Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-20
POLITICS IN THE FACTORIES.
Clubs Being Formed and Questions AsKed-heet the Boss Courageously and Tell Him Your Democrat
 He Will Respect You Nore in the End

Some of the factory hands view with alarm the gathering together into clubs of the office hands, foremen and others and the holding of political rallies in the shops. Democrats shouldn't mind this. The bosses won't bother them so long as they mind their own business. Let them hold their meetings and it wouldn't do a demo- crat a bit of harm to be present at their sessions, though, to be sure, this might leave him open to censure and besides one sins in lending the in- duence of his presence to the further ance of an unworthy cause. But What matter about that The boss won't be near you when you shut the door behind you in the little booth on cleo ton day. Then you will be all by your lonesome and you can use your owfl Judgment without fear or favor of any man. But politics don't cut much of figure in the holding of position in factory or any place else. It cuts some ice, but Ill tue loiiz,
 it is merit that tells. There are peo- pie in Waterbury to-day who could mention the names of men that never thought of voting without showing their tickets to the boss, and yet the same jokers were among the first to be shown the door when work got slack. The bosses may try to convert democrats and make republicans out of them, but they won't discharge them if they stick to their own convic- tion.h Many years ago the head mat, in one of the shops had friendly talky with the help about politics and asked every democrat to vote the re publican ticket Some promised to do so, others said they would consider it, and the rest came out hat-fOoted and declared they had made up their. minds to vote for the candidates of their own party. What was the re- suit The men who answered the question truthfully are still there with the exception of one or two who left of their own accord and few others who have been gathered to their fath- CTS. To top it of, the boss himself said when he had reached the last man that he had no use for fellow who didn't know what to do with his own vote, adding that such person never should have bet
 the franchise.
 One may say that this was long ago, and that the bosses of the pres ent day lack the honor and manliness of the employers of ye olden time in Waterbury. This is not so. There are just as many good men in the fac tories of Waterbury to-day as we ever had There may be few mean ones, but this was 50 in the past as well as now. Don't lose your head if the. foreman asks you 8 question or two about politics. While it may not be the right thing to do, still, after all, there is no great harm in it so long as workmen know that they are not go- ing to lose their jobs over it. If you are not able to discuss the situation with the foreman, ask him if he heard Bourke Cochran or has read Senator Towne's address. In any case don't get mad and use offensive language and when this little excitement is over the fellows who have minded their own business and kept out of the pc litieal .wrhngles will be thou ghts more of than those who forced such con tentions upon them.
 The biggest cut ever made in the wage scale in Waterbury occurred after the election of President Gar field in 1880, and yet while the con- test was on everybody was told that the success of the republican party meant more work and heftes sv
 When the cut came democrat asked his boss what about the pronlse oA 4l few months ago. "Oh,' he replied, i've were talking politics then, but we're doing business now,'' Don't take the bosses too seriously Many of them are behind political clubs not of their own volition, but because they have to be
 French republicans held a rally in. Concordia hall last night. Dr Daude- lin of Worcester and Attorney Mon cite of Lawrence, Mass, were the speakers. Herbert J. Besette presid- cd. One of the amusing remarks of the Worcester physician was with reference to the democrats charging the republicans of treachery. in aim ing to free Cuba. Why, doctor, 1t was democratic senator that intro- duced the measure which sounded the death kneil of Spanish rule in Cuba. That's what Bourke Cochran said the other night, so that the doctor or Cock ran got things mixed up, but 1t seems the latter is supported by the records. Anyway, according to the speakers the republicans have already attended to about everything that needs atten- ton with the exception of the trusts and they are operating on them.