St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-14

in the city council for the purpose of
selling their Influence"
The public interests are jeopardized
so long as such offenses remain unpun-
iShed.
Let the grand jury reasonable. and let
there be light.
ASSISTING The UNEMPLOYED
In times like these everything con.
corning the condition of the poor and
measures that may be adopted for the
relief of the general distress is OF in
terest to the public The recent meet
ing of the state conference of correc-
tions and charities drew together large
number of persons interested in phila u
thropic endeavor, and the discussions
elected widespread attention. Va
rious means were suggested for furnish
ing to the unemployed an opportunity
to earn an honest and independent sub
slstence, some of them practical and
others wholly without the province of a
public body. One speaker insisted that
there should be concerted move ment
to make railroads and corporations re-
tain their laborers, of whom there is in
these times general letting out. The
profits of the railroads would probably
be smaller ii their employees would all
be retained, but there would be gain
IN the service aud in the character both 5;G0sii
of the railroad owners and the EN-
ployes. He thought the great need of
the day is less institutional and more
personal charity work.
The proper manner in which charity
shall be dispensed has long been a
grave problem IN the minds of all
thoughtful men. Most men rebel against
the alms-giver, and will suffer rather
than accept assistance which comes to
them in the form of aims. Pauperism
i an abnormal condition in the United
States. 1t scarcely exists except among
a class of degraded foreigners who were
reared to it in the old world. and among
the tramps, who are the outgrowth of
perniciouS system of taxation and in
dustrial monopoly. During the past six
months Instances Of great suffering have
been brought to the attention of the
public, through no effort OF the victims,
who We're too proud to allow their con-
dltlon to become known; and it is to the
credit of humanity that none of these
who were proved worthy were permit
ted long to endure the privations that
fate had thrust upon them.
The claim of the speaker referred to,
that many railroads that are paving
large dividends have been dropping
their workmen or reducing their wages,
is hardly warranted by the facts. There
have been many reductions. both in the
number and compensation. of the en-
ployeS of corporations, but dividend
paying roads have not been the Offend
ers. Those familiar with business
affairs know that the past year has been
the most calamitOus in the history of
transportation companies. Scores have
been forced to the wall. They have not
earned enough to pay operating ex-
penses. to say nothing of dividends.
The worlds fair business saved num-
berS Of them from bankruptcy; but
even that extraordinary movement of
travel was insufficient to compensate
them for the falling off in freight traffic.
They, like private business concerns,
have been obliged to curtail expenses.
Wherever possible. one man has been
required to do the work of two. Re-
trenchment has been the rule in every
department, and cuts in salaries have
been general. But the officials have
not been selfish in apportioning the
burdens. Two companies having head
quarters in st. Paul made a general cut
i'll wages of all employees. but those re-
ceiying the least were asked to accept
only d 5 per cent reduction, while the
higher-priced officials had to submit to
a loss of from 10 to 20 per cent. This
does not indicate much of that selfish
ness of which the speaker complained.
1t is the fashion for ignorant and
demagogic men to lnveigh against all
corporations indiscriminately, without
regard to facts. In many instances the
corporations deserve all the condemna-
ton they receive, but not in all. Many
treat their employees with liberality and
consideration. Corporations may have
no souls, but the managers of many of
them are as large-hearted and as fair
minded as any men in the land. The
man who shuts his eyes to facts that are
as apparent as the monday sun lest
they shall dissipate his prejudices
against corporations has no right to set
himself up as moral or religious
teacher. Some corporations and some
men are absolutely soulless. They
would grind the poor to the earth at
every opportunity, and extort from the
public every farthing they could pro-
cure by fair means or foul. But happily
these are the exceptions, not the rule.
The majority of men and the majority
of corporations have keen sympathies
and tender hearts. They hate all forms
OF oppression, and especially that which
hardens its heart against the pleadlngs
of the poor and the protests of indus
trious wOrkingmen. Their self-interest,
if not their sense of Justice, prompts
them to course alike honorable and
liberal. Well paid, comfortably housed
and clothed men do better work than
those who are underpaid and deprived
of the comforts of life. The corpora
tions understand this, and need no ad-
vice on the subject from impractieables
whose only mission seems to be to find
fault.
The times are hard enough for both
individuals and corporations. The
struggle for existence is desperate one
at the best. There is no need of en-.
deavoring to antagonize the two forces
and array them in hostile camps. If