Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-24
Respectfully yours,
j. r. .HISSOM.
WHEELING, Oct. IS,

WHEELING, Oct Is, 1898.
Thomas V. Salisbury, Esq, Secretary
Ohio Valley Trades & Labor Assembly.
My Dear Sir:-Absence from the city
10th inst. until my return yesterday. 1
am pleased to receive your communication
and take pleasure in replying, which l
will do with entire candor and sincerity,
on the eve of an election and on that ac-
count liable to be suspected as Influenced
by personal interest, and in anticipation
l desire TO add the assurance that my
sentiments have always been as l now ex-
press them.
Responding to the appended slip to your
letter and the interrogatories contained
beg TO reply as follows:
To section 5-"Equ2l pay for equal SER
vice for men and women in states is
service in all conditions there should be
equal pay without discrimination as to
sex.
TO section 1-"sanitary inspection of
mines. factories, dwellings and conditions
of labor" No fair minded sensible and
humane individual can refuse to recog-
nize the great necessity of proper sanitary
framed as to require compliance by both
employer and employee.
To section 5.-"Prohibition of child labor
under sixteen years"-Upon this question
there would likely be found a very wide
difference in views and from all condi-
tions of life and society-personally, l re-
gard child labor as very reprehenslve and
pernieious and opposed tos our national
principles as contrasted with the inhuman
and degrading policies of some European
countries; the child should be placed be-
yond such destructive influences, should
be given the advantages of our magnifi-
cent school system, and might perhaps
should. be under control of some sort of
compulsory school statute, but in that as
in the limit of years, there would be found
much difficulty in reconciing the age to
the conditions. of life and the necessities
the labor of the youth is Indispensable to
the support of the family, and l am incin-
ed to the opinion there would be much
hardship following limit greater than
fourteen years. l nevertheless, believe
there should be proper and reasonable
limit.
To section 5-'Payment of wages week
ly and equal pay for women. etc. To
the latter 1 have already replied and up
on the payment of wages beg to say that
as circumstances alter cases" there
many instances from inhexible laws on
this question. The wage Garner should
have his wages without let or hindran &c
and should have the fullest protection and
receive his compensation without discount
or delay, and with the impression that
we have some statute on the subject pro-
viding. for what is generally called two
weeks pay ! am rather inclined to the
opinion that there would be worked no
small amount of hardship in many cases
where limited capital was had. affecting
the employed as we'll as the EMPLOYER If
an arbitrary law fixed a weekly pay
To section 3-"A fair days wages for a
fair days work. most emphatically
answer yes, for no greater principle Of
justice can exist and upon this l believe
all fair men agree.
To section Fair and gentlemaniy
treatment is. reciprocal snd should be
made so and be maintained between en-
pioyer and employe. for what greater
pleasure can there be found than in mu-
tual CONFIDENCE and respect that finds ex-
preston in fairness and courteous treat
ment from and between all.
To section 6, your last, I am very sure
you will agree with me that no greater
question presents itself TO us than the
amelioration Of tie conditions Of the