The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-07-22
Vol. XXIV--No. "a
The Laborer and the Hire.

Louis, Cape Girardeau & Ft. Smith
Railway Company, not to compromise
or fritter them away for 30 cents on
the dollar and have in part given our
reasons therefor. The holders of the
labor claims are hedged around by
the solemn pledge of the court having
the affairs of the Railway Company
in charge. The Hon. H. c. Riley. the
Judge of the Court administering the
assets of the Railway Company. in
order that the laborers might be pro-
tected, in appointing receiver made
and had entered of record this pro-
vision:
9TH. 1t is furthermore ordered and
this appointment of receiver Is made
upon this further condition: That all
the debts due from the railroad com.
pany for wages and other operative
Expenses. and for the preservation and
perfection of the property and the IN
terest of the ST. Louis. Cape Glrar-
deau X Fl. Smith Railway which have
accrued within one year prior to
March :ird. 1899. etc. shall constitute
a lien on said railroad and all prop
erty appurtenant thereto superior and
paramount to the lien of any mort
gape set out in the petition, and said
railroad shall not be released or dis
charged from said lien until the SAID
debts and liabilities are paid. and the
| receiver is authorized to pay said
= ldebts out of the earnings or any other
funds applicab BILE. or, if not so pald
then the same shall he paid out OF tie
. proceeds of sale of tie road, after
payment of cost and expenses of this
proceeding.
The purchasers had notice OF ails
/ order and their purchase sas nsade
: subject thereto. Those II .anagiag the
= affairs of the purcha' ,ers NAV not
; know the Judge who. formulated that
order. if not we c IN say to them that
We do, ana 'ha IS ho is man of stain
less rhafa ..,ter, unswerving integrity
ana I" ,.un,lpss courage and Will see
tn" & right shall prevail. and he will
soc the orders of his court faithfully
= anu strictly carried out, and as shown
" above one Of these orders was that
:, the labor should be pa" from IN.
proceeds Of the sale of the road. -.
when we consider the circumstances,
that order was lawful and Just. The
:. bondholders state that we had a
q mortgage on all of the property of the
road. that it was duly recorded and
=, ali persons had notice of our mort
gage. and i it right or lawful that
subsequent creditors shall b. permit
ted to have priority over Us: We
d answer yes: it is lawful. equitable
p right and honest. and nu honest man
Y would contend 20 the contrary. Tine
bondholders had their mortgage, but
where was their property: Miles and
! miles of the railroad was flood swept.
: leveeS. bridges, rails. ties and piling
t swept away beyond recovery: for
: weeks not even construction train
q Itouli pass oNtl lIiC IOdu DoIOlS
IL burned. Then We may ask what prop
e erty did their mortgages cover: We
r will truthfully answer for them. ashes
where the depots stood: ties. iron and
:. the road bed carried miles away into
slOughs and swamps. The interest
on the bonds had defaulted and the
holders had the right to take the
. property. Did they do it? No. there
was little worth taking, but they stood
idly by and saw the mana cement of
the road hire labOrers and reconstruct
the road. There was no income. be-
cause there was no traffic over the
wreck. The labOrcrs had to work on
: credit. and did so, hoping that their
: labor would he paid for, but after they
had reconstructed the road, then the
: bondhOlder> reappear on the scene
and are trying to buy these labor
claims at 30 cents on the dollar. That
this property might not totally perish
much of this labor had to be done be-
tween dusk and dawn, in rain and
mud and in pitchy darkness. These
purchasers in trying to defraud the
laborer of his claim are violating
both human and Divine law. The
laborer is worthy of his hire but
!, We do not cite or appeal to Divine
law. We know that the teaching of
tine gentle NaZarene is not recognized
in the pit or by the gambler on change.
But We say 10 the labor claimants, be
not afraid, the just Judge before whom
this matter is pending will protect
your interest. He will give you all
the protection the law allows you.
nothing more. nor do you need more
Under the circumstances surrounding
this case the very proposition of the
purchasers to the labor claims at 30
cents on the dollar, is so foul it
''smells to Heaven" ~
: Rock on nfaeaSeS nf Uorsas