Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1894 — LABOR LEGISLATION IN INDIANA [ARTICLE]

LABOR LEGISLATION IN INDIANA

Since the recent labor agitation it has keen frequently stated by some that there must be a different class of labor legislation in Indiana, and that both the old parties are to blame for not enacting proper laws for labor, in order to determine whether the Democrats are at fault in Indiana, the Huntington Democrat gives a resume of the 1 ws that the Democratic party has passed on this subject, as follows: It passed a law making it unlawful for coi’| orations, etc., to import a’ien or foreign labor under contract into this state.

It passed a law that when the property of any firm or corporation is seized by creditors cr goes into the hands of an assignee or receiver, that debts to the amount of SSO for labor shall be a prefers red claim and paid first if assets arc sufficient; if not, then pro rata. It passed a law giving all persons who perform labor in grading, building bridges, etc., or p. rfortn ing labor ot any kind in the con structiou of any railroad, or any one furnishing any material lor suck purpose, a lien on such railroad for the valu.- of the labor performed, or material, etc., furnished.

It passed the eight hour labor law, and the law against any corporation, etc., contiacting, or in any way paying their employes with merchandise, food, groceries or supplies or operating what is commonly known as “pluck-me.. stores,” and compelling them to pay their laborers in lawful money. It passed the new election law by which every laboring man can go in secret and cast his hallo* withj oubin any way being intimidated by any boss or corporation. There never was a law passed that means more to the laboring man than this election law.

It passed the now schoolbook law. Th » schoolbook monopoly for years had the people of this State by the throat and compelled them to pay two pricesJCor school books, but after a hard struggle it was driven from the Slate and now the poor man can furnish his children the pride of his life—with books for half the prices that were extorted by the monopoly. It amended the mechanic’s lien law, by which all persons performing labor o furnishing mate-ial for any house, mill, manufactory, etc., should have a lien for his wa-res, and it made the wages of all ’aborersjein ployed in any mill or factory a lien on all the machi*.

uery, tools, stock of material on hand, etc., and if the firm is in failing circumstances such claim shall be a preferred debt, whether notice is filed or not. It passt d a lew making it a pen l ' 1 offense for any corporation, etc., to prevent or attempt to prevent any discharged employe from obtaining employment, or what is commonly called blacklisting its discharged employes. It passed a law regulating the weighing of coal, providing for the safely of employes and the ventilation of coal mii.es, and it passed the law requin g every corporation, etc., engaged in mining or manufacturing iron, steel, lumber, staves, heading barrels, brick, tile, agricultural implement or any article of merchandise, etc., to pay their hands at least once in every two weeks in lawful money of the United States.

It passed the new tax law of Indiana, by which nearly one hundred million dollars’ worth cf railroad property of the State was was placed on the tax duplicates that had not been paying taxes beiore. Under the operation of this law the railroads, sleeping car companies, telephone companies, telegraph companies, insurance companies and banks doing business in this state are compelled to pi y ’heir share of taxes, something they had escaped before this law was passed. It passed the n< w fee and salary law and thereby reduced the salaries of all county offices nearly one half.

It passed a law to fprotect employes in their right to belong to labor organizations and makiDg it a misd ’meanor to prevent employes from forming any lawful labor ors ganizations, or to discharge an employe because of his connection with any lawful labor organization. It passed a law prohibiting the Pinkertons fr im coming into the state and acting as deputy sheriffs. This is a record of the Democratic party in Indiana on labor legislation, and before the work ing men complain of it these laws should be considered.

Every true friend of labor desires the enactment of such further laws as will uphold the digs nity and rights of labor, but it muse be kept in miud that certain things can be accomplished by laws and others cannot. The condition of labor will not be elevated bv ignoring all the ex penenceof the past and denouncing everybody and everything, but rather in seeing some good in the present and striving to better the conditions cf ihe future.” And wo would add right here that ex- senator Zimmerman, Democratic candidate for congress fr m this district had much to do in the shapipg and enactment of the law's enumerated above.