People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-10-02
HIS RECORD AS AN ENEMY
OF THE LABORING MAN
WELL KNOWN.
STRIKES IN HIS SHIPYARD.
He Regards TOiIers as so Much
Machinery, is the Verdict of
Those Who Have Worked
For Him.


From Special Correspondent of the
Press.
BATH, Me-, Sept, 1.-"European
wages are good enough for Ameri-
can workingmen."
This declaration, according to a
prominent citizen of this place, was
made by Arthur Sewall, Vice Presi
dental candidate on the Democratic
national ticket, to that citizsn per-
sonally soon after Mr.. Sewall began
to take active interest in his fathers
business affairs.
"This declaration" said the citizen
quoted, "has been the ruling principle
of Mr.. Sewall in his relations with
workingmen from the time he gave
utterance to it until now. After he
assumed control OF the Sswall ship
yard Mr.. Sewall began his active
campaign Of wage reduction, which
he has never relinquished, and which
has made him the most unpopular
mployer Of labor in this city. His
record is known, and he will get fe v
votes of laboring men in the whole
State of Maine"
PLENTY OF EVIDENCE.
Thus spoke an employer of labor
who had risen from its ranks by hard
work and atten ton to business, and
with his permission The Press's
special correspondent went among
his employees in search of men who
had worked for Mr.. Sewall, whose
own yard ia now idle-in fact, was
almost closed with a strike before
the last ship built was launched.
The Press's special correspondent
found men by scores who had worked
for Mr.. Sewall, and each aud every
one substant iated the statements be-
"Mr. Sewali," said calker who
was seen, as only doing now what
he has always been doing. In advo
eating free silver he is trying to cut
down cur wages We understand
the whole question, and are going TO
do all we can TO prevent him carry
ing out his plan, just as we have
done before. We can't strike now,
but we can vote against him, and we
are going to do So"
CAN'T CAREY HIS OWN FAMILY.
A man engaged fitting some irons
on the bow of vessel stopped work
a moment and declared that he and
all others who know from expert
ence or report of Mr.. Sewall's an.
tag onism to labor would certainly d
all they could to defeat him.
"Why." said he, "Mr. Sewall can't
carry his own family, his own pre-
cinct, ward, county or state, and l
don't believe he can carry this Ma.
ton, without Mr.. Bryan at the head
of the ticket. If Mr.. Sewall's labor
record were shown up as it should
be, Mr.. Bryan's eloquence could not
explain it away to the satisfaction of
the laboring men of this country"
Mr.. Sewall during the Last twenty
years has had frequent troubles with
his employees, caused in the majority
OF cases by unsatisfactory treatment
on the wage question. OF all these
disturbances the most serious was
the strike of 18S7-1896, when opera.
tions in his shipyard were entirely
suspended becau 70 of of a reduction
in wages which the men thought not
only unfair and unjust, but unres
sonable and dishonest.
REASONS FOR STRIKING.
During the fall Of 1887 Mr.. Sew
all's employees held meetings az
which they discussed the situation,
and appointed committees to investi-
gate and see what could be done.
Their most important meeting wa
held on November 80. 1t was called
to order over Farrar's store, but was
so largely attended as to compel al
journment to the city hall, which
was crowded to the doors.
At this meeting one committee re-
ported that Mr.. Sewall had taken
contrac S on all vessels then BULL
ing on wage basis Of 81 80 This
report WIS declared to be substan.
tiated by proof, which could be pro
duced il nscesssry, aud consequently