The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-01-29

should they ever conclude to
unite and cast their vote as a
unit. They could elect not only
their own county officers, but
their own Legislators and law
givers 10 represent and protect
their selfish interests and pur-
poses, and unless the corpora
tions could IN some way or other
procure the services of these Of
ficers after they were elected,
they would be wholly powerless
and unrepresented.
Public policy demands that the
!aborer shall not he overpaid.-
An excess of money in the hands
of men who are not accustomed
to managing money. who have
not been born to il, so to speak,
is most generally curse to them
1t leads to luxurious living and
immortality, destroying the health
AMI endangering the soul.
If The welfare of a nation de-
pends on the welfare of its citi-
zens, then it is a public duty to
see that the laboring classes of
our citizens be not overpaid.
1t is no task to trace the cause
CT the downfall of those nations
that once flourlshed and have
now ceased to exist.
Ii will be found that luxury
and luxurious living is what ener
waited the citizen and in time
sapped the strength of the state.
If our Legislature owe a duty
more pressing than that of main
tanning our corporations, or the
means of our present prosperity,
it is that of preventing our la
borers from being overpaid, and
running themselves by riotous
living.
1t may seem like an interfer
ference with individual rights,
but the public good certainly de
mands that such men as General
Thomas, NJ. NJ. Greene and the
operators OIL the Hooking Valley
ought 10 be restrained by law in
their disposition to overpay the
laborers over which they have
control.
Ii is no answer that this diSpO-
sition upon their part comes fr m
goodness OF heart. it is the effect
upon the laborer that is hurtful
And ] deny tina: it comes from
any natural goodness of heart.
II comes from an indulgence in
a vicious appetite Take the
worthy. Treasurer of the Syndi-
cate. for instance. He cares no
more for dollar when it comes
TO paving a working man than
good christian does for his soul.
And here. right in our midst.
is that generous hearted opera,
tor and capitalist, whom we all
venerate for his many deeds of
charity. keeping forty families OF
laborers through what they claim
TO be "ihese hard times n. B.
this information surreptitiously
obtained by villianous report
er, without the party's knowl
edge or consent and when he
was not looking.
Unless such things may be
prevented We must expect inso-
lence, pride and want of due re
spect upon The part Of our labor
ers.
Ii may be claimed that such a
law could not he. enforced, but
something ought 10 be done.
though it be but an experiment.
1t IN Y be urged that the cor
porations should do something
10 help themselveo and protect
their own interests. But | in
sist that they have done and are
doing all that could be reasona-
bly, expected of them in that be-
half.
They pool 'heirissues and com
bine together. They take the
railroad company into partner
ship, the only means of trans
porting the products TO the mar
ket, ahd | am sure that is notice
served. and a standing menace
to every man or other corpora
tion who would dare try to en-
gage in their kind of business.
and interfere with their adjust
ment of prices and the present
prosperity of the country.
And it will be found that their
position is no empty threat. Any
one that would attempt to 90 in
to their kind of business, pay
more money for labor or in any
way seek to injure the public by
interfering with the present
happy state of affairs, would find
when all hands had got through |
with him that he had exactly
the same chance 10 succeed as a
cat i'm hell without claws.
As an instance, W. p. Rend
found what it was TO fool with
men who are banded together to
stand for their own rights
and the public good. Ii it had