Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-04-28
Civilized BULLDOZING.

The report OF the Wallace Commit
tee on civilized bulldozing in Massa'
chusetts and Rhode Island is proof
conclusive that the charges on which
the investigation was based were true
II will be remembered that when il
was ntimatcd in the Senate that any
thing Of this sort existed IN the North
the Republican Senators held up their
bands in depreciation and turned up
their eyes in affected horror In long
drawn tones of injured innocence they
repudiated the intimation as an at
tempt to bring reproach upon n peo'
Pile and u party too pure to gain po-
litical advantage by other than honest
methods.
The New England Republican Sen.
ators were peculiarly indignant and
especially injured. 10 hint at bull
doing in Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island was scarcely less than sacrilege.
The Senators from those States vehe'
mently repelled the "base insinuation,
affecting a monitor.plated, double-tur'
reted virtue Us immaculate as the snow
on the topmost peak Of "Mong Blong."
But the Committee decided to in.
vestigate charges presented, and to
make inquiry into the manner Of con
ducting elections IN those States, and
the result is a complete demonstration
of the fact that intimidation of work.
ingmon by their employers is com
mon practice.
We give single instance as an illus
tration Of the general plan. 1t was
shown that the Tenth ward of Provi'
dence, at the Presidential election Of
1876, the time-keeper employed by the
Corliss Steam Engine Co. was at the
polls with his book, and as every man
working for his establishment would
cast his ballot he would check his
name or write his name down upon
the book. lie was not there as an
official of the election. He would
watch to see which way a man voted
and then take memoranda in his book
Employees complained OF this and said
they were afraid to vote, The ward
was largely Democratic, and this ac-
tion produced disturbance on the part
Of citizens who sought to have the
time.keeper removed because the en-
ployes OF the Corliss Steam Engine Co.
were afraid if they voted their princi-
ciples they would be discharged from
the works. THIS company employed
several hundred men at that time.
Fancy this sort of thing all through
the manufacturing districts, among the
cottonlords, shoe bosses, andin all other
departments OF manufactures, and you
have an idea Of the extent of bulldoz.
ing in Radical New England.
But there is little hope that the rec.
ommendation of the Committee to the
people Of Massachusetts and Rhode
Island to dispense with bulldozing will
be productive of reformatory efforts.
For many years the intimidation OF
employees by threats OF discharge has
been regular feature Of the Republi-
can campaign programme in those an.
cient and honored CommonweaIths.
1t is not possible Tor the law to correct
this evil even if the enactment Of pro.
hibitory statutes could be secured,
You can't compel man to keep
other men in in bis employ, nor can
you prevent him from letting it be
known that he will hire only such men
as he thinks are "devoted to his inter.
ests." Public opinion may do much
toward mitigating the abuse, but its
entire reformation may not be expect,
ed until the Republican party has a
new set Of leaders, imbued with higher
and better views of the rights of their
fellow w-citizeds. - Washington Post.
We will publish the report alluded
to ia full next week