Chapter 248: I Punish Myself

As the first elder of this book, Yimeng Weima Jiagen!

———————————————

Liang Yao had just returned to California not long ago, and California, which had been at ease for several months, became turbulent again.

On February 1, 1852, the California Daily published articles such as "Who is destroying the flowers in California? Destroying the future of California", "Knowledge is power" (Knowledge is power, which can also be translated as knowledge is power), and "Knowledge is wealth".

With its sophisticated writing style and familiar taste, old readers of the California Daily knew at a glance that this was an article by Liang Yao, the state speaker.

And every time Liang Yao's article appeared in the California Daily, it often represented the political direction of California in the future.

In major taverns and teahouses, and even in the pavilions and tea sheds on the road, literate Californians carefully studied the articles in the newspaper.

Illiterate people also asked people to read to them.

Liang Yao's purpose in publishing these articles was to correct the atmosphere in California.

Child labor is not unending. In addition to the fact that companies are greedy for cheap labor, some of the reasons are also due to the short-sightedness of some parents and the different emphasis on education in California, where various ethnic groups live together.

California's adult wages are higher than other states, and child labor wages are naturally higher than other states. Some short-sighted parents can't resist the temptation and send their young children to factories.

As for whether it is because the family is really in trouble and sends children to factories, it cannot be said that there are no such cases, but there are definitely not so many.

California is currently thriving in all industries, the economic situation is very good, there is no shortage of jobs, and as long as you are not a lazy dog, you can basically find a job.

It is indeed much more difficult for Californians to get rich overnight than two or three years ago, unless they hit the jackpot in the gold mining area.

But as long as you work hard, it is not a problem to get enough food and clothing and a well-off life.

Just as the people of California were chewing Liang Yao's article, another piece of news exploded among the people of California, causing waves of shock.

Wyatt of San Francisco Steel resigned due to employing child labor. The San Francisco City Court sentenced Wyatt to six months in prison according to California law, also for employing child labor. Wyatt finally spent a huge bail of $1,500 to avoid the pain of prison.

This is just the beginning. After the San Francisco City Court dealt with Wyatt, the California Supreme Court issued a sky-high fine of up to $50,000 to San Francisco Steel for employing child labor, and warned that if the fine was not paid within a week, the state government would take coercive measures to force San Francisco Steel to shut down and rectify.

The government forced enterprises to shut down and rectify, which is unprecedented in American history.

If it were in other states, the government would be eager to supply large steel mills like San Francisco Steel, let the steel mill run at full capacity, speed up production, and provide more tax revenue for the government.

The California Coal and Steel Union Congress also stated that if the San Francisco Steel Plant does not pay the fine, it will be expelled from the Coal and Steel Union.

Any related enterprise in the California Coal and Steel Union that illegally employs child labor and refuses to pay the fine will be expelled from the Coal and Steel Union.

Of course, it is impossible to suspend business for rectification.

Liang Yao did this to show the outside world his determination.

The San Francisco Steel Plant contributed more than 70% of California's steel production capacity. How could Liang Yao be willing to let the San Francisco Steel Plant suspend operations for rectification.

The management of the San Francisco Steel Plant quickly published a review in the newspaper, admitted its mistakes, and paid a $50,000 fine on the same day.

Even Liang Yao himself apologized in the newspaper, saying that the companies under the American Group illegally employed child labor, and he had an unshirkable responsibility.

This move caused an earthquake in the California business community.

All factory owners in California couldn't help but tremble.

The San Francisco Steel Plant is an industry under the American Group. The state speaker is really ruthless. When he gets ruthless, he even issues huge fines to his own companies.

Following the San Francisco Steel Plant, major factories in California that have a history of employing child labor have received fines of varying amounts.

The San Francisco Steel Plant paid the fines honestly and set an example.

Most companies also paid the fines honestly after receiving the fines.

Of course, there are also a few companies that are not afraid of boiling water, refuse to plead guilty, and refuse to pay the fines.

And organize protests to incite the parents of child laborers and hire idlers to protest at the gate of the government.

Soon, protesters gathered at the gates of San Francisco, Sacramento and various government offices in California.

Among them, the largest number of protesters was in San Francisco Civic Plaza, with more than a thousand people.

Because not only the office of the San Francisco City Government is around San Francisco Civic Plaza, but also the office of the California State Government, the court and the parliament are here.

Faced with the first large-scale demonstration since the establishment of California, the young California state government and San Francisco city government were somewhat at a loss.

Except for a few veteran politicians such as California Senator Gwen, most California politicians are political novices.

They have no experience in how to deal with crowds of demonstrators.

San Francisco Mayor Strauss is one of them.

Strauss held up a newspaper to cover his face, avoiding the angry crowd. Seeing Ge Wenzheng and Pan Zhengwei, the chairman of Tongfu Group, drinking tea in Tongfu Teahouse, he ran into the teahouse.

After running into the teahouse decorated in Chinese style, Strauss, who was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot, went straight to Ge Wen and said to Ge Wen breathlessly.

"Member Ge Wen, it's already so late, and you still have the mood to drink tea here! The state government and the city government are surrounded by the demonstrators! I finally escaped from the municipal building."

"This is just a small scene, why are you so anxious? When I faced tens of thousands of people's demonstrations, I was not as nervous as you are now."

Ge Wenyun said calmly.

"Besides, you have been working for your employer for so long, don't you know what kind of person your employer is? Mr. Liang will not do anything he is not sure of, he must have already thought of a strategy to deal with these people.

You should learn from Mr. Liang how to stay calm when facing emergencies."

Ge Wen did not take these people's demonstrations seriously at all.

Who is Liang Yao?

He can play with the people of the Eastern Consortium, the federal government can be controlled by him, and he can handle the US Army's regular regiment. Why would he be afraid of these more than a thousand people who are demonstrating?

If he can't handle these people, Liang Yao should quit his job as the state speaker and deputy governor.

"Mr. Liang, I can't learn it." Strauss rolled his eyes at Ge Wen.

"Mayor Strauss, don't worry, they are just a bunch of scoundrels. Come, let's have some tea together. It won't be long before these people will scatter like birds and animals in the forest that hear gunshots."

Pan Zhengwei took the teapot from the clerk and poured a cup of tea for Strauss in a clean teacup.

Strauss drank the tea in the cup: "Your tea is good, and what you two said makes sense, but I still feel uneasy. I don't feel at ease unless I meet Speaker Liang in person and explain this to him."

After that, Strauss asked Pan Zhengwei for a fast horse and rode to Tingtao Garden to meet Liang Yao.

"After all, he is still a young man, and he is not calm enough. He needs experience. But then again, I really envy Strauss. When I was his age, I didn't even have the qualifications to carry our mayor's bag.

Strauss is really lucky. He became the mayor of a big city at the age of 23."

Ge Wen said with envy as he looked at Strauss's back.

"Mayor Strauss is very responsible in doing things. I think this is why Mr. Liang admires him." Pan Zhengwei retracted his gaze from the window and said to Ge Wen.

"Mr. Ge Wen, let's talk about building Liulichang now."

"It's the glass factory." Ge Wen corrected.

"One meaning, one meaning." Pan Zhengwei personally poured Ge Wen a cup of tea, "You are the politician with the most experience in politics in California. I would like to ask you some questions about running for a councillor. I hope you can help me solve my doubts."

"Of course, we are business partners, but also good friends. It's very comfortable to get along with you. If you are interested, I can also introduce some old friends from my hometown, Oregon, to you.

Although the business environment in Oregon is not as good as California, there are still many business opportunities. For example, those Chinese local products of Tongfu Group, if they can be brought to Oregon for sale, will definitely be very popular and sell very well."

"Oh, really? That's great, Mr. Ge Wen. I think our cooperation will definitely be very pleasant." Pan Zhengwei said very happily.