The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-07
TYRANNY OF LABOR.
How Ii Worked with a Man That
Owed n Woman IS.


Recently a woman. employed cook in
a local restaurant. quit in the middle Of the
week and demanded s. from her employer.
the amount she said was due. He refused
to pay and the woman went away. She was
not satisfied. however, and returned to
collect the money. The proprietor again re-
fused to pay the woman, saying she left
him without a weeks notice, and he owed
her nothing. She then put the matter in
the hands OF an attorney. The attorney
called to collect the money and came very
near being thrown out of the restaurant.
Later he returned with a volume Of the
acts of 1899 under his arm and again ad-
I'm tired of the tyranny of these labor
Ing people,, exclaimed the proprietor, as
Between the tables w Snp n 1Sw put 'n np Wts
II any longer, and / propose to make an
example of this woman so that hereafter
none of my help viii dare quit without
giving notice. L tell you / won't put up
with this tyranny any longer"
The attorney stood demurely to one side
while the restaurant keeper spoke. When
he finished. the man with the law book
under his arm quietly said, Yes, these
people are tyrannical. Just look at this
book and see the law they have passed"
and he opened the acts of 1899 to Chapter
124. AN act providing for the weekly pay
ment OF wages due employees, making 1t
unlawful for an employer to assess a fine
against the wages OF an employe, prohibit
ing the assignment of future wages: pro-
viding for its enforcement and repeating all
laws in conflict Herewith"
Holding the book before the restaurant
man the attorney said. Now, just listen
to some of this tyranny: Section Sit shall
be unlawful for any employer to assess a
fine on any pretext against an employe
and retain the same or any part thereof
from the wages OF said empiOye at the
time of payment fixed in this act. or ar any
other tine: and d., q {; change in the current
written notice given to each empIoye so
affected twenty-four hours before such
change shall take place
And here's more OF the laboring people's
tyranny" and the attorney continued to
read. ANY person, company. corporation
or association, found guilty by court of
competent jurisdiction OF having violated
the third and fourth sections OF this act
shall be deemed guilty of having COM
mitted misdemeanor, and shall be fined
by such court In any sum not exceeding
There's tyranny for you. but it's the
law, said the attorney.
Il don't believe It," responded the res
nant.
Read it yourself" invited the lawyer.
The restaurant man picked up the law
book and read the sections referred to.
81 don't believe that's the law" he ex-
claimed. as he finished
20 yes IT is replied the attorney. Now.
j don't want 10 do you any harm, but IL
this woman puts this matter in the hands
or the prosecutor / can't help myself II
would De better for you to pay the S. now
than TO run chances OF being fined 5000 and
have 10 pay IL besides"
Let her put II In the hands Of the prose-
ertor she wants 10" retorted the man.
Il don't believe that's the law and II IN Is
don't have TO pay this woman"
In the meantime the mans wife had
pickeo up the lawbook and read the sec
lions over Summoning the attorney TO her
she said: He's mad now. but n Won come
around Tomorrow night the money will be
ready" " -
The attorney withdrew but at the an
pointed time the woman got her IS and
OF labor"