The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-08-26
FROM OHIO.

To the Editor Of the workiHgnan's Advocate.
The other week the New Jersey Cen
trail Railroad Company gave notice TO its
workingmen that reduction of wages
would take place to the extent Of ten per
cent When the order was gwen there
were no exceptions mentioned. As a mat
ter of course, all hands expected the no.
tice applied to them. On this road, it so
happens, the locomotive engineers are all
members Of their Trade Union, by that
name, which has its headquarters IN this
city, with most efficient set Of officers.
The organization is in excellent trim at
present, Messrs. Arthur, lngraham and
Green, the chiefs here, inform me; and az
their rules require notice in such cases to
be given to the head office by the subordi-
nate divisions before action is taken, when
it was received here, the men were in
formed that there seemed to be no occa-
sion justifying reduction, and the Union
would support action by them in resisting
such q demand. The divisions along the
road quietly gave the officers who employ
them to understand that if they wers to be
included in the onslaught they, the COM
pany, might seek new men. This they
were not prepared to do, and as a conse-
quence the engineers were told they would
not be reduced. The order Was carried
out as against all other men in the employ
Of the company.
Here Is clear saving Of ten per cent.
on the earnings Of an important trade to
its members, simply because they have a
strong Union. 1t is not to those EN-
ployed alone on this road neither to whom
it applies. Had it succeeded here, there
is no question but it would have extended
to other roads, and this is why the other
divisions, through their general officers,
put their foot down upon il at its incep-
ton. This class of work is no better paid
on this road than on others throughout the
country, and had the attempt been sue
cessful here, it would have been a difficult
task to keep it from reaching into the
pocket OF every member Of the craft. AS
it is, by being ready and prompt when the
occasion presented itself the locomotive
engineers have made money by preventing
q reduction, and added another argument
to the many that united labor, well man
aged, Ia a benefit to the members forming
1t.
If one could only hear the other trades
men talk, would not be the least sur
prised if they would not be found cursing
the greed he company, the tyranny
Of corporations generally, and the New
Jersey Central in particular, for having
thus imposed upon them" Very likely
not a word Of "our own immaculate folly
In having no Union such as the engineers
to protect US, ever escapes their lips, and
not an effort to act on the proverb Of ''bet-
ter late than never" by getting down to
work and organizing in their respective
branches. By no means. This is too
practical a remedy, and needs little la
Dor, few dollars year, and some self
denial. Besides this, the benefits to be
gained Is something in the distance, as well
as doubtful of accomplishment, and that is
disheartening. They will rather content
themselves with few growls, and hope
that this Is the bottom rock, from which
will grow better times, and the company
will soon restore the lost per cent
IL not this about how it il with a large
proportion of our men They blame the
companies they work for, when they re-
duce prices under any circumstances, but
it is only occasionally they examine them
selves with the tests and measures they
apply to Others, and in dong 90 lind in
their own inc xcusable carelessness and
neglect of plain duty in the matter Of as
sociation, the cause that has made il posi-
bic for companies to treat them a they do
their mules and machines, converting
them into mere hewers Of wood and
drawers Of water"
IL hos taken the locomotive engineers
fifteen ycsrs hard up hill work at national
organisation, TO ering 1t up to its present
standard of efficiency. They have, like
every other powerful organization that has
a history, had many difficulties to over
come. Mistakes have been made IN their
different departments, no doubt, in learn
ing to avoid mistakes, but am happy to
be able to say now they are in a most
prosperous condition, and able to COM
mand fair hearing and fair treatment at
the hands OF any company with whom they
come in contact.
The men in OCT trade, hope, can see
IN the victory Of this society cause for
them TO join their trade societies, if they
are not now united. Az long as they
stay outside, and do nothing to enable
them to treat q case such an that lust
stated, % long do they invite reductions
and make them possible. 1t may seem to
some hard for me TO say On, but candor
compels me to speak what has long been
my conviction on this question, and that
Is, that when men make no honest effort,
not only 10 advance their interests, but
instead stand idly by, complaining and
grumblmg, because all others are getting
ahead of them in the race, they deserve
no sympathy when trouble overtakes them.
Combination one with the other, has been
80 often shown up BY the most practical
minds m the only protection for labor,
shat one IA ashAmed, almost, to acknow-
ledge many Of our men need vet TO be ar
gued with 10 convince them il IL %, and
beg them for the sake OF those Who do
know and sustain their organisation, to
join our Union. The thing In conceded q
necessity by the organs Of our employers,
and not to Be laid hold Of in practice by