The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1885-10-07
MoHenry.


| Editor Herald
Believing that your columns are
open for the purpose of infusing truth
and light upon questions that interest
the masses, the primary object of my
asking portion of your valuable space
is to infuse into the minds of my fellow
workmen thlt spirit OF prudence,
equity and wisdom, which has been
characteristic of us as s. class of miners
in the past, on this railroad, the c., o.
X ). w. The history of the mining
business in OHIO county (Which is he
great emporium for coal i'm this south
western division of the State has been
gratifying in its results to both labor
aud capital respectively, and my pur-
pose i'm this letter is to yentilate the
history of labor on tins road, having
had number of years experience as a
miner here know whereof | speak, aud
| ask my fellow,workmeu to evolve his
past history with me, digest it thor>
oughly and in SO doing he will say
with me, his labor has been Of a
healthy, vigorous character. Labor
here has had its troubles in the past :,
but the apparent confidence reposed
between the employer and employee
always resulted in a mutual settlement
of the differences at issue, and since
haye been on this road mining,
always and still entertain the hope that
this part would refrain from being drawn
into that strife and contention which is
the annals of an unwrtten history of
the two great factors OF industrial com
merce, but il is becoming apparent to
me that we are allowing ourselves to
be enveloped in that channel which
will float US into that unfathOnlable
abyss of strife and contention which |
greatly fear we will be unable to solve.
Now there are causes for this, and
we must look mt them, weigh them
well and meet them fairly and honestly
in the face with that degree Of iutelll-
gence which has characterized us az
class, and entitled us to the respect Of
every community. This has been the
aim and principle of us here in the
past, and ask the question, shall We
still adhere to that plane of intelligence
and still cultivate this spirit of harmony.
which has existed in the past between
capital and labor, or are we TO eradicate
all this healthful education, tear asun-
der this healthful chain that has held
us in the settlement of differences with
each other rs employer and employee?
Fellow-workmen, pause and consider,
you allow yourselves to be estranged
from those healthful teachings by an
over enlargement; OF bigotry and
brains, i.to chronic
state OF dissention and discord What
have we 10 look to for healthful kno~l
edge? Shall we be forced 10 adopt the
corrupt teachings of school of social>
ism of braihless prophets that are Creep
ing in and infesting the channels of
labor? Tread slow and cautious, for
such is seeking to destroy all self-respect
and moral ability which we have proven
in the past.
Fellow workmen, let us carefully
measure the moral and intellectual
worth of these Elusive pictures that
are scattered in our midst, with neither
background nor frame Ia them. If
there is redress OF reform needed, seek
the tried intellect of those in our midst
in whom we have implicit confidence,
having been tried and proven, so that
We may still keep in practice those
teachings that will be worthy |
Of imitation by the staple class of work
ing men.
Hoping you will give this place in |
your columns, remain respectfully.
Nil. DEsPERANDUM