Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-14

BANK, JAS MORRISON, ESQ.,:
Gentlemen acknowledge the receipt of
) our communication officially advising me that
on the 9th day OF June was nominated by the
Republican State Convention as a candidate
for governor of Maine.
Coming to me without solicitation and | can
truly add without personal desire, esteem
this mark Of confidence on the part of my
fellow Republicans as the chief honor of my
life. Sincerely attached as l have always
been to the principles of the Republican party
and earnestly as l have sought to promote
the adoption of those principles, it has not
been my habit to participate in political dis
cussion or in the active work of party organ
ization. NY opinions and conclusions are
those of q man devoted during his whole life
to business Authenticated in public meas
ures and in political struggles only as they
tend to promote the welfare of the country
and the prosperity of the people. l appre-
| ciate therefore all the more deeply the dis
tinguished mark of favor and confidence
conferred upon me by large convention
senting the character and worth of the
Republican party of the State.
Unaccustomed as am to public speech and
not intending therefore to make a canvass of
the State, may be pardoned hope for ex
pressing my views on political issues at
greater length than is usual in a letter of &C.
ceptance. feel that candidate for public
office has no right to withhold his views on
any question of policy that is engaging the
attention of the people. should be unwilling
TO receive the vote of any man in the State by
an evasion on my part of any public issue, or
by reason of a misrepresentation on his part
which perfect frankness from me might re-
move. shall therefore speak without re-
serve.
For some time past the country has been
agtated in many sections by questions relat-
ing to the rights and interests OF labor. The
desire of the working man to receive the
highest price for his labor is not only natural
but commendable. Labor is the commodity
which he has to sell, and his comforts in lite
depend npon, the amount he may receive in
exchange Tor it. He has the same right to
combine with his fellows to promote their
common interest that capitalists have to COM
bine for their common interest. The laborer
aud the capitalist are restrained only by their
own Judgment and by the imperative obliga-
ton not to interfere with the just and legal
rights of others.
have heretofore taken occasion to express
my opinion that popular misjudgment arises
from the error of treating the laborer and the
capitalist AS belonging to fixed and permanent
classes. The laborer of to day by industry
aud economy may become the capitalist of a
few years hence; and the capitalist of to-day
by extravaganza and Encouragement may
become the day laborer in an equally short
period. Thus the persons who represent
labor and capital are continually changing
and interchsnging A permanent consolida-
ton of the persons of one class against the
persons of the other class is therefore as i'm
possible as it is undesirable, and the country
stands in no danger of the manifold evils
which such a condition might entail
1t must always be borne in mind that pros
perity cannot exist in any community where
labor and capital are at war. Each has the
power to infiict great evil on the other, and
each will suffer while causing damage to the
other. 1t is therefore the duty of patriotic
men, of all men who wish well to the com.
munity and desire prosperity among the
people, to harmonic the interest of en-
ployers and employees and make the interest
of each the interest of both. In this work of
friendly cooperation the legislative power
of the State can aid by providing an impartial
system of arbitration of all disputes that
may arise between labor and capital Neither
can command the other by force, and each
will find in the end that justice, determined
by an impartial standard, must govern the
action of all.
Preliminary to a general adjustment, Maine
should lead in correcting some inequalities
and removing some burdens. The hours OF
labor in all branches of industry should be
eeualized by making the existing statute,
which defines ten hours as a days work, alb
solute and mandatory in so far as to declare
that days work should not 60 beyond that
limit OF time. From long experience, both
as employer and employee, l am satisfied tina,
for a given period q man will do more WORK
in ten hours per dsy than he will do in eleven
or twelve. Whoever begins the work of to-
day burdened with the fatigue of yesterday
is necessarily impaired in his skill and eff
cheney.
The legislature should in my judgment
change two other provisions of law. First
In no instance should imprisonment for debt
be allowed. II man has no property and
can pay his debt only by the avails of his
labor, it is certainly an absurdity to shut him
up in Jail where he is not only incapable of
earning anything, but where his support
necessarily becomes a charge upon the tax
payers of the community. Second: Trustee
process should be abolished in so far as il
may be applicable to the wages of the laborng
man. The result of repeating these two
laws would undoubtedly be to curtail the
credit system and assure the laboring men the