The Somerset reporter., 1886-02-17
A BOSTON LETTER.

THE FLooD-THB RESULT OF TWO SYSTEMS
THE CURSE OF THE GRoG SHoP-LABoR LEG
IsLATIoN, ETC., ETC.
Boston, Feb. l5.-The most destructive food
and rain storm which has visited this vicinity
since 1851, has been experienced the past week.
Several days ago the oldest inhabitant declared
that he had seen nothing like it and it continued
days after that observation. Saturday night
more than half the railroads entering the city
had suspended business because Of the washouts
and the flooding OF their tracks. Acres Of the
city in the vicinity of Ruggles street was flooded
| so that in many instances the water WAS two or
| three feet deep on the first floors and Easements
were full. The vestry of the Ruggles Street
Baptist church, one Of the great centers Of re-
lgious activity in the city, was filled with water.
The damage is very large to houses and factories
of various kinds in that locality. The rain fall
has been FIVE inches in three days and the melt
| ing snow added to the torrent causing a large
brook which drains fat country to overflow
The damage to the railroads is very large. The
reports from all sections near the coast particu-
| larly along the lines OF railroad running south
| from this city, show unprecedented foods
| Towns are inundated mills have been swept
| away and extensive damage has been done to
| streets bridges and houses whose Easements are
| full Of water. Tens of thousands visited the
flooded district at the South End Sunday.
| The quite general advance OF wages Of manu-
featuring corporations is not warranted so much
by the improvement in business as by the belief
that better pr ccs and larger demand are at hand.
The amount Of goods sold is now very large but
the profits are next to nothing. In this conncc-
ton il should be noted that while workingmen
I e. ii al
| are demanding aid of the government, nothing
Of the kind is found in this country, better wages
| in many cases is assured. Here we have the two
| policies-free trade and protection. Free trade
proceeds upon the theory Of buying where you
| can buy the cheapest and manufacture so that
you can undersell the world. Protection, as the
| word implies, is the theory OF securing employ
mcnt at fair rates to the labor Of the country and
saving the home market for the home produce
| looking out for consumption as well as produc-
| ton. Would not the condition OF the English
masses have been better to-day than 1t is II Its
statesmen years ago had not been led to adopt
| the free trade theories and to give up the home
market Political economy is humbug aud
will be until it deyotes its first lesson to consid
drng the means by which the people OF any
| country can be made its best customer. The
free trade dogmatist believes that his logic is in
fallible and that it will save the world but 1t
cannot be put into practice until the millennium
| is all under way "My friend" said logican
to a ferryman who was taking him across river,
"did you ever study logic s""No," was the an
swer then, said the logician. half your life has
been lost. When in the middle Of the swollen
river, and the skf was about to founder, the
boatman asked the logician "pid you ever learn
to swim I" mo" was the response. "Thcn the
whole of your life is lost" Moral Learn prac-
teal things and to apply common sense princi-
Piles to everyday affairs
met man few days since who twenty-five
years ago was overseer in Lowell cotton mill
at $3.50 u day, rising to that position from the
humblest place. All his life he has been con-
nected with manufacturing. "What is the great
est drawback Of factory laborers I" asked him.
"The grog- shop" was his prompt response. A
large part of the men patronize the grog shop
and spend money there which should 20 to clothe
and feed their fanatics. Wretched homes and
poverty are the results. Beer is little better, the
beer drinker does not get drunk quick but he
wastes his money. II that evil could be stopped,
the condition OF the laboring people in our fac
tory towns would be improved 90 per cent at
once. II some labor organization designed to
elevate the laborer should be started upon the
base of total abstinence, it would achieve
great work. The man who said that is not
known as temperance advocate. Indeed he
does not believe that the liquor traffic could be
stopped by prohibitory law. Temperance
must be the result of education and sentiment
was his remark.
Our House Of representative has passed
proposition through its first stage to do away
with the poll tax as prerequisite for voting.
There has been decided change of sentiment
on that question among Republicans during the
past few years. 1t looks now II the biennial
| proposition would not be ratified by the present
| Legislature. The Democrats are solid against
| il, and Republicans who believe that politics is
the only employment Of this life oppose it. The
people are for it. Labor questions are prominent
in the Legislature this year. Already bill has
been passed to make weekly payments compul-
sorry. There is quite general movements
among employers to pay once week or once
fortnight and the corporations suggest fort
nightly payment bill.
So far as can learn the Democrats in this
locality are not dissolving themselves in tears
because Mr.. L. F. Pilsbury is quite sure Of be-
ing rejected by the Senate as Collector Of Inter
nal Revenue. Senators Hale and Frye Of
Maine took the initiation in the matter and it is
vastly to their credit that they did. 1t is said
that Captain Chase made better appearance
before the Senate committee than did Mr.. Pills
bury, but both of them tried to show that they
were not really connected with the count out
conspiracy. Once they gloried in it. 1t is a
gain that they even attempt to wash their hands
| Of it. MAINE.
Insurance In Maine.
Ero,p roturno racai yad NV tho Insurance