The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-08-03
SENATOR MILLS AS A oopesR.
He Avoided the workingmen When The
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He Avoided the workingmen When They
Visited Washington.
Many workingmen are hurrying on to
Washington. They represent hundreds
Of thousands of their fellow citizens.
Some of them are paying their own way.
Others are having their expenses met by
the workmen who send them. These
men from first to last are independent.
They are Republicans and Democrats.
They ask no favor. They are honest,
industrious and patriotic Americans.
While they seek no favors, they do de-
mand justice and their rights as citizens
of tho republic.
They have been told that the Demo
Gratis are their friends. Democratic or
ators have groaned for labor. Demo
cratic editors have shrieked fraud and
robbery. A Democratic candidate for
the presidency has rumbled most dismal
ly. Workingmen have therefore be-
lieved that they would be welcome in
Washington. Consequently they have
gone.
What have they found? An atmos-
phere too cold to measure. They are not
welcome. On the contrary, they have
been put off, put out, avoided and almost
evicted. Mills has lodged them. Yet
Mills has Always been their friend! He
has almost wept over their wrongs-their
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employment and living wages. They
have had houses over their heads and
bread and meat ON their tables. Their
children have had clothing and school.
ing. Their wives have had bonnets and
silk dresses. But Mills wept.
At this day, however, when these very
workmen have neither employment nor
pay, Mills hides himself when they APP.
proach. He doesn't want to hear them.
Moreover, they are mistaken. They don't
know what is good for them. Things
may be hard just now. Times may be
dull. But by and by, at some uncertain
period in the future, shoes will be cheap
er, coats will come down, flour will be
almost as cheap as dirt, and salt will be
as plenty as snow in the winter time.
Representations, no matter how beauti-
full and inspiring, don't satisfy hun
cry mans appetite, nor can they warm a
little child that is cold.
Thus and therefore Mills keeps well
out of the way. He does not want to
hear the plea of labor. He does not want
to be turned backward to his former
groanS and promises. He is determined
to stand by the Wilson bill. However,
he was caught the other day. A COM
mittee followed until they cornered him.
They were men of labor. They had trav-
eled many miles. Under their arms they
carried specimens of their skill and in
dustry. They had pieces of American
carpet and Of American hannels, skeins
of American yarn and an assortment Of
American tablecloths.
Likewise they had some facts as to
wages. For instances: When they worked
before the Mckinley law was threatened,
their wages were two and half times
greater than were the wages paid for the
same kind of work in England. They
wanted to show Mills their carpets and
yarns and to tell him their facts. But
he would neither see nor listen. He
hadn't time. Further than that, he was
fixed and Interchangeable. He believed in
free trade, absolute, unequivocal. The
workmen could not be heard. He did
not think they ought to be heard. More
over, he had no personal desire that they
should be heard. Leader.