Source: The Greenwich Graphic
Saturday, November 3, 1900, Page 1.
(Only Solomon S. Mead's Comments Featured Here)
SOLOMON S. MEAD'S ADVICE
Editor of the Graphic:
Dear Sir- With your permission I would like to say a few words to your readers. Election for President is fast approaching and it is well for us to stop and consider the position in which we are placed. We have had a remarkable administration for the past four years. There has been a great boom in labor-a very great demand for every kind and at the very best prices; insomuch that people could not bear prosperity, but like a full-fed, vicious horse, they have balked and kicked at their prosperity. Unions have been formed and endorsed by the masses. Strikes have sprung up where there was no cause for complaint; and I feel that capital was somewhat to blame. When my men said they would not work with non-union men, I told them to get, and I had no difficulty in getting my work done. No longer than yesterday I had an application from the plumbing house of Charles Sherwood of White Plains to d my work and work with union and non-union men. That is all right; but if I was a contractor, or wanted to have wok done, do you suppose I would stand and consider for one second any such proposition was made by a local tinner last summer? I said that I did not want a man of that character for one cent per day. We used to get good honest to do all our work, and work ten hours each da, for good, suitable wages; now men say, "I will only loaf around on your place eight hours and I must have the highest wages-say for three or four dollars per day- and the longer the job can be made to last, the more money there is in it for me."
Now this has all come about in the administration of McKinley. Now who ought to complain-capital or labor? My experience teaches me that very few know when they are well off, and as soon as a person finds his services are useful he makes a sudden bolt for liberty, to lose his job and look for another.
Now I am very willing to divide with labor and give labor a full half of the income, but I am not willing to give all the profit and the principal in the bargain, and that is why I protest against unions, as they now are, and strikers. Every man is at liberty to leave my employ at any time, but I deny his right to tell me who I shall employ or how I shall spend my money.
Where we have plenty of prosperity now, but a short while ago, in another administration, we had soup houses and no work.
I think I have said enough to give you my opinion of this wort of work. I think that every man has a right to his opinion honestly and justly formed, and as soon as I discover a person has no respect for my opinion I have less for his, and all he can say would make no more impression on me than pouring water over the back of a duck. I would have no regard for him of his opinion.
Now, Mr. Editor, will you allow me to ask you a question or two: What has become of the great "hullabaloo" we heard about during that hot day, July 18th? Now I feel interested in the "hullabaloo" as I voted directly for the officers who are charged with that complaint with a shortage of town funds. I will not call it rascality, for I may be wrong. These men were licensed by the town to give or take as they pleased. I blame the town and its counsel more than the officers. My experience has been that no man can be trusted. I find it so in very day's business transactions with my fellow-men, and more with lawyers than any other class of men, because they are educated how ti get evidence, matters and things.
When I undertook to get justice in the courts of White Plains, I told the sheriff and officers in White Plains court house that if I wanted justice, I would sooner go to h--l for it than to come over there among them.
I remember that a highly-esteemed minister of Brooklyn, Henry Ward Beecher, once said- "The most unjust thing in God's earth is justice," and I fully agree with him.
Now I voted for each and all of these men, with full confidence that they were good ones-true to their trust. Now it is the duty of the town not to consent to anything dishonest, but to make a full investigation and find where and who is wrong in this mater and let it be settled as it should be.
I thank my fellow-townsmen, George H. Mills, A.A. Marks, Luke Lockwood, and all others, not forgetting E.C. Benedict, for the interest they have taken in having the frauds of Greenwich town fully investigated.
A god any years ago there was a Judge Morris, who was the founder of Morrissania. He was a judge of the courts sitting alternately at Bedford ad White Plains. At North Castle, close to the corner of Morris W. Brundige's blacksmith shop, was a stage house and hotel, kept by Captain John Smith. Judge Morris was in the habit of driving from Morrissania to Capture. John Smith's hotel to-day, and on the morrow would drive to Bedford in time to open court. On one of these drives, while sitting in the hotel parlor together, "Captain Smith," said to Judge Morris, "I would like to ask you a question, bit I feel timid; you might get angry." "Go ahead," said Judge Morris, "I promise you I will not be angry at any question you choose to ask." "Well," said Captain Smith, "I would like to know how you came to marry the woman you did."
It was a poser, and Judge Morris looked Captain John thoughtfully in the face for a period of time and said: "Captain John, did you ever know a man in your life but what some time in his life made a d---d fool of himself?" The question was fully answered.
Now I would say, in the coming election, for every voter to ponder full well the question and not let himself be misled into voting the straight ticket.
He should say to himself, after comparing the different candidates, I must pick out the best on either ticket and not stop for Republican or Democrat, nor for religious belief. Vote for the best men, and also remember, if your choice is for honest men, to keep them so ever after.
Yours truly,
SOLOMON S. MEAD
Quaker Ridge Farm
