Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09

and they were unit In opposltiop TO tne
proposition, but all refused to be quoted.
Said one, pointing to an acre or so of ex-
pensive machinery in which he was inter-
ested: Would it not be preposterous to
suppose that in busy season, with orders
pressing, we would be content to see all this
buzz stopped? Sentimentaily it may be
all right, but think our men can find time
to vote more easily than we can arrange to
shut down."
Several workmen on the Southside were
spoken to yesterday. James E. Finn, an
employe of the Excelsior Glass Company,
was the first one seen. ''It will never do"
said he. 'In the first place, our people
have enough holidays at present without
any being added. In the second place, if
the workmen are given half holiday on
election days it will only increase the oppor-
tunities for bribery on the part OF politicians.
There are too many workmen whose vote can
be reached through the pocket or stomach,
and particularly the latter. There are
very few people who need to lose their vote
on account of having to work all daY. The
workmen can generally turn out to vote for
their candidate, but there is one thing /
wish thev would learn 10 do-to vote for the
man who is known to be in favor of their
best interests, no matter what party he
represents. TheSindependent vote is the
brains of any nation, and if the workmen
would always combine on the candidate and
not divide up among the parties they would
prove power. The yorkingmen of this
country are giant. but they are asleep"
AN ENTIRELY NEW, VIEW OF IT.
An official of the Window Glass Workers
Association said: "While the plan looks
feasible, I do not believe it is practical. The
amount of wages man would lose, coupled
with what he would spend for incidental ex-
penses, would more than Offset the benefit he
would derive from the half holiday. Then,
it comes SO near THANKSGIVING; that would
be another objection to It. There are none
OF our people need to lose their votes on ac-
couRt9f work, bersuse they only work eight
hours and can always find time to vote"
Lawrence A. Schott, q defeated candidate
/ for the Legislatures do not believe the
workingmen have any too many holidays,
and such law could be made beneficial. If
the men would not be compelled to vote as
their employers wanted them to, it would
be all right. But if they were given half
holiday, and especially if they were allowed
it with pay, in the majority of cases they
would be compelled to follow the dictates of
their employers, as Russell & Co., of Can
ton, have attempted to do with their men.
H.5J. Weiniar, an officer of one of the
election boards on the Southside, said: sIn
the past we have had great deal of trouble
with the workmen in the evening. Usually
there is great rush of men between and
o'clock, and frequently a number of men
get shut out entirely. believe something
ought to be done to give every man an op-
portunity to exercise his right as an Amer
ican citizen. / am not prepared to say
whether or not the half holiday would be
the hest. The suggestion carries with it
many things that would come up for con-
sideration in making such q law, but I
know great many men have been deprived
OF their votes in the Twenty-sixth ward
heretofore by reason OF their not having the
time to get to the polls"
WHOM IT WOULD FAVOR.
Fred Williams, a workman in the Re-
public Iron W orks-We are not so much in
need OF half-holiday for the purpose of
voting. It is ssonly the men who are COM
PEELED to 60 distance to work early in the
morning, and who do not get home again
until alter the polls are closed. And am
not sure if the number is sufficient to war
rant the passage of a law for their benefit.
However, / am in favor of everything that is
for the benefit of our class, for it is we'll
known we do not get more than belongs to
us as it is.
Secretary William j. Dillon, of the
American Flint Glass Workers Union, ex-
pressed his opinion as follows: "Tnere is
no doubt that many men lose their votes be-
cause, they cannotmake time to cast them.
would favor not alone making a half holi-
day on election day, but would go farther
and say that every citizen should be COM
pelled to exercise his rights as a citizen and
cast his ballot. A man may refrain from
casting his vote If he chooses, suppose, but
aside from citizens who may use this right,
there are large number of men, and some
of them, too, identified with the labor move
ment. who, while enjoying all the fruits Of
citizenship, are themselves still subjects of
the rulers of the land from which they came.
Such men should,bs made to come forward
and become citizens, aud some legislation in
this direction would be beneficial. If it
only had the effect of bringing such aliens
into daylight the half holiday on election
day would be q very desirable thing"