Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-08-26
McBRIDE'S RECORD
As a Labor RefOrmer" in the Legis-
lature.

The Ohio State Journal has the following
concerning the record of the Democratic
nominee for Secretary of State, as "labor
reformer" in the Legislature. Considering the
fact that Mr.. Mcbride refused at all times to
do anything for labor measures unless it would
promote the interests of the Democratic party,
or was in the line of his own personal advance
ment, the comments are exceedingly mild:
'There was much dissatisfaction among local
Democrats yesterday over the action of the
Democratic state convention in nominating
Hon. John Mcbride, of Stark county, for Sec
retary of state. The feeling was that MeBride's
connection with the state miners association
as president would bring against him the op-
position of many business men and coal oper-
peratiOrs in the Democratic party, while on the
go 10 his support, as they do not consider Mr..
Mcbride thoroughly unselhsh in his advocacy
of their cause. McBride's record in the pres
ent legislature certainly warrants them in their
doubt of his constancy except to self-interest,
as a hurried glance will show.
"Last winter Mr.. Mcbride offered four bills,
one extended amendment to bill and one joint
resolution of Importance bearing on the labor
question. The resolution referred to was offered
at the time of the TROUBLE at the Whiteley
machine works in Springfield, and referred di-
rectly to it. The preamble recited that certain
corporations had discharged large numbers of
workingmen simply because the latter had petit
toned for an increase of wages; that in case of
trouble, the entire armed force of the state
would be used for the protection of the eorpor
atiOns, and that such a state of affairs is not
the best interest of the public. The resolution
proper is as follows:
Resolved, That the commissioner of labor
statistics be directed to inquire into the manner
in which the corporations of this state employ
labor, the average annual wages paid in the
separate branches of traffic, trade and manufac-
lures, and the number of persons, skilled and
unskilled, employed in each division; the num-
Der of hours required for full weeks work
and the numEer of weeks worked during the
past year; the total amount of capital invested
in the business, the total amount paid for wages,
the total amount paid for stock, and the total
of corporations or companies not engaged in
manufacturing, they shall, in lieu of the amount
paid for stock, etc.. give the total amount of
income and expenditures; and the said commits
sioner of labor statistics is hereby required,
empowered and directed to exact under oath, if
he deem it necessary, from all corporations or
companies, true answers to all questions relat-
ing to the subject matter of this inquiry, and
said answers shall be regarded by said COM
missioner of labor statistics as confidential and
to be used only for statistical purposes; and
the commissioner of labor statistics is further
directed to report the result of said investiga-
tion to the adjourned session of the sixty-sev-
enth general assembly in January, 1887
"At McBride's request this resolution was
referred to the committee on labor, composed
of Messrs. Haley, Stewart, of Muskingum ;;
Ryan, Brown, of Cuyahoga; Bader, Outcalt,
Mcbride, Cuff and Schultz, all either active
workingmen or advocates of the cause of labor.
The resolution was never reported back to the
house, and no effort was made by Mr.. Nc
Bride to have it brought to the consideration
of the body. Although he could have COM
PEELED the committee and the house to take
some action in regard to the matter, he never
brought the subject up in any form, and al
lowed the resolution to lie dormant in the
hands of the committee, where it now is.
"House bill 59-'To regulate the weighing
at mines, and to establish uniform system of
weights and measures between the operators
of coal mines and employees was introduced
by Mr.. Mcbride January Il. 1t was intended
to insure just measurement for the employees,
as well as their employers, and was referred to
the committee on geology, mines and mining.
Not only did the author Of the bill fail to have
Ia l.,
appeared before the committee on behalf of the
bill, and never asked them to report it back.
He paid no attention to it after it was referred,
and it rests with them until this day, although
he could easily have had it taken from their
hands and referred to his committee had he
considered them negligent.
"House bill 65, by Mr.. Haley, afterward be-
came the eight hour law. Mr.. Mcbride offered
an amendment to it, which made it an offense
fol corporation employing manual laber to
permit men to work more than eight hours a
day, the punishment being a forfeiture of all
corporate privileges, franchises and rights.
This amendment, as was said at the time, said
to every poor workingman that he should always
remain poor; that he should not work after hours
or do any more than his improvident fellow to
lay aside something for rainy day. 1t would
have been the worst thing imaginable for thrift
ty workingmen, and it was defeated.
''The other bills introduced by Mr.. Mcbride
were Nos. 263, 27l and 274. The first men
toned provided against the scrip" system, and
was passed after being amended so as to be al
most tunrecognizable. No. 27l amended the law
to provide for the strengthening of mines and
against accidents to miners, and, after being
slaughtered ir the committee and by the house,
was passed. The last bill, No. 274 to provide
against to so-called 'iron-clad' contract was
lost.
"That is the extent of Mr. McBride's record
in the last legislature as a champion of the
cause