The Press., 1885-12-31
Thursday Evening, Dec. al, 1885.

Thursday Evening, Dec. 3I, 1885.
 JAMES MCLAUGHLIN & soN, PUBLISHERS.
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 THE legislature meets next week. The republican caucuses of members will be held on Tuesday evening. It is hard to foretell the result of these. It seems like ly that the speakership will fall either to Tibbrts of New London or Hubbard of Middletown. The latter being the less a political worker seems the more likely to get left, though his election would give great pleasure to many, and would secure to the house capable and impartial pre- siding officer. MT. Hubbard will not get the place from his own seeking-if he gets it-but this does not affect his fitness, and with the great percentage of farmers in the house it would appear good time fo, these for once to honor their own profes- sion in the selection. For the assistant clerkship there are many candidates. Hartford County has two, both excellent men. Mir. McConville is longest in the field, and is backed by 19 of the republican representatives of his county, and claims the votes of majority of the other seven. Mir. Jennings, therefore, must have a large following outside of his county to give him show in the caucus. Mir. Nc, Conville has for two years past been the choice of a plurality of the republican members, and only defeated by combining ''the feld'' against him. He is now con- sidered to have the best chance of success. Mir. J. J. Jennings is from Bristol, and his residence for many years in Coventry, in this county, entities him to plea of To- cality. He is well fitted in all respects for the position. He is all energetic and suc- cessful worker for the republican party. He is from country town. He has a strong support among the best men of the state.
 THE first report of Labor Commissioner Hadley deserves mention as brainy pro- duction, and shows that the commissioner has labored effectively to educate himself in the labor problems of the day. The tendency of criticism is that the report, ii it has leanings toward either side, rather favors the workingmen's side.
 Be this as it may, it fairly presents all sides, and if it sometimes seems to dodge conclusion, much must be excused ill a new bureau, which above all needs to avoid appearing to be officially judicial at the outset. It will do all classes good to read the report, as 1t discusses every phase of the labor question, including hours of labor, employment of children, blacklisting, boycotting, manner and times of payment, cheap workmen, and the diff ferent classes of endorsements coming to our army of workers from every quarter those who come to stay and those who come for temporary purposes socialism ill fact taking up every phase of the dis turbing questions of labor and wages, and the means of fairly adjusting between the two. It will be we'll if Mir. Hadley's re- port be widely read, though it is doubtful -;f it fully satisfies either class-the work CTS or the employers. It is we'll to have grouped together, as we find here, argu. ments on both sides, as the commissioner has been at great pains to get opinions from all classes (and many of these are published) on various phases of the labol question.
 The fact that the working men are nu. merically strong, and by votes or combin ed assaults on the business of those ob. noxious to them, capable of making them. selves terribly felt, is in one sense an ad vantage, but in another the reverse, as il shuts them away from knowledge of the actual condition of public opinion. In case of strike, for instance, the working men invariably claim to have the fullest degree of public sympathy, and they have reason to think so, for the business man is indeed bold who squarely expresses himself as blaming the strikers, while they hold over his head inc dreaded pow. CT of ''boycotting.
 It reminds one of the artist who invites his friend to inspect his last picture, say. ing, "I want your frank opinion. Don't you think the other day invited that ass, B., to see 1t, and he began by telling me that the tints were badly chosen. I was that indignant that told him never tc darken my doors again.
 THE following paragraphs "In Memori- nm " r>rafoo;po GtrIovor .oayos 4bo ool