The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-20
sExrTLK. SUNDAY. AUG. 2


The question which has come home TO
every state in this country. Is what can
ne do publicly and privately to help tide
honest unemployed labor over this
time Of severe trial for both capital and
labor; for both employer and employed.
The honest, intelligent workingman must
see that all arc in the same boat, try
ing 10 MAKE laad over rough
sea. He knows that large employers
that are without business are obliged 10
reduce the number Of their workingmen.
because they have no choice; they must
either close their doors or reduce their
force. The general public distrust and
boarding OF money makes money very
scarce. Here IL tie city of Seattle for
example. a iionrishing community Of over
60,0oo with excellent credit. and yet IL
cannot today get any offer for Its bonds.
The only objection offered is that until
the money stringency and trade depres-
sion Is over I'VE cannot make any
offer for your bonds that you could afford
10 accept" This compels the city to halt
I'm the pushing forward of its public
cannot al present raise money by the sale
of its bonds.
The question has been raised, however,
- to whether the city can not go forward
with It's public work and issue scrip in
payment for labor aud materials. There
IL strong ground for maintaining tina. this
can legally be done. II II can be done II
would be good thing TO do in moro ways
than one. Ii would hasten the compile
tion Of public works of great Importance,
and it would give employment to q large
number of men who are not only willing
20 work but who actually need work to
maintain themselves and their families.
II, moreover. the scrip 30 issued could
In some way be maintained at a fixed
price and be made acceptable TO mer-
chants generally in place Of currency, IL
would make q substantial addition 20 the
circulating medium. which NJ this time
could hardly fail 20 have beneficial effect
upon business. IL would be abso-
iutely necessary. however. IL this
plan were adopted. TO take proper
precautions to prevent the scrip as
issued from being depressed in price by
selfish spectators for their personal gam.
This could be accomplished only by the
concerted action of the merchants and
bankers of the city.
1.-THE city authorities exercised q proper
discretion and employed only actual resi-
dents OF Seattle upon public works all
danger Of an undue influx of the unem.
ployed from other localities could be
averted. IL Is doubtless true that there are
AZ the present time many men out of en-.
pioymens, although not nearly a. many
- in any other city of equal size upon the
Coast. The general situation. moreover,
81 the present time Is improving, and II Is
certainly true that both labor and capital
have reason to feel encouraged that the
worst Is over. Under all the circumstance.
the question naturally arises. What is the
duty OF every man 20 his neighbour 1t Is
simply the practice OF the Golden Rule !;
let all employers he as generous as
possible with labor. Let no en-
plcyer of labor drop worthy man If 1t is
possible 10 find work for him; let every
man make all the work for labor that he
can afford TO pay for. lie; every avenue,
public and private, be opened for labor
that can be iegiiimstsly found. There
should, moreover, be not only justice and
generosity on the part of the employers,
but there should be patience and forbear-
snce on the part of unemployed labor
until the evil time IS passed.
Under our laws there Is no reason why
auy case Of genuine distress should 81
without relief the people of the Pacific
coas, deny no mans right to his bread
Who 10 willing 60 work. and no homes,
man honestly one Of work should be al.
lowed 60 so without his bread IN Seattle.
Our indoor and outdoor relief can and
should be made equal to the situation.
Ia the meantime, II the city can do Cd
legally. IL should certainly push the public
work already projected. 50 ,ha, the men
who are willing and able 20 work should
be given an opportunity e. do 50.
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