Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-18
WONDERFUL INDEED.

WONDERFUL INDEED.
This is a mad, rekcckless and break-ne
age. Wonders have been crowding thick
and fast upon humanity till at last it must
be a marvel indeed that excites more than
passing notice. Pain-destroying cocoalne,
Pasteur's remedy for the mad dogs fang,
the quadrupe telegraph system, the tele-
phone, photograph and other miracles
wrought with the electric current, the air
brake, the elevated railway and thousand
and one wonders besides, have all come in
a food during recent years and nearly
paralyzed the sense of surprise in man.
But of all the achievements of science
and genius none is more genu-
ineIy surprising than the wonderful one
accomplished in Chicago Wednesday,
when a nervous young man performed the
amazing feat, mental, psychological or
physical as the case may be, which only a
few short months ago brought Washing
ton Irving Bishop to an untimely grave.
With eyes blindfoded and heavy cloak
enveloping his head he drove from one
hotel to another through the crowded
streets went directly to the register, and,
vision still obscured, correctly gave a name
and date therein previously selected by a
special committee Of prominent citizens,
and even transcribed tee name on piece
Of PAPER, making almost fac
imile of that on the book.
There was no doubt of the
genuineness of the test. 1t was accom-
plished under circumstances which admit
of no suspicion of its full authenticity, and
the operator was evidently nearly over
come by the mental strain twice before the
trying experiment was completed. The
committee was naturally deeply amazed at
the seemingly supernatural achievement,
while dozens of psychical students testified
their profound appreciation of the feat by
enthusiastically applauding the mind
reader, hypnotist or what not that the
wonderful operator chances to be.
THE Springfield, Mass, Republican,
speaking of the late discussion between
Powderly and Vice-President Webb, says:
With every disposition to vindicate the
rights of labor-indeed, because of that
disposition-we must recognize that the
management of the New York Central
railroad made a far more honorable show
ing than the knights of Labor in the in
vestigation recently. Mr.. Webb's state
ment is the sober truth the railroad is not
called upon to tell the public, or the
Knights Of Labor, why man is discharg-
ed, although they owe that information to
the man himself; the railroad is deeply re-
sponsible to the public for the performance
of its duty as public carrier of lives and
goods. But Mr.. Powderly's correspond
-ence with Master Workman Lee show
that he and his order have no sort of re-
spect for the rights of the people. The
unconsciOnable selfishness Of organized
labor could not be exhibited by any hostile
writer with half the force that Powderly
and Lee present it in their correspond
ence. Out of $4,000 men in the employ OF
this great corporation, 70 were dlscharg-
ed, and little more than one-fourth OF
these were knights of Labor. Yet Lee,
who was discharged for insolence and neg
lect of duty,-and confirmed this state
ment of Vict-President Webb's by
his own free testimony-at once imagined
that the country wanted to strike in order
to break up the organization. Powderly
took the cue from Lee, but he developed a
scheme to make the order formidable, and
trouble until Mr.. Depew should return
from Europe. Remember" he wrote,
''that he is possible candidate for presi-
dency and will go TO any lengths rather
than have a strike on the road, for that
would injure his CHARGES irreparably."
Meanwhile encourage assertions from the
as to create a feeling of uncasiness. He
warns Lee that the strike that is mot won
in 10 days is lost, that 1T is madness for
the men of New York Central to think OF
striking" This seems like sense, but the
general master workman goes on to say as
foIlows:-The year 1892 will be presidential
year, 1898 the world fair, but the patience
of the workingmen will not hold out to
remain organized quietly while doing his
part to organize other parts so that they
will be as one man when these years come.
This reveals an intention to precipitate a
general strike at time when it will
most embarrass the railroads, but also
when it will injure and outrage the peo-
pie of the whole country and visitors from
abroad This is highly patriotic. 1t
would be a beautiful exhibition of the
United States to the world. And for what
reason? Not that any men are insufficient
~ paid, or are unjustly burdened, but
simply that membership of the Knights of
Labor cannot protect incompetent, insub-
ordinate or vicious persons.