Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-31
PERSONAL LIBERTY.
senator Hn, OF New York, Delivers an
Addreae on the Subject.

Address on the Subject.
UTICA, N. Y, July 30.-Senator
David B. Rnl delivered an address TO-
day at Sylvan Beach before the Hop
Growers Association. His subject was
personal Liberty, 'and in part he spoke
thus:
I'm the realms OF labor and in the 40
main of industry the principal involved
in personal liberty cannot be TOO IIs-
ouently asserted. The fact cannot %
too strongly emphasized that every
mans labor is his own, and that he can
do with it as he pleases. He has per-
sonal right TO name his own wages, MS
own hours, his own duties, and all the
other terms under which he is wiling
TO be employed, and il they
are satisfactory to the one VINO
hires an agreement is reached
and there is an end OF controversy DO,
tween them. The contract Is personal
matter with which no other workman
or employer has right TO Interfere. IL
is a bargain between two competen'
contracting parties, and IL Is noooay
business but their own. They are Tree
from the restrictions of any other sm-
ployer or EN- Jloye, and are not SUBJECT
10 the control or dctation OF any asSo-
citation or Organization to which they
don't belong and TO which they do not
owe any allegiance. These considera-
tions of the relative rights of indivldu-
ais engaged in labor pursuits, ABOUT
which there ought not TO be any dis
Dute among well informed men, DO not
conflict with the obligations when
workmen assume when they voluntarily
ioin labor organizations, except In the
matter OF personal honor which may
be involved and which may require SUD-
mission to the conclusions OF the ma
jority. ,.
The legal rights of such individuals
unouestlonably remain the same, lrres-
pectiye of the question Of such member
ship. They always must be deemed 10
reserve the abstract legal right OF repu-
dating such membership whenever they
so prefer, their withdrawal only occa-
sioning such minor forfetures or pen
alties as reasonable bylaws might In
flict. They cannot be compelled to act
against their will. Their personal
rights cannot be jeopardiZed.
"In my opinion the citadel OF person
al liberty in this country is more In
danger Of being undermined by the III
considered opinions OF some OF us
Judges, straining doubtful points and
invoking bubbles In favor OF corporate
power and creating legal frictlons TO
cripple the efforts Of honest labor strug-
Cling against great odds to assert It's
dignity than from all the arbitrary dem
onstrations than were ever made by
workingmen."
Speaking Of "the tendencies OF the
times" Mr.. Hill said:
THE mercantile exchanges In our
great cities are clamoring for RELIEF
from laws which restrict their business
In accord ance with old fashioned plans
and notions, and they are seeking to
have their contracts rendered as free as
the air we breathe. The whole country
is at last awakening to the improperly
OF makiag our money metals
matter OF merchandise by the govern
ment itself and are hoping that
patriotic Congress-, soon TO convene, Will
faithfully respond with promptitude TO
the demands of public sentiment in that
regard. 1t is not to be inferred that all
the efforts TO which l refer to relieve
business from existing legal and other
restraints are TO be regarded as com
meudable or can be accepted without
serious question. Those who demand
that money shall be free, thut usury
laws shall be abolished and the charge
FOR the use OF money shall be a matter
OF contract between the borrower and
the lender, can hardly expect a ready
acqulescence 10 their proposition.