Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-10-28
NUMBER 16.
IRONTON MO- THURSDAY. OCTOBER


paid in store goods, the store being
owned by the employer or company,
or in orders on stores in which it was,
with good reason, supposed the en-
pioyers were interested. In either case
the practice is objectional, in that it de-
priyes the workman of his liberty to
dispose of bis wages to the best advan-
tage.-See p of Mr.. Hilkene's re-
port Jan. /, 1881. On page Is he says,
sit may be further observed that, while
the presumption is that the wages of
labor are paid in the currency of the
nation it will be found, on examina-
ton, that large proportion is paid in
goods, supplied by stores owned by the
proprietors or corporations, or in store
orders, where the store is not so owned.
The high prices charged for goods in
these stores ranges from 10 to 40 per
cent. higher than goods of the same
quality sell at neighboring stores, the
low rates of wages, and the rules in
force in many establishments OF keep
ing back wages from one to four
months, have impoverished and dimin-
a degree, that after years of toll, If he
desired to leave, he would have 20
leave as a tramp.n
The bill introduced by Mr.. Carol,
which bill was numbered 173, became
law and will be found at page 73 of
the Session Acts of 1881. This act
makes it misdemeanor for mining
and manufacturing corporations to pay
the wages of labor in any thing but
lawful money of the U. s. Mr.. Will
liams voted one time on this measure,
and that vote was against it. See
House journal 1881. pages 277-S. This
vote was upon the question, whether
the bill should he engrossed and print.
ed. Mr.. Carol, who introduced the
bill, and Mr.. J.J. McGarry of St.Louis,
voted aye on this question, and Mr..
Williams voted no. When the bill
passed finally Mr.. Williams was bsent
with out leave-House Journal 1881 PIP.
916-l7. The bill wassent to the Sem
ate and there amended, when it was
returned to the House and passed as
amended. Mr.. Williams is recorded
as absent with leave.-House Journal
1881, pages 1854.
This is the cold record the Judge has
made as a Legislator on the subject of
labor. It seems the spasm of sympa-
thy for the poor laboring men never
struck him till he thought he could
make some capital out of it during the
late strike and probably ride into Office
by appealing to the passions Of men.
We leave it to the thinking men, how
much sincerity there is in his preten-
tions at present.
Now we will present the record made
by Judge Thomas. Outside of the
scores Of speeches he has made i'm the
last thirty years, in which he ever vim
dicated the rights of the laboring men
and the nobility of labor, we wish to
present his judicial record also. Judge
Thomas points to his record as man
and officer and to his life-work for his
vindjcation. 1t is useless for him or
Judge Williams to come before the
people and tell them what they intend
TO dc. in future. The question is, what
have they done in the past? and by the
past Judge Thomas is willing to be
judged. It would take book to write
his biography. Suffice to say for the
present. that he has been foremost in
every enterprise in our section of the
State, looking to the material develop
of the masses of the people. It is not
necessary, however, to multiply in
stances. He delivered a welcome ad-
dress to the teachers of Southeast Mis-
souri, in August 1882, when they met
at De Soto, in which he said, upon
the great fact of the necessity of public
schools in our midst, there is no disa-
greement. The rich, the poor, the man
with houseful of children to educate,
and the man with none, all agree with
unparalleled unanimity that the edu-
cation of all children-the high and the
low, the rich and the poor-is funda-
mental and essential condition Of the
prosperity and safety of society," And
in August, 1884, he delivered a lecture
to the normal school teachers in DE
Soto, in which he used this emphatic
language in discussing the condition
of the development of individuality:
"Perniit me to remark right here that
the principle of caste and class distinc-
tions in the State is heretical. The day
of aristocracy, however, is drawing 10
close. It's death-knell was sounded in
London few days ago, when 200, 900
citizens formed in procession, carrying
a tombstone, having inscribed upon it
this epitaph, "Here lies the House of
Lords Nobility will soon be meas
ured, not by birth, but by noble deeds
and correct living. Where have
the heroes of the world come from?
From the scions of noble blood? The
sons of the rich, who were dandled in
the lap of luxury; whose path was
smoothed for them at every step; who
were never compelled for an instant TO
fight against the armed resistance of
misfortune, penury and want? No!
They are men of humble parentage;
men whose cradles were rocked in low
ly cottages and who have buffeted the
pillows of fate, Behold the
workingmen of our country! Do we
not perceive a feverish restlesssness
every where? They feel that their
condition is not what it might he, or
ought to be, and hence there is a strug-
gle among them to better their condi-
ton. "This augers well. Be not alarm
ed because the people are restless.
Their residences will precede their ad-
vancement." This 10 the language of
Judge Thomas as q citizen. AS a
Judge the record he has made is the
best in the State. No one stands high
er than he. In this circuit he las had
before him in the last six years l76
Railroad cases; 35 were compromised
and dismissed; 141 were otherwise dis.
posed of. OF these the railroad lost
130 and gained II. OF the II gained
only one was appealed and Judge
Thomas ruling was sustained by the
Supreme court in that case. Only one
civil case decided by him has been re-
versed by the appellate courts, and
that was the case of r. G. Whitehead
and wife against the railroad company.
The Judge decided the case against the
railroad, but the Court of Appeals de-
cided that he was i'm error. So IL seems,
the only instance in which he COM
mitted error, was against the railroad
and not in its favor. Since the great
third of May meeting Mr.. Butts re-
onxo.aa ~, tho IudUofs cn1rf iudp-