Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-03-19

sAszzusaensEzp
MR.. WELSH, q member of the Pennsy-
van,a legislature, introduced bill in that
body imposinga fine of thousand dol
lars and Imprisonment for one year upon
all the employers who fail to pay their
men once every two weeks, or who offer
their men store orders as pay. When the
House had finished consideration of the
bills there was nothing left of them except
the number, and Welsh rose to ask if some
member did not want TO amend the num-
btr. Such bill as that deserved the fate
it received, and none but demagogue
would introduce it into legislature
Cumberland Times
The Times is more uncharitable to
"Welsh, the legislator" than the
News to Martin Hall, the tramp
printer" though in either case we
could never tell why"
We cannot see that Mr.. Welsh has
done anything in this matter to earn
the title of "demagogue." In matters
of Legislation he is the servant of all
classes and parties. A considerable
number of his constituents probably
asked for relief in the directions
indicated, but the legislature evident
ly denied it, and Mr.. Welsh is now
loaded with opprobrium because he
endeavored to serve them in a matter
selected by and peculiar to them
selves.
If, however, Mr.. Welsh had been
the agent Of some corporate interest
moving to put more harness on labor,
or divest it of some privilege, it
would be altoe out of place to
speak Of him as "a demagogue." In
that case, he would have been Hon.
- Welsh, the gentleman, scholar
and statesman /
TIE merits of his measures it is
unnecessary to discuss in this latitude.
One Of them-the store order system
has been practically abolished in
that its erclusiuemeSs is enacted and
declared illegal. Some folks, violent
ly opposed to the innovation as d
proposition, now shed an occasional
tear because their supposed enemies
did not succeed earlier.
The same revolution of sentiment
might attend legislative movements
in other directions. Who knows ?
1t is by no means a settled fact that a
bill always deserves the fate it re-
ceives."
Ore thing is sure: Any system is
wrong which enables operators to be
very liberal with credit and very
illiberal with wages.
Nobody questions that frequent
payments would be right and benef.
cial to the community. The only
objection 10 them involves a little
matter of clerical convenience. at
is trouble enough" they say, ito pay
once a month" Granted. 1t would
be less trouble to pay once in two
months, and so on, and still less if
only once a year. However, they
accept the trouble to pay once a
month. according to custom, which"
they say, also "makes laws'-and
which, We add, Sometimes nothing but
a legislature can amend. Hence. the
pertinent question-is a legislator
necessarily "a demagogue" who takes
law-making out of the hands Of GUS
tom and gives the legislature a chance
to reform the maxim into claw makes
custom ?" For instance, it used to
be very inconvenient to have men
give collecting power to one, not over
two individuals; now it is law, GUS
tom and convenience to give every
body fair field as collecting agents.
Mr.. Welsh is undeservediy re-
preached. Perhaps knowingly he
fought hopeless battle for bis con
sjituepts. lie might stand with
equal credit alongside that other
"demagogue" who said
Mr.. Speaker, if Tom Scott has no more
usiness for the Pennsylvania Legislature
TO do, move we adjourn.
IT occurs frequently that measure