Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1878 — THE POOR MAN’S FRIENDS. [ARTICLE]

THE POOR MAN’S FRIENDS.

Four years ago a party was organized in Jasper county which was called the Independent party. It was to be, par excellence, a laboring man’s party. Its special mission was to champion the rights of working men— farmers, mecliaiiics and those whose bread was eiHned by manual labor and eaten beneath the drippings of a sweaty brow. Itprofessed to appose all monopolies, and to defend tiie rights of the floor and weak from the encroachments and aggressions of the rich, the opulent aud the powerful. Its candidates and its advocates were loud in their complaints of wrong and oppression; they boldly charged that legislation had discriminated in favor, ixjudhoiders, money lenders, manufacturers, railroad and insurance companies, to the detriment of artisans, small tiadesmen, farmers and day laborers; they denounced the republican and democratic parties as being equally corrupt, equally controlled by a moneyed aristocracy, equally the enemy of the great mass of population; they to honestly strive to build, up anew, and good, aud honest, and pure, and holy party, that should be a model for statesmen, the pride of mankind, the joy of angels. If successful they would revolutionize all existing systems of goveriuntmt, correct ail abuses, decrease taxes, cherish and jiromote official liQi.iesty, and introduce an entirely new doctrine of political economy. They claimed to be-holier politicians titan the world had ever produced, and were advertised as a pilgrim band such as a world in darkness was scarcely worthy of. Listening to their promises and the silvery melody of their voices, and basking in the soft beams of universal love which shone from their mild persuasive eyes, it required no great stretch of imagination to think these modern af«>stles of reform were too good for this wicked world of ours and better fitted for the typical New Jeru-

saletu of the Revelations. Chief among these super good, creatures were Hon. George Major and Hon. George H. Brown, candidates respectively for state senator and representative in the lower house of the general assembly of the slatettf Indiana. Among the foolish dupes who hearkened to'the flattering promises of these saintly worthies was the Reusselaer UlfloN, which had not at that time reached an age when the teeth of wisdom are cut. It was young, gushing and likewise trustful. In this respect being not unlike an ass colt. It thought the specious and fairpromises of these older creatures succulent fodder, and with that kind of provender they tilled its youthful belly. Mr. Major and Mr. Brown found enough of the same class of coltish voters in their respective districts toelect them tooflice. Ah honest men it was thin their dutylo try to fulftl the promises they had made so profusely and so confidently when candidates. Dili they ever-do so? Is there a man living who can point to a single measure of reform that either one introduced or advocated while a member of the legislature? Mr. Brown to be sure voted to reduce the pay of members of the legislature, but the law was not to take effect until after the expiration of his own term of office. Did Mr. Brown introduce or advocate the passage oFa iaw to provide for a.better electoral system—a law to protect the puflty of the T>allot-box and prevent Illegal voting? Did he introduce or ever speak in favor of a biH to regulate municipal indebtedness, uud prevent the trustees of tuwni

ships, the trustees'of incorporated towns, the common councils of cities, levying exhorbltant and oppressive taxes and contracting ruinous debts ? Was not the money paid to him for Jils services us a legislator Just that much money wrung by taxation from poor laboring men to be added to the coffers of a wealthy man, without any bene fit to his |>oor, tax burdened, toilworn constituents? i'or ail the ad' vantage that the people of White county, Jasper cbunty, or of the state of Indiana, received, might not Air. Brown’s salary as well have been burned to ashes? Who but wealthy George H. Brown derived any advantage or any good TW the eight dotlurs per diem paid to him to sit about Indianapolis? Has he not been weighed in the balances? Was he found profitable? Did the democratic party receive any benefits at his hands? Was not Senator McDonald elected over his opposition? Did he ever east a vole for the democracy, or for the republicans, or for his constituents, or for anybody but the two Buchanans of Indianapolis? Is there any good reason why Mr. Brown should be elected to feed at public expanse at the hotels of Indianapolis another winter? And what better Was Senator Major? Dirt ire introduce a single measure of practical benefit to anybody but the Buchanans of Indianapolis, and their communistic print, the Indianapolis Sunl Air. Major sat in the legislature two sessions. What was it worth to the people who elected him? Mr. Alajor before he was elected professed to be the especial friend of poor laboring men. In his speeches now, while canvassing this district for re-election, he still claims to be their champion. But Mr. Major’s preceptsand Air. Major’s examples do not harmonise; his professions and his practice clash. He placed himself upon the record as an enemy of the laboring men. When the opportunity was presented to distinguish' himself as thefc friend he joined their enemies—the Corporations and monopolies—against them, to do them an SWjury, and to subject them to wrong. In the session of 1875, as the record shows, (Senate Journal page 827.) the following proceeedings were had at an evening session: Senate bill 40, by Mr. La Rue, was read the Second time. It makes stockholders individually liable for the waxes of the employees of railroad companies upon the return of an execution whole or in part, against such corporation, and the amount due on such execution shall he prima facie evidence of the amount recoverable with costs against auy such stockholder, and any stockholder jigainst whom any such recovery shall have been had, shall have the right to recover the same of the other stockholders in said corporation in ratioble proportion to the amount of stock thev may respectively hold. The report of the committee recommended the passage of the bill. Mr. Hell (dem.) moved to amend the report by causing it to recommend the indefinite postponement of the hill. . motion prevailed, and the bill was indefinitely post;>oned. Ayes—Beardsley, Bell. Boon,'Bowman, Cantwell, Chapman, Dasrgy, Dykeman, Friedly, of Isiwrence, Givau. Gooding, Hackleman, Harney, Haworth, Hendricks, Hough, Johnston of lanke, Jtojor, NeT, Oliver, Bingo, Rhoades, bcott, Skinner, Slater Thompson, Underwood, Wmterbotham—2B. Noes—Baxter, Banyan, Culbertson, Davidson, Giove, La Rue, Maxwell, Feed, Roe—ll. Judge La Rue’s bill was just. It was equitable. It was a-measure to compel men who invest in railroad stocks for profit, and who would speculate upon the Values of railroad shares, to pay for the labor that makes such investments profitable. Itwasa measure to compel capitalists, corporations, monopolists, bloated bondholders, money kings, to pay the Irish or German or American laborer his just wages—the price of his sweat and toll with which to buy food, fuel and clothing for himself, his wife and his dependent children. Men of means who invest money in such enterprises and 101 l about carpeted houses on

cushioned sufas, or drive abroad in luxurious carriages, or saunter at fashionable resorts, or gustate over elegant wine suppers, have no right to swindle the toilers who work fora pittance to keep life in their bodies whose labor adds to the hords which enable them to live in comfort, luxury and idleness. The laws hold the owners of other kinds of property responsible for work done, and provides fora mechanic’s lien ; why, then, should railroad property be exempt? With thoughts of such a record haunting his brain, wish the recollection constantly in his mind of his own refusal to pay just and lawful taxes, which as commissioner be had assisted to levy, and ids attempt to obstruct the process of law by intimidating a sworn officer, itis not surprising that Mr- Major finds a ghastly skeleton in his cupboard and sees a grinning spectre poor man’s hearth stone I Hon. Thomas H. Nelson of Terre Haute, who has been minister of the United States both to Chili and Mexico, and who Is recognized as one of the finest political orators of America, favored the people of White county with one of the best oratorical efforts of his life, at Monticello, last Tuesday. The weather was perfect, the suu shining brilliantly, and a delightfijLj breeze, not too strong, blowing down from the north. A multitude of happy people sat for two hours beneath the shade of liandsbme trees listening with rapt attention to the mingled higie and eloquence of this gifted man, who handled his theme tritti masterly skill that carried conviction to obdurate hearts, and firmly ystab" llshed the wavering. A largestumber went over front Reiisscltor—h btbwd

that densely packet! ten cure on the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago railroad, and which waa ceflmqted at from 800 to 1000 penama—traveling twenty-eight, some of them forty; miles, to listen to the eahieat wonla • <1 ■ . . of this stanch oid-tfnie repubftean teacher. The effect wa« splendid. White county republicans imbibed it spirit of enthusiasm from the glowing patriotism of.thes|>eitkerand the splendid 'organisation of the party in their sister county which caiinPt fail of good results nt the ballot-box. The meeting far eclipsed in magnitude that which assembled hi the same town on the day before to greet Hon. Daniel ’ W.~ Voorhees, it |tel»g estimated by tliose who were present jit both at twice or even three; times this size. It was a complete sucgesS. Jasper county republicans have an excellent ticket. There Is not a bad man on it. Thly have a clear majority of four hundred over the eerrupt and unholy alliance against them. They should spurn with contempt and withering rebuke any and alt projxisals to trade. Trading politicians arc corrupt |x»liticians. Trading candidates are weak candidates. Henly James, fiat candidate for secretary of state, has filed his voluntary petition in bankruptcy. On the Bth day of October, 1878, his entire party will go into compulsory political bankruptcy, without principles to pay one per cent, on pretensions.