The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-10-20
The Advice Congressman
Tayler Gave to Wike.
WOULD NOT AGREE TO PAY LIVING WAGES
And the Contractor Came Back From Lisbon Without That Con-
tract-Carpenter w. H. Hall, of 58 Virginia Avenue,
Lifelong Republican, Tells of an Experience That
Shows How the Third Termer Really
Regards the Man Who LabOrs

Congressman Robert W. Tayler, of the
New York Fishermen's Club, who is
desirous of representing the Eighteenth
district of Ohio In congress during the
balance of bis lifetime-for he well
knows that his election this time means
practical perpetuation-nas been saying
something in his speeches about the labor.
ing man, and how highly he, personally,
regards the laborer. His associations In
the effete east have not been prolific of
evidence In that regard, and 1t has not
been unde, stood that he had much time
from bis socinl duties to care very much
how the laboring men of his district get
along. At any rate he has never intro
duced into congress any measure that had
tendency to benefit the laborer of his
district, and it Is hardly in evidence,
save In O few contributions to the Con-
Vres sional Record of speeches that he
ueyer delivered on the floor of the house,
| that he has been representing this dis
trict In congress- So In his record in
Washington there is no light thrown on
the question as to his personal feeling
concerning the laboripg man. What he
thinks Of the mechanic in his private
life may perhaps best be explained by
relating little incident that occurred In
Lisbon, Columbiana county, last fall. 1t
will at least serve as q pointer to laboring
men who are contemplating giving him
support in his effort for third term,
just because he is on the Republican
ticket.
Contractor George Wike, Of this city,
had contract In Lisbon to put up a
school house and small library build
ing. He did the work and paid his men,
who were for the most part from Canton,
the regular rate for mechanics. For in
s tance, W. H. Hall, a prominent man
with his craftsmen, who resides in this
city at b1s Virginia avenue, WAS employ
ed as an experienced carpenter, at 80 20
a day. As he was away from home and
was Obliged to pay board out Of that
wage, he barely kept even, when the sup
port of his family at home was taken in
to account.
After the work was done on the build
ings that had been contracted for, the
men were preparing to come home, and
Contractor wike was getting ready to
pack up, when Congressman Tayler, who
was home on ons of his numerous vaca
tions, approached him and made reference
to the fact that he had in mind over
hauling his building, and thought, as hi
OBJ served the clean character of the worl
performed by Contractor Wike and hi
men, that he would like to'get him to d.
the work. The matter was CAREFUL!
P 10 oked into by the contractor, and in
= day CT SO he gave Congress nan Tayle
the price for the work.
1t was too high, Tayler declared.
o wike figured again, but could see N
other way than the price that he ha
: given, as he likes to p1y his men well.
4 He said to Congressman Tayler, q
S effect: "The price Of material remain
the 50 n @ as in these other contracts, an
0 1 cannot do the job at less figures with
out making a change in the wage scale.
"Then cut your men," said Congress
Il man Tayler.
n Con aotor WIKI went to his men an
u told them that Congressman Tayler ha
,s job that he might get, but that b
n would OF have the work done unless
n could get it done at cheaper 6gul
: than it could be done under tie preser
t. wage scale. The men showed the COL
g. tractor at once that they could not wUI