The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-12

The NEWS obtained an interview with
ex-Iieut. Gov. William Il. c. Wardwell.
the Democratic nominee for governor,
yesterday afternoon. The " little giant "
was walking up North Main street at a
pretty lively gait and from the set express
sion of his countenance was evidently not
pleased with something.
Good afternoon, governor. How about
your paying your workmen IS cents a
day."
Gov. Wardwell paused for moment, as
il turning over in his mind the wisdom Of
allowing himself to be interviewed, and
then said
What has been said about my paying
my help IS cents a day is not true. / have
never in all my business career paid any
man less than 81. 80 per day, and that fact
you can prove IL you will talk with any
of the men who have been or are now en-
ploycd by me.
II have ever believed that cheap labor is
the costliest in the end, and that well
paid man is a factor in the economical
management of ones business. Acting
upon that belief have paid good wages.
There appears also TO have been mis-
understanding as To the number of men
employ. There isn't an army at work Oh
my premises; i hire just seven men.
What they have to say and what Others
who have worked for me have said, will
appear publicly in the near future.
There is another matter wish TO call
your attention 10. / have always paid
my men weekly. Long before the subject
of weekly payments was brought up for
agitation in this State, in fact when
first went into business, / saw that
workingman could manage his domestic
affairs much more advantageousiy, with
much more economy. IL he were paid
txr al, 4. ~
tied up for month, and be subjected TO
the higher prices asked on long credits.
II studied this question carefully and
began with weekly payments. and / be-
lieve the men employed by me profited by
reason of the adoption Of that rule.
IL have always hired my men on the ba-
sis of ten hours for days work, and this,
too, was before the en-hour question was
agtated. But have gone farther than
that. III, by reason OF a storm, darkness
or accident we have been obliged To knock
off work two hours before the usual time
my men full days pay"
But, Gov. Wardwell, how about that
expense bill Of $3.50 Z"
There is n popularity about that ac~
count. which, If explained will probably
place me In different light.
AT the time, or Just about the time
that | went to Washington to secure the
large sum of money the State was entitled
TO, a rumor was current, not only here.
but elsewhere. that was to bring on the
money either in gold coin or gold certifi-
cate. | feared that this report might in-
duce some evil-disposed person TO single
me out for the purpose OF robbery, and to
prevent such an attack / determined to
take someone with me.
After considering this matter in all its
bearings ! selected my daughter as my
travelling companion. This may seem
strange 10 you; but looked at it in this
light:
"A man accompanied by lady is ever
less liable to the attacks ofa thief or any
other crook. Again, no matter how brave
n man may be. let thief put n pistol up
t) his head and he will quietly submit to
robbery, whereas n woman begins to
ysll aud she keeps mp her noise until all
uanger is over-then she faints away or
has the Mysteries. Funny reason, wasn't
iti Still it had weight with me.
81 took my daughter to Washington,
the important business was transacted
and we returned home. i never had any
idea of putting in n bill for my services,
but one day Gov. Davis asked me when 1
was going TO present my bill. l asked him
what bill he referred TO and when he said
that IL was the one i contracted for the
Washington business. / told him that /
had none, and had no idea Of presenting
one. His reply was that was entitled To
REMUNERATION, not Only loI my dCludi tA
pense, but for the very valuable service /
had given the State.
II again demurred; but being pressed To
tell what my travelling and incidental ex-
penses had been for myself and my com
panion. | said that they aggregated soc.
subsequently received the order for
$780, of which you will now see $40 was
for expenses and 800 was what higher
authority considered was even too little To
allow me for my services out OF this state.
! casbed the order, believing that IL came
To me properly, ana tDat is all that there
is for me To say about the account am
sure that the News, when It receives my
explanation. will cneeriully give it the
same publicity that IL has the report which
was first printed