The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-10-28
Depressing the Poor.
From the Philadelphia Record.

Mr.. Bryan aud Governor Altgeld in
| their frantic efforts to foment jealousiei
and hatreds among the people proclaim
, on all occasions that the masses are sys
tematically oppressed and despoiled by
the terrible "money power" in its in
fiuence upon the legislation of the coun
try. If there be truth in this, who are
responsible for ii? The people of the
United States choose their own repre-
sentatives and make their own laws, so
that whenever iniquities and wrongs in
legislation exist they have themselves
alone TO blame. The rich few, the
gold bugs" and the monOpolists, could
not dominate over the people nor op-
press them. They can not be oppress-
ed by government or legislation except
with their own consent. Hence the
assertion Of the Bryans and Altgelds is
an absurd paradox, as it amounts to
nothing more than the charge that the
American people are expressing them
selves.
There is no dispute that in the exer-
else of the Legislative power the people
have unintentionally done many
wrongs. The history of Congress and
of the State Legislatures is full of ex-
amples of the injustice of the people to
themselves down To the most recent
days. If trusts and monopolies i'm
trade have attained exorbitant power
IL is because the people have so willed
1t. But, after all, there has been great
progress. The ii on. John l.. Thomas,
Assistant Attorney General of the Post
Office Department, has taken the pains
to review the legislation, Federal and
State, in the last fifty years for the
amelioration of the condition of the
masses of the people. The result of his
labors is to confound the demagogues
who chatter about the systematic ex-
ploitation of the poor by the rich few
through the agency Of legislation and
government. What are the facts?
imprisonment for debt is unknown to
this generation. The laws exempt
homesteads and large amount of per-
sonal property from execution for debt,
and lien laws give TO mechanics and
laborers security for their wages. Poor
persons are allowed to sue in the Courts.
Federal and State, without the pay
ment of costs or the giving of security
for costs. These Courts appoint attor-
neys to defend such persons without
compensation, and in some instances
the Courts are directed by law to enter
Judgment to cover attorney fees in fa- |
vor of a laborer who has had to bring |
suit TO recover his wages or enfOrcs his |
rights against corporation.
Eight hours, and In some instances |
seven hours, constitute days labor in
the public service or on public works. |
In the administration of insolvent es-
tates the wages of labor are preferred |
claims, and in some cases wages are
made preferred claims generally.
Persons in the public service are al
lowed payment for national holidays,
the lst of January, the 22d of Februa-
~, Memorial day, the Fourth of July,
Election day, Thanksgiving day and
Christmas. Employees in the public
service are allowed leave of absence,
with pay, for fifteen days, and in some
instances thirty days, and an additional
thirty days for sickness of themselves
and families.
The importation of labOrers under
contract, the coOlie trade, the labor of
convicts of the United States and the
immigration of the Chinese have been
prohibited by law. Boards of arbitra-
tion for the settlement of labor dis
putes, Federal and State, have been ere
ated. Common schools secure to all
children an education at public ex-
pense.
In many States the laws regulate
passenger and freight rates, and ware
house and elevator charges. Federal
and State Commissions have been es-
tablished to supervise railroad traffic
and prevent unjust determinations. {
Railroads are required to fence in their
lines or pay double damages for the re-
suits of failure to fence.
State laws have reduced the rate of
interest and extended the time for re-
demption after foreclosure of mortgage.
Manufacturers and mine owners are
required to provide for the safety, health
and comfort of their employees. In {
many States it is a misdemeanor to
blacklist poor man who has been dis
or has failed to pay his debts;
and ii is misdemeanor to threaten to
sue debtor by postal card through
the mails.
Commissioners of labor, Federal and
State. are appointed to gather statistics
with view to the ameliOr,tion of the
of the working people. The
of labor organizations,
discouraged, is authorized by
law. Seeds TO the value of sl50,0O0, 900
are annually distributed gratis by Con-
gress among the farmers.
The list is by no means exhausted.
While some of the legislation for The
people is fantastic and some of it nuga-
tory, it has been enacted by the people
and for themselves. Let
the Bryans and Altge,ds show, if they
can, what laws have been passed ex-
pressly or ostensibly for the benefit of
The few against the many. In every
instance the avowed object of the law
is TO promote the general good; and in
every instance the people have the
power to prevent legislation inimical to
their own interests II the railroads
have not yet been placed under the
ownership of the Government, as the
Bryans and Altgelds recommended,
this has not been due to the power of
the few, but to the common sense of
the people themselves.
Admitting that many inequalities
and iniquities in legislation still exist,
what remedy is to be found in the pro-
gramme of the Popocrats? Would not
the free coinage of base money reflect
upon the whole people an intolerable
brood of evils from which they are now
happily exempt? Instead Of the pros
perity promised by the programme of