The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-04-15
HAWATIANGAZETTE
In The Snmr Rom.
A story about Masters, Nen and Capital

SiEn the paper when it comes TO the push
- spoke Jim Barnes 20 has friend and
shopmate, Harry johnson, n they came
10 a SJsndstiil Al the door Of the lat,er's
home.
a. don't see my way 70 doing il, con-
S,icntiouSly," answered johnson, shaking
his head
You'll be very foolish If Won don't"
said the other; you'll only be getting
yourself looked upon rs 8 black sheep for
nothing. III be bound there VIII not be
3 dozen men In the trade that won't sign.
Il dare saw not" johnson admitted /;
IS but then, Jim, thar would De a very poor
mason for my signing It. If | honestly be
beve thar 1t Is neither wise or fair. Fol
low not multitude to do cyil' You
know"
Il don't see how fighting our own hat
tie against capital + an evil"
And don't see that fighting capital
Is our battle; 81 any rate, think could
show YOU that IL l. not 80 much - * most
working-men imagine. Suppose YOU come
In, and have 3 bit of supper with me, and
talk the matter over,
s." I'm agreeable" returned the other,
with = slight laugh, "thougb, 50 far As
that goes, / think IL WAS pretty wei talked
over IN rhe Club-room-
IS Al, but the talk there WAS nearly 81
on one side. said johnson. - he knocked
SO the door. and wSS founded or the
iiea-which | hold 70 Be q mistaken one
that masters and worAmcn arc natural
enemies
Before Barnes could make any answer
To tins. Nr>. johnson opened the door. sDi
they went In. They had been 90 q >pecia,
meeting OF their lodge OF the Union OF the
trade 20 which they belonged. az which Il
la5 been re>olve5 thar the workmen In
the various shops throughout the dis
trict-a busy one IN tbG north Of Eng
iand-Shoui6 simultaneously present pCti-
tons 10 their EMPLOYERS asking for an
advance ottwo >hilliuE> per week In their
wages, and lntimatiuE that unless X yySS
granted by s certain specified date they
would CEASE WORK
johnson hsd pointed out tha; such
paper would he s threatening demand, nos
: petition. sud he had moved * an amend
ueut Jhat the paper 10 hc signed should
be simply a respectful inquest for rise Of
wages This. he arEU5i. woGl3 be much
more likely 20 effect the object Of the
uens Il would leave room for reasoning
and compromise on both sides. while the
other plan would Slrno>t inevitably mean
S strike Only two Of his mates voted
with him for the amendment, aUd the
original motion WAS carried by acc'ama-
non: fr the belief among the men was
that they had the masters upon the hip.
Snd they were inclined 10 carry mattcr>
with s. high hand Trade. they said among
themselves. was unusually brisk, many at
the largest contracts IN hand had To be
completed within stIpUlSted time, sn3
the masters therefore, would have 10
- knock under " If the men only put -" the
screw" upon them tightly.
TIE e. movement thus decided upon
bzd been talked % for some time. au3 IS
soon a her husband an6 his friend were
seated 81 supper. Mrs johnson, in an anX-
ioGS tone, asked, Did they Sgree upon
anything 81 the clGb
~Ob. we sre gong in for the rise, sid
BaneS, Electul,y.
But vii there be strike" She queS-
toned
I'm afraid there viu," sid her hus-
hand,
~Oh, dear, hope not! shseyolaimei
earnestly.
Well Of course It VII, be better # they
give way without s strike, sid Barnes,
in S rather SCp5rcijouS tone; 81 bGt Won
49, -, - --.- -s-..s,--c 81 - -,-s
outs Of these things
They understand that s strike very
often means starvation Sn6 suffering. and
broken up homes for them and their chill
lren,~ rstorJei Mrs johnson somewhat
warmly - and thar It leads 20 illteeiinE.
ac6 TO men doing things that bring dis
grace upon themselves SDd those belong
Ing 10 them. They understand that, she
went ous . and they know 10 their cost
that though il may be sU very fine for
YOUR delegates an6 such like, who sire paid
tor talSinE, to advise men TO hold out TO
the last crust IN the cupboard, 1t i>u', -
fine for those thst the strike l. bringing
10 their LAST crust.
~Ob, Of ooEr>e strikes pinch ST the
time" answered Barnes, but we reap the .
benefit q them In the long ruu-'
= think not, jim, put In johnson /;
= nv opinion-sui I've thought s good
issl about these things that they are
bad for Is both first and last. They sre q +
The things that men usually
strike for Sre really Regulated by prinCi- .
PIES that strikes don't affect. If an history
81 strikes was to be written, You would .
ind that the men had lost nine out OF ten .
IF them. and that after losing weeks and .
months Of their wages You may depend .
lpo1 It that when the employers IN 4 trade 4
vii Snd can stand q bic strike rather than .
-ive a thing. the time isn't ripe for giving .
&. II we workIuc-neu would only think .
We ought 70 know more about these things .
han almost any other uen-ougbt 70 .
know very differently about them than .
many Of u do. As 10 the writers In the T.
protesting exclusively TO ad- I.
-oeate our Interests. nv opinion / that f.
hey ain more st saying what they think /
VII please 8 lot Of rs. than at what they
znoE to be right and Just. Depend upon
&, those who would persuade Is that we
ave not faults OF are afraid TO tell u Of
hem when they are leading rs aStrav.
certainly not our friends
q Vel. thzt's Is may be, said Barnes.