Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-16
ANGRY DISCUSSIONS
And Gloomy Forebodings 10 Both
Branches Of Congress. /
The Labor Problem Still Dothess lawmakers
Difficulty TO Obtain Quorum.

various agents OF labor organizations ap-i
pcared upon the scene. At first no one
knew or cared what their object was,
though it was generally supposed that the
tariff bill was their main interest, but
when Mr.. J. w. Hayes, secretary of the
knights of Labor, was seen in the lobby
the word ran around the capitol as if by
electricity. 1t has been long time since
statesmen and outsiders alike were as
unanimous in opinion as they were on this,
and the expressions, He's here to koep
tab on the votes 2 His business Is TO
blacklist every member who does not vote
for the Debs resolution" were heard on
all sides. AS for the unfortunate preacher
senator Of South Dakota, as he is called,
he Is also fortunate in being ignored, and
the measure he introduced by request is
known as the Debs resolution when it is
not called by some more opprobrious.
name. The astonishing feature Of the
discussion was the violent speech Of Sen
ator PETER. and the most charitable ex-
PLANTATION is that lie has been lambastcd sol
savagciy for going over to the Republic
ans on the tariff bill that he felt it ncc-l
ossary to regain his old place by some
radical remarks and ovcrdid the business.
Politics VIII Not Down.
The Record presents singularly mild
copy Of what happened, and almost every
day brings out some additional remarks
which were uttered on the floor as ''asidcs''
between senators and not heard in the
galleries. 1t is alleged for instance, that
when Mr.. Davis was holding forth clo-
qucntly on the firmncss of the president
and the duty of sustaining him other SEN
ators whispered protests, and to his state
mcnt that this Is no time to criticise the
president another party leader replied,
There Is never II proper time to eulogize
him" There was great enthusiasm over
Senator Gordon speech, and his sweeping
statement that there could be no such
thing as d southern view or any sectional
view, and, still more, his sharp rcproof of
the Kansas senator, were well received.
In conversation outside of the chamber
some of the most staid and reserved sena-
tors arc peculiarly emphatic in their re-
marks, even the suaye and dignified Mr..
Cullom becoming humorously severe.
"Thcse fellows, says he, will be want
ing to set aside the common law next, for
1t Is nothing but the common law as it re-
lates to common carriers that is set forth,
although more specifically, in the interstate
commerce act. Suppose man contracts
to carry the mails over common dirt road
DctWccn TWO UOWllSi WOultl MT. ItDo Clalln
that his followers had q right TO say he
should not carry It in n Studcbakcr wagon
and argue that this was no obstruction of
the mails because they still left him tho
right to carry It in a buggy?
State Rights.
OF course the discussion ended with an
Endorsement of tho president by most of
the senators, but the general talk among
greater aspcrity, and there have been hints
that II Mr.. PETER tries 1T again he may
BIO rislsing tho fate Of jesse ID. Bright.
Much is said rs to the possible effect on
public policy in general, and in response
to various questions on this Champ Clark
said. II hato to think it, but If some way
is not found to stop this sort of thing
there will be n stronger central govern
ment, with large standing army. The
trouble is that every time one of our gov
errors calls on the president for hclp-and
oven the extreme states rights governors
are as quick to call ms any of thcm--it cuts
the ground right from under the dcccn
tralizationists Every such case takes
away an argument. Only u few years ago
Polk and those fellows voted against Civ
ing seed wheat whore there had been
drought, and the governor of Texas refused
tho bounty on sugar They were right, but
how they arc abused for IL! Now every
tinc there Is u fire CIR a flood or anything
out of the common order the tendency is
to fly to tho federal government for aid.
"By tho way. n. o. Nelson of St Louis
set the right pace when tho trouble came
on eight years ago He said to his mon
that tho interest on his plant was worth
something and the wear and tear OF his
machinery should bo allowed for, and he
should have u salary rs manager, and all
that was left at tho end of tho year they
would divide. His theory is that whether
man gets one dollar or thousand he
will not kick as long as he gets what he
thinks is due him. Tho men accepted it,
and they divide the surplus on an agreed
pro rata, and there has not been n particle
of trouble since He has prospcrod right
along through all tho hard times. am
satisfied that that is the best thing now,
and when other manufacturers get off
their high horses and do the same thing
there will be an end to strikes in this
country. 7" This Is only II sample of con-
versations heard in every room of the CAPT
tol and every part of tho city, for the
question, Are we drifting toward strong
central government has certainly been
discussed 10. 900 times here in the last fort
night. Very few of tho statesmen will
consent TO have their remarks printed, and
big percentage Of what has been said
privately by prominent men would make
very queer reading year or two hence.
Cost of Labor Troubles.
A summary of the reports made to the
department shows that three weeks after
what was considered the close of tho riots
In 1877 there were still % rioters in prison
in West Virginia, whilc one Donohuc,
then IA prominent leader, was in Jail in
Eric; Mcconnell, another, in Philadelphia,
four others in st. Louis, and altogether
there were about go in all the country out
If many hundreds who were arrested.
And, as near as can be determined, not
paorc than dozen were sentenced for any
length of time want of evidence being
the reason usually assigned, And this was
tho trifiing outcome of the laws action rs
to riots which cost 400 lives and about
$780, 900, 900. 1t also appears in the jour
nails of that year that Immediately after
the riots there was strong movement in
favor of government taking charge of the
railroads; that there was new labor
marty organized; that there was a regular