The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-10
An Infamous Outrage.

All
We cannot find language in which to
properly characterize the action of Mr.. L.
c. ATKINS of this city in discharging from
his service faithful employees because they
insist upon the right to differ with him in
politics. Mr. ATKINS is a prominent and
wealthy citizen. He is an extensive man
ufacturer and an officer in one of our
leading churches. He is large employer
OF labor, and as such appears to think
that he is the keeper OF the consciences Of
! several hundred men who are unques-
tiorably as well qualified to decide for
themselves where their interests and their
duty lie in this election as Mr.. ATKINS is
to decide for them. Since this campaign
opened Mr.. ATKINS has endeavored, by
every means in his power, to induce his
employees to support his intimate
friend, Gen. HARRISON; but his efforts
have met with small measure
of success. His employees, as class, are in
telligent men, who understand the issues
before the country great deal better
I than Mr.. ATKINS appears to, and who
realize that theirinterests as worlxingmen,
as citizens and as consumers, will be
greatly promoted by the reelection of
President CLEVELAND. They are men
who have minds of their own, who hold
that in selling their labor to Mr.. ATKINS
they do not sell their political convictions,
and who guard with jealous vigilance
their rights as free American citizens.
! Mr.. ATKINS, having failed in his at
tempts TO control his democratic en-
ployes by the methods adopted early in
the campaign, has resorted to heroic
measures. The affidavit of Mr.. RANDALL
j. ABRAMS, which we print this
| morning, tells its own story.
Mr.. ABRAMS is gentleman of
irreproachable character, a member in
good standing of the very church of which
Mr.. ATKINS is an officer, and as a man and
a citizen is in every way the peer OF his
late employer. He swears that Mr.. At
KINs discharged himself and his brother
upon avowed political grounds. He bears
from the latter a certificate of fidelity and
! trustworthiness, given him since his dis
| charge. He swears that Mr.. ATKINS told
him he was discharged simply because of
his political views; that he (Mr. ATKISs)
admitted having discharged two other
men on the same ground, and threatened,
| if CLEVELAND was elected, to discharge
every democrat in his shops.
1t is disgrace and an outrage that men
should be deprived of employment be-
cause of their political opinions Such
practices must be stopped if free govern
ment is to endure in this country. They
have for years prevailed extensively in
the manufacturing states OF the East, and
in less degree in Indiana and other
western states. Purse-proud manufact-
urers have, in innumerabe instances
driven their men like so many sheep to
the polls, and compelled them to vote the
ticket placed in their hands, under pen
atty of loss OF employment. These
things have happened right here
in Indiana; and in Pennsylva mia,
and other strong republican states are of
such frequent occurrence that they no
longer attract special notice. The repub-
lican theory is that this is rich mans
government, and that men who work for
wages have no right to vote except as
those who hire them dictate.
We give notice right here that the appli-
cation of this wicked and reasonable
theory in Indiana has got to stop. E. @.
ATKINS & Co. are not the only concern in
this city that has been guilty Of such out
RACES THE SENTINEL has in its possession
evidence against three other manufactur-
ing institutions in Indianapolis similar
TO that presented this morning against
the Atkins company, which will be given
to the world in due time. If the offenders
do not find that popular indignation will
take the substantial form OF large with
drawals of patronage we are greatly mis-
taken.
Meantime we call upon the working
men of Indiana and of the country to vim
dictate their manhood at the ballot-box on
the 9th day of next month by voting en-
masse against the party which thus seeks
to deprive them OF their rights as Ameri-
can citizens.