The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-30

Island will be at a serious disadvantage
if she takes in this matter position too
far in advance of others.
-s-
wARDwELL AS A PHILANTHROPIsT.
The statement Of Peter Mcclure of
Bristol, which the News publishes to-
day, as regards the wages received by
him during a period of thirteen years
spent in the employment of Mr.. William
Wardwell, presents many points of in
crest to the general public and more
particularly to the workingmen of
Rhode Island, inasmuch as it displays
Mr.. Wardwell's character in a different
light. and one very much more favora-
BILE than any in which it has hitherto
been viewed.
The charge of being cheap labor
man, laid at Mr.. Wardwell's door by the
Woonsocket Reporter, has been met by
his friends, and notably by Prohibition
newspaper, with the answer that it is
better to work for 75 cents day than to
bbuft, ~ may Oltth pc a
charity to employ man at that figure.
This is feature Of the labor problem
which the NEWS hereby publicly con-
fesses it had not before sufficiently con-
sidered. The point is well taken. Mr..
Wardwell as a philanthropist shines
forth with hitherto unsuspected radi-
ance. In the course Of somewhat ex-
tended business career what opportuni-
ties have not been afforded him to be-
stow well deserved and, no doubt, dis
eliminating bounty upon very consider
able numbers of struggling fellow
citizens.
The case Of Mr.. Mcclure strikingly
illustrates the position. Mr.. Mcclure
acknowledges over his own signature
that for nine months Mr.. Wardwell gen.
erously kept him out Of the clutches of
Satan. whose abilities at finding mis-
chief to occupy unemployed hands are
notorious, for an average of eleven
hours, or nearly half of every twenty
four, and that he munifcently supple
mented this substantial benefit by the
sum of 81 for every day.
Mr.. Mcclure goes farther. He de-
tails to the public the watchful care
exercised by Mr.. Wardwell over him
and his interests consistently and un-
oeasingly during period of many
years.
Mr.. Mcclure was married. Mr.. Ward
well, with the clear eye of a political
economist, saw that his employees pros
perity in life depended on cheap rent.
To the gratuities previously bestowed
upon him he added in time therefore
the free occupancy OF cottage worth
not more than $400. For two years
Mr.. Mcclure enjoyed these inestimable
advantages with turkey every Thanks.
giving and $3.50 gold piece at Christ
mas. He was permitted himself TO know
the sweets of benevolence, for he had
five horses dependent upon him for care
and attention, which aided to keep him
from less wholesome occupations for
twelve hours nearly every day.
Mr.. Mcclure, too, was made partner
in Mr. Wardwell's charities to other
laborers, for he says he hired help for
his employer at from 70 TO so cents and
81 " per day. The Mcclure family was
indeed particularly favored, for Mr.. Nc
Clure's brother was taken under Ward
wellian shield and shelter " for at least
seven months" at 81 per day.
Mr.. Wardwell seems TO have found
Mcclure fully appreciative of the good
things the gods had provided for him.
for after two years and nine months ne.
out Of his whole-hearted philanthropy.
signifed his entire approval of McClure's
efforts to deserve his good fortune 10y
trusting him with an advance Of twenty
FIVE cents. IL was n heavy weight of
care which was thus thrust
upon weak and fallible mortal
10 deal prudently and for the gen
eral benefit Of humanity with so large
a sum rs s1.2j per day, but nobly
Mcclure bore up under It, For three
years he endured, and so heroically that
Mr.. Wardwell, at the end Of that time.
even ventured TO load him up still more
heavily. One dollar and n halt was the
revenue he at last felt warranted in con.
fiding TO him; and though it appears tina,
McClurc's strength under the final bur.