The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-09-13
Goldman Interviewed.

To those who attended the Demo-
cratic County Convention, the position
taken by our candidate for Represent
ative, d. G. Goldman, Esq, was clearly
explained, but as there are q consider
able number who did not hear what
Mr.. Goldman had to say at that time,
and as the questions likely to be acted
upon by the next legislature are of in
terest to everyone, we took occasion to
ask Mr.. Goldman few questions, the
answers, which are to the point, will
be found below:
Editor" Mr.. Goldman, will you
please state, for the benefit of the
readers of the PRESS, your opinion
upon the Convict laber SYSTEM now
in force in Ohio?
Mr.. Coolman-"I regard the farm
ing out Of convicts in the penitentiary
to unscrupulous contractors, to produce
manufactured goods Of different kinds,
as q gross injustice to any honest
skilled workman in the State. You
see, the State pays all the rent, lights.
fuel, board, and provides boss and
the contractors get the benefit Of this
besides paying but mere pittance for
a full ten hours work, and then the
goods so made are thrown ON the mar
ket in competition with the goods
made by honest home labor, to the
great disadvantage of the man who
must work hard, wiIlingly, to keep his
family in decent shape. would work
and vote toIwipe out this system Of convict
contract labor"
Ed" How about the F usselI Bill?"
Mr.. c." The last legislature passed
a bill known as the I" Russell bill"
which imposes special tax Of three
hundred dollars upon Astrologers,
Mediums, &c. Now the effect aud in
tent of this bill is to make every spir-
itualist pay $500 for his religious opin-
ion. Iwould vote for the immediate
repeal Of this law. l consider mans
religious belief his Oun, and the legis.
'lature has no business to NEEDLE with
it.n
Ed" The Scott Law seems to be
the supreme question among our Re-
publican friends, how would you deal
with that ?"
Mr. C.-"The cranks that composed
large majority Of the last legislature,
passed, during their first session, a
measure known as the Pond Bill, the
intent of which was to deprive men Of
the liberty to drink beer, &c, when
they wanted it. That was the aim and
substance of it. The voters at the en-.
suing election pat the seal of their con-
demnation upon the attempt, and the
Supreme Court, as then constituted,
declared the bill unconstitutional, At
the next session, the brains of the
body set to work to endsavor to con-
coct some scheme or other to re-secure
the German vote, and after an assur-
ance from the Governor that the Court
would pronounce it constitutional, the
Scott Law was launched. This Bill is all
things to all men, and was "concsiyed
in sin, and brought forth in iniquity." !"
1 think that as the Supreme Court has
declared it constitutional Its provisions
should be SO amended as to tax the
dealers in spirituous and malt liquors
in proportion to their sales. Every
one is now taxed $10O for beer and
wine selling, and 5000 for alcoholic
beverages. The man who sells So
worth day is taxed as much as the
man who sells $500 worth. This should
be equslized. My own preference is
for license law, which would protect
the drinkers against adulterated goods
and keep tho business in the hands of
responsible men. Now, anyone, no
matter how low or vicious, can sell
liquor by simply paying the tax"
Edit is said that you have ex-
pressed the opinion that "a dollar a
day was enough for laboring man."
L. that your idea, and have you 80
said ?" ...r.
Mr.. c." If the Democratic candi-
dates, from Governor down, were to
attempt to answer all the lies hurled
at them this year by INSCRIPTIONS op-
ponents. they would have their time
entirely occupied. / neUer said any such
thing, do not believe any such doctrine,
and any such report is an unmitigatcd
lie. I have been an employer of men
for twenty-five years, fifteen of them
here in Ravenna. The Diamond Glass
Company, with which L am connected i,
have always employed union men and
paid union prices for labor, and we
have never proposed to do otherwise.
A man has perfect right to receive as
much for his labor as he can get legit-
imately. Actions are worth more to
thinking men than mere words"