Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-03

What sight for gods and meni Only
think of it. A town councillor, an ex-
MAYOR. a magistrate standing in the dock
as a law breaker and being tried by his
fellow magistrates. Such was the strik-
ing picture to be seen in the local police
court last week when Richard HARDWOOD,
Esq, j. p, was charged by the
government Inspector OF factories for
running his mills and working his en-
ployes during the hours prohibited by
law. For the offence named the we'll
known millowner indicated was hailed
and rightly hRled-before the bench, and
although he protested in the usual time
honored way that it was quite an over
sight, he was found guilty, and-let off
with a preposterously light fine. 1 sup
pose this was due to the fact that Mr..
Harwood was an intimate friend of the
gentleman who had tried and convicted
him. Our magistrates can be heavy
handed enough when q poor, starving
tramp is brought before them, but when
the culprit happens to be one of them
selves they are as Ienient as possible with
him.
"a Now the point to which 1 wish to
draw attention is this. As j. P. Mr..
HARDWOOD has frequently sat upon the
bench, and administered the law TO
malefactors, and it would be interesting
TO know how he liked appearing in the
dock. To me it seems scandalous that
after a man las appeared in the police
court as a law breaker he should again
be able to try other law breakers as a
magistrate. Mr.. HARDWOOD wilfully, de-
liberately broke the law, and after such
an act he ought to be removed from the
bench. The cotton workers of the town
ought to present petition to the home
secretary praying that he be at once re-
moved from the list of the borough
magistrates. When this is done justice
will be melted out, and Mr.. HARDWOOD and
his brother mill owners will have received
a salutary warning.
90 Anyone who understands factory
life and the practices of those who run
mills knows that the millhands are rob-
bed all the year through, and it was
quite time for the government inspector
to step in and put his foot down upon
such nefarious custom. But the prac-
tice of running overtime is not exclusively
confined to any one mill in the town; it
is common to all of the mills. Although
q few minutes cribbed at the tail end of
the day does not make much difference to
either the manufacturer or operative,
both stopping and starting, three or four
times day, the week and the year
round the sum total is very considerable.
And the practice is sufficient indication
that even if the attention of the inspector
is relaxed only for a brief period, the
evil begins to grow, and only continued
and regular vigilance can act as deter
rant. The government official has done
shis duty once, and if ne will continuesto
do it, he will earn the gratitude of every
suffering cotton operative. Yours re-
specially, VERAx.
Ere Mark had finished his reading the
mill owner was walking to and fro across
the hearth, and muttered curses were
falling from his lips. When the letter
was read HARDWOOD paused, and striking
his hand on the table cried:
"By heavensl it's --! If you, -
turning to Eliot, "were in my position,
and you knew the writer of that vile
thing, what would you do to him?'
"Well, - replied Mark coolly, 81
think 1 should ask myself if his state
ments were true.
"True! the truth!' HARDWOOD
Kissed. "But you know who wrote it,
know as well as 1 do. -
elbow should l know anything about
it?" Mark asked quickly.
':Because you wrote 1t-there is the
cursed letter itself!'' and Harwood flung
several sheets OF manuscript upon the
table as he spoke. "'You see, - he added
with bitter sneer, ''that 1 have fer
reted it all out. Gold will do a great
deal.'
''It will, it appears, Mark retorted,
''by the honor of an editor!'' Then he
cast the NJ s. into the flames.
"The man had no honor to sell-he
only sold you and your secret. If he
hadn't had a spite against me he would
never have printed that letter. Well,
he has paid off the score he owed me and
made a few pounds in the bargain.
''Why did you bring me here? Was it
only to tell me this?''
at was to point out what you had
done, and to indicate the probable con-
sequences of your vile attack upon me.
You have libelled me, made me the talk
of the town; are melting the work-people
to strike. Have you ever thought of
what may happen to you when the strike
is'over-if it ever beglns?''
al have done nothing l regret-noth-
ing ought not to have done,' Mark
said lowly, but very firmly, as he rose.
''Don t go yet; am not man to for
give an injury; do not intend to forgive
you-unless-'
"What?''
''You do as wish. -
'tWhat is that?''
''You possess, it seems, somse ~ of
influence with these ignorant pNsp1e5s e.
ert that influence in order to prevent
strike and-much as you haye outrsft
me-nothing further shall be said Of y
"That is impossible! MaEs Fried
hotly. ''Do you expect meg eat -
own words? To urge these S4dly pad
people to accept your reduction? Mol ]
cannot-will not do it,
"You know the consequence?
whatever it may be l shall have to
face it. 1 cannot betray these people
who have put their trust in me!''
"You mean this2''
al do. -
lyon are foolI In three months
time, sooner, perhaps, you will regret
it, them you will wish you had done what
/ suggest"
''Good nlghtl'' was all the reply
Mark made, as he took his hat and his
departure.
fro BIB CONTINUED.
TIE NFATOFS,s LAMENT