Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-10-03
tn. Hired Man ouestiou.

There is hot fight full of feeling be-
tween Senator German and the 'Balti-
more Sun. " In his recent speech in
Howard county Senator German spoke
with some contempt Of the reporters
and editorial writer's Of the Sum MS
hired agents. and "hirelings'' 2 1t
is OF course true that the Sun pays
salary or wages to the brilliant men
who write its editorials as well as to
the bright and busy men who gather
its news and the Industrious operators
who set its type. Every newspaper
worth reading pays something for every
line of reading matter in it. But in
attempting to throw discredit upon
newspaper men because they are paid
for the work they do, the Senator from
Maryland showed more temper than
sense; for the laborer is worthy of his
hire to-day Just as he was in Solomon's
day, and the man who thinks 1t is any
discredit either TO work or to be paid
for work is either fool or cad.
In replying to Senator Gorman's ILL
natured epithets, the Sum makes the
following observations;
The truth is, every one who works at
all works for hire OF some kind, the
employer as well as the employed. The
hire of the capitalist, the manufacturer,
the merchant, is the profit which he
makes on the money, brains and energy
which he has invested in his business.
The hire of the minister of the Gospel
is in the success of his work for re-
ligion and morality. The hire Of the
doctor is in the alienation Of bodily
pain as we'll as in the distinction and
prosperity which his skill may earn.
The hire of the lawyer is in reputa-
tion and fees. The hire of the politi.
clan is in offices and spoils. The news
paper man is hired by his employer
to present the news of tho day and to
make appropriate comment on it, but
he is seldom hired by corportions and
trusts, as corrupt politicians often are
to secure special legislation for their
benefit at the expense of the people.
What the newspaper man does is not
done in a corner 1t is known and
seen by all men and speaks for itself.
Laboring mon, whether they labor
with tho pen or the pick, whether they
earn their livings by their hands or
their heads, will repudiate Senator Cor
mans scornful illusions to them as
'hirelings." IL they are the "hire-
lings" OF their employers, whose "hire.
ling" is Senator Gorman? Nominally,
he is the 'hired agent" and servant Of
the Democratic party and the people,
hired and paid to represent them and
carry out their wishes. Where, as we
have said, the work is honorable, it is
not dishonorable to receive hire or
to be "hired agent. +" The stain of
dishonor is only incurred when the
agent hired to do honorable work is
untrue TO his trust Fidelity to his
employer in such case is the test Of
honor whether the employer be the
people or an individual. Certain it is
that no man can serve two masters. 1t
is true now, as of old, tnat he will love
the one and hate the other, or cling to
the one and despise the other. The
"hired agents" Of the "Sun" and of
other independent newspapers are, at
least, faithful to the public and the
cause of people. While serving the
public for the hire they justly earn,
they are not for "hire" to anybody else,
which is more than can be said for
| sohle vi Our bldleSne0.
Evidently there are three possible
ways for a man to supply his bodily
wants, to secure food, raiment and
residence, He can get what he needs
as gift Those who inherit wealth
belong to this class. So does the tramp
and street beggar. He can get what he
needs by stealing it. In this class be-
long all thieves, from those who wreck
railroads to those who rob hen roosts.
The third and last way for man to
get what he needs is to work for il.
In this class belong all honest toilers
Ii is the class Of the hired man. When-
ever fellow sneers at man and calls
him ''hired agent, " "hired man"
and the like, it is evidence that the
fellow does not himself belong 10 the
hiretl man class; and wc wonder al
once whether he should be grouped
with the beggars or tho thieves. This
would apply as directly to IA person
making such romarks in Delaware as
to one making them in Maryland.
The prosperity of the country and the
welfare Of the Democratic party arc
evidently tied together in the same
bundle. The Republicans look on all
cheerful news as SO much political ad-
vantage for their opponents, and they
try to pick flaws in it, II tic news
comes, for instance, that 80, 900 work.
men have had their wages increased,
the Republicans scow and say "We
don't believe it, Only -, 600 workmen
get this increase. The Democrats are
lying about it, They love business
disaster as fondly as the buzzards
which follow an army love battle.
II means so much meat for the Repub.
lican party. They are as much out of
place in the happy times upon which
the country has cntcred as an owl in a
dove-cote or a death 's-head at feast.
They should have for their party en-.
blem on next years ticket a man ir
deep grief-broad Grape on his hat,
tears streaming down his cheeks and a
howl Of calamity coming out of hi.
mouth.
The single takers have estimated that
the land value Of Delaware is about
$50, 000, 600. According to the single.
tax theory foIr per cent of the land
value should be taken as tax, ant
therefore If they hnl their Yvav tha,