with the making of pig iron, and
in vogue ever since, though recently dis
covered by politicians. The furnace man
of ea1ly days entered the wilderness, 10
Gated large tracts of land, and built theil
plants far removed from one another and
from bases of supply. 1t was imperative
thew should furnish their workmen the
necessaries and conveniences OF life
Through no other source could they be
| rpmnta. and trans
portation, except for articles in bulk, out
of the question. Hence the custom o
paying wages in "other than lawful mon
ev" It was an eminently satisfactory
one. There were no labor troubles; there
was no legislative agitation relative tt
"truck." Furnaces multiplied, the in
dustry throve, riding down wave afte
wave of free trade, and was prosperous
Taen came the panic The struggle TO-
}. existence have covered five long years
wears of disappointment, years wherein
have been swept away the accumulation
and hopes of youth and manhood, bring
ing premature age, years OF want, bitter
ness and pain, such as God grant we ma
never see again. Employer and employ
alike saw their earnings diminish an
fade into thin air The question of prof
no longer entered into their calculations
The issue, on the one hand, was to kee
out of the Sheriffs hands, and, on tn
= other to earn livelihood. Meager i
manv instances was the success. AS col
declined in value, wages were reduce
and less money paid. The truck sy
tenn" generally prevailed, and assume
gradually as the screws tightened on tn
ironmasters its worst phases. The gel
eral compensation of labor was merchant
Use. except in rare instances high prlce'
often inferior in quality. and sometime
. not overabundant Yet matters did NJ
mend. The state of affairs grew sad, II
deed as time went on. Some more pr
}, dent than others blew out their furnac
at an early day, discharging their wor
men: some ran on at sacrifice, hopir
the lane would soon turn, and dislikiI
.fs ls to throw labor out of employment unit
,e stress of circumstances compelled the
MT tn suspend; while others, through fave
' able location as regards transportation
p raw material, and practice of the mo
rioid economy, have weathered, thus fl
the storm. Unreasonable labor deman
s. ond unwise refusal of concessions ha
ais not had part in precipitating disast
hS or heightening distress. There Is not
er. instance where employees have COMPEL
suspension, refusing to CO operate. Th
49, have borne their portion OF the burd
hpr0lcallV,
inp of the situation exercised JUG
ment; evinced sympathy for the e
pioyers r interests deserving, the high
- praise. They have accepted the meaG
fruits of their toll with quiet resignati(
believing, while they, knew they W.
= insufficiently rewarded, that the best '
done for them possible unGer the circu
| stances. That the truck system bre'
s. disaffection and sets labor in ar
On again. against capital, as claimed by Comm
~ sioner Walls, is not sustained by the fa'
Not Labor trouble worthy of m
ply than local notice has ever occurred
the Hanging Rock region. Where
D. custom in question originated, and
- uniformly, and of late radically. prev
cd; where the laboring class have
dured and suffered to an extent
,arv would almost have justified ultra me
: in for relief; where the law was powerl
ion. employes being to employers as lOC
II y 10 % one not an instance Of violent outbr,