The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-03-07
A Weak Reason,

The eight-hour law has been de-
feated by the Legislature. Whether
its passage would or would not
have benefited the laborers of Idaho
may be debateable question. We
are willing, therefore, to leave that
point for future discussion and set
Element, satisfied that q full under
standing of its merits and dement's
will eventually be reached by the
people interested, whether the leg
islature shall or shall not be pre-
vailed upon to do the right when
made clear to them. But the reas-
ons given by the Legislature for the
defeat Of the measure are quite an
other matter. To say that the en-
actment of needed or of a just
and honest law would keep capital
out Of the State is such an insult to
popular intelligence and to an en-
lightened, honest sense Of justice
between equals, as makes it diff
cult to discuss it without the use of
harsher terms than comport with
augmentation. But the legislature
has taken q narrow and one-sided
view Of the question. 1t is not true
that Idaho must become panderer
to capitalists to induce them to in
vest in our State no more than it
is true that Idaho men are ready
to so debase themselves. The State
needs and wants capital here. Her
infinite natural resources justify
this want, and will more than make
good the most glowing and ornate
description Of her riches and great
ness ever given to the world by the
best informed and most ardent of
her admirers. Her climate is the
most healthful on the globe; the
beauty of her scenery is as match
less as it is varied and indescriba-
BILE; the fertility of her soil is
source Of wealth that will increase
in geometrical ratio as the years
recede, while her mines, her forests
and streams are repositories of
billions of hidden wealth that wait
but the touch of labor's wand, made
potent by the capitalists gold, to
cause it to burst forth in profusion
of abundance equalling the tabled
wealth Of "Ormus and Of Ind"
Surely with such and so many
strong temptations to capitalists to
invest in enterprises for the devel-
opment Of such mighty resources,
our State need not get on her knees
10 beg for capital to come here, nor
vet refuse to do an act of justice to
her laborers, lest capital, offended
thereby, refuse to come. Capital
goes nowhere as favor; but goes
only where profits invite. There
fore if we would have capital come
here we must first convince those
who hold it that it can be not only
safely invested here, but that it can
also be invested here at a profit
Give the capitalistall that belongs
TO him, but nothing that belongs to |
he laborer. Enact just but not
servile laws. Do as nearly as pos
sible equal and exact justice to all
alike, whether rich or poor, CAPT
.alist or laborer; and if any capt.
'alist wants more than that refuse
20 give it. Idaho doesn't want that
class of people, and what is more,
can't afford to have them. A man
who demands more than justice
would be detriment and a draw
back, and both himself and his
capital would be a danger to the
State, as their power would inevita-
ply be felt on the side of wrong.
and injustice. The State
should discourage the coming into
1er borders of all such, and the
legislature that is influenced by a
spirit of servility to such creatures
n its efforts to bring capital into
he State. at least by legislative in
lendo, libels the fairness, honesty
nd indopocdopoo of our poor1o