The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-09-02


ton to defend the trusts, but we might
as we'll become reconciled to the fact
that the methods of business have
changed within the LAST twenty-five
years, and that the tendency is, more
and more every year towards concen-
tration.
A far more serious menace to the
permanency of our institutions, is the
corrupt political influence, which pro-
ceeds from our large cities. The re-
markable growth of cities during the
last 80 years is one of the most strik-
ing features of our nation history.
Just after the revolutionary war, only
one-thirtieth of the people lived in
cities of 5000 and over, now nearly one
quarter of our seventy millions of peo-
pie live in cities. 1t is true that from
the cities come the mighty influence,
which work for the regeneration of
society-great social reforms, schemes
of philanthropy, and intense activity in
the domain OF religious effort, and
scientific research, yet it is just as true
that the cities contain large numbers
of men who have nothing at stake in the
community, and who possess absolute
~ nothing of any value, except their
votes. Votes to the demagogue are
worth paying for, and he must have
them by hook or by crook, or his occu
patton is gone. And so the city is the
harvest field of the demagogue. In
one of our large cities, an enterprising
man several years ago, established
several large cheap lodging houses
which would hold about 700 men. He
could control the votes of his dodgers,
and so exert tremendous power in
local politics. What a mockery of free
government is that system, which
gives the Migrants and the ignorant
and unprincipled hordes, which play
in the hands of corrupt men, the same
voice in conducting municipal or ma
tional affairs as. the intelligent,
patriotic and property holding citizens.
And yet this system is fastened upon
us, and the day of deliverance is re-
mote and uncertain. If the evils
which proceed from this system were
confined to the cities, it would not be
so serious, but the cities control our
national politics. Indeed, it is said
that as New York and Chicago go, so
goes the whole country in our national
elections.
If the elective franchise were re-
stricted to a very mild degree, and we
had system similar to that which
Great Britain has adopted, which con-
fers the suffrage on every man who
pays tax of $50, what a publication
of politics would be effected. The
founders of our government, great as
was their wisdom, never contemplated
nor provided for such conditions as
are existing with us at the present
time.
The labor question is still one of the
most important factors in our national
prosperity. Labor organizations have
been costly, but they have effected
some good. They have stimulated
thought and discussion, have kept up
the price of labor to some extent, and
have been the means of securing some
valuable legislation concerning sanitary
measures, factory inspection, child
labor, and other matters which have
ameliorated the condition of wage
workers. But they cannot set aside
the great law of supply and demand,
and establish arbitrary scales of wages
on falling markets. No one will deny
the right of men to form an organiza-
ton to enter into a mutual agreement
that they will not work except at the
wages agreed upon, but when they
attempt to prevent men who are not
members of their organization, from
working for such wages as they choose
to take, they are establishing system
of despotism, that the enlightened
sentiment of the country will not long
tolerate. When non-uniOn men are
way Laid and pounded to jelly, be-
cause they choose to accept such
wages as they can get, to support
their starving families, it indicates a
degree of selfishness and cruelty which
is simply devilish, and a government
which will not punish and repress such
outrages, is not worthy the name of a
government. Not only the enforce
ment of law, but the creation of a
righteous public sentiment is needed
in this matter.
There is another evil upon us, which
unless checked will lead to most dis
astrous consequences. | allude to the
growing indifference of many of our
most intelligent and respected citizens
ia exercising the right of citizenship by
neglecting to cast their votes, or to take
an interest in the elections. OR to hold
Office 1t was reported that in an i'm
portant election in New York city some
time ago, there were only six votes cast
in one of the wealthiest precincts. Un-