Bulldozing In Massachusetts

Soon af ter the last autumnal elections we sent a reporter into Congreasional districts adjoining Boston with instructions to inquire into the allegations that mili and factory owners had intimidated the votes of their employï ees. The report brought to usshowed as far as it went how systeinatically organized in favor of Talbot f or Governor was the employer interest, iind how unanimously its representatives combined to coerce the laboréis and operatives into voting as thai interest demanded. Our statements werts copied by the press generally, and they excited much comment, especially in the South. The work which the Wn-riri bpfran liaa now been taken up by the W allace Senatorial Committee at Boston whicli lias a power not possessedby the pressto send for persons, books and papers. Thus far the evidence is of a sort to emphasize the discretion of Governor Talbot's expressed intention oí not aguin becoming a candidate. Every -witness has testified to the moral and social intimidation oí voters, and many of the witnesses testify to direct threats. lt is in evidence that the Manchaug Mili officials watched their workmen at the polls and made them aware of that f act; also that the Slater Mills officials directly exercised contral over the votes of their employees and discharge several men who voted for eral Butler; also that a meeting at Worcester of employers immediately prior to the election uninistakably influenced the course of their subordinates at the polls; also so that the foremen of the Douglas Axe Company peddled ballots to its employés at the polls. In this last-named instanee three witnesses were very precise on tlie subject. Oneofthem sliowed that such conduct on the part of foremen was entirely iidprecedented, and that it complete! y changed the politieal complexion of the town. Another witness testifled that at the election of 1877 he had been warned of his discharge it he voted for Mr. Gaston, the Democratie nominee for Governor, and that in 1878 he had been directly discharged because he voted against Talbot, the itepublican nominee. As the testimony proceeds it becomes clear that General Butler understated the pressure exercised by the mili operators upon their employés when he made those celebrated charges wliich induced the World to take up the subject. tunateiy loruie íamies ui me "" ining committee, its Republican members have been taken f rom New Hampshire and Connecticut. In the nianufacturing districts of those States the dictatorial relations of capital to labor at election time are so well known that these Senators must be expected to do whatthey can to limit and paralyzetne inquiries. To read their questions and objections is to sec that while they regard the coerción of electors in Louisiana as a crime, they look upon intiinifiation in Massachusetts as a sort ot moral suasion.-