The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

A Workiagman Answers Some Questions.
70 tho Editor Of the Indianapolis journal
In last Wednesdays Journal tSept. 10Y was a
half column Of questions over the signature Of
l. c. Ochiltree, of ConneRsvllls. Phey are d-
rected to workingmea, with the request that
they should be answered by men who sweat
while eating; and that would include most every
body for the past two weeks. As belong to
that class who not only eat but earn their
bread by physical toll, viii reply to three or
four of his questions and leave the others for
some one else. The first score Of questions APP
pear to be intended to Justify factory owners in
their efforts to make large gains their invest
ments, and to reconcile the operatives to the
necessity of accepting such wages as their en-
plcyeEs offer them, urging, also the necessity of
a protective tariff as a help to both parties This
portion of the catalogue pass over. The ques-
tiens tnatI wish to reply to are thetwenty- third
twenty fifth and twenty sixth They read thus
Were not the vast majority Of our rich spec
ulatoPs and factory owners once as poor as any
Of youl
IF you think there is too much difference be
tween the rich and poor in this country, why do
YOU not about the equalizing scheme, that made
your once poor. but ambitious ncighhnr, richF
If thousands of your fellow-citizens have
started ON nothing and become wealthy, what is
10 hinder you from doing the sameF
Answer-Pr0bably a majority of specUlateFs
Of to-day. as well as factory owners, were once
ppor and It may be admitted also that few, if
any Of them are, mentally oFphF scally, superior
10 the bulk of lahoriug men
IF BY the question why each man who thinks
there is too much differences between the rich
and peer does not adopt the s'equalizng- pro
cess which made others rich, Mr.. 0ehiltree
refers to building and running factories the an
=. Il II.
factory, and too many would DESTROY the profits
of all But he evidently refers to the means
which his rich speeuatofsa adopted These
spectators got their wealth. not by earning 1t.
by the sweat of their brow, or by any honest.
toll but by buying and selling what
other men have earned They add
nothing to the wealth Of the country.
Spectators, those who build up fortunes from.
wealth that honest men create, are the most
dangerous class of persons that we have, and do
more to- demoralize trade, and to render precari
Gus the rewards of honest industry, than any
other. This is one reason why honest toileTs
don't adopt the 'equalzfug scheme of the spec
ulator" He asks: IF thousands of your fell
lowcitizens have started on nothing and become
wealthy what is to hinder you from doing the
saIue2r
Answer-IaclS of material There is not
wealth enough IN America to make every man
rich. There is enough to give each one good
home, with comfortable surroundings with
money enough to enable him to work to advant-
age in creating more. And that is all there is
A very few miilionaiRes in each county would
absorb it ALT them what would the other men do,
wia@ were trying to- get rich by speculatioIT2 No
such advice IS not what the peGpleneed; there is
too strong a propensity now towards patronazing
bueket-shops. and boards Of trade. What the
working men need, and what they de-
serve is good, fair wages, which
will yield them good support
for themselves and families. and also secure
competence for future wants. Give every toiler
a home, with a full cupboard and a full pockAt,
and we shall have citizens that can be relied on
in any emergency. But while they are. half
paid and half-fed and liable to be cheated out of
what little they have by some intriguing specu
lator. and turned out of doors by some greedy
landlord, we have nothing better than floating
population, who have no abiding interest IN the
laws or the prosperity of the country, and whose
only care is to get something to keep the body
alive and their greatest anxiety is lest they
should fail in doing it.
T don't think that Mr., 0chiItree has worked
seventy five years as hard as have, else he
would have left out some of his questions
TRUMAN Brennan.
TS<nTANrA por Is Semi II