New-York tribune., 1886-05-30

invested my money in business the primary eietnsnss
had my w .nsiv.. % h'Sn died With unsslsSi: good.
the heart to refuse credit to the poor who solicited
little indulgence for . few days until payday that
was always coming but never came ANY pitnui STORY
OF wrong or oppression would so enlist my sympathes
that could be Imposed upon; and learned too late
that my weakness traded by every dead Dcat
within half mile of my To prevent worse tate
sSa Out my remainn stock settled VIII my
get out for Lexington. Ky. Here found employ msnt
TO '%e IN rope fSc;ory n, nut
shop. Tho men all required TO work twelve hours
dr ss
OF the day After enduring this for several months
the 10 the I ns
more men, For this purpose they appointed me com
no sooner stated my erranJ to the :bos." tnsn
~ W.. very cartly Informed that ne ne ps, pro
any. one was not pleased with his manner OF doing
business could quit at his pleasure Piqued ana wrath
with all the Embellishments that my state Of mind conld
suggest The resu that each resolved TO take
There are always few Inferior mon idle who are
t. drop into vacant place and work at any slavery
that will afford them bread and peer and our employer
soon found about onsthird Of force bv whose aid he
could turn ont about onehfth OF the usual work
We succeeded In passing the word among skilled
mechanics. and no good men applied for work
sent me word that might all work at ten
hours per day, ana he would use the men aresiy en-
EiReu 10 10 tao extra vork necesstateu Dy shOrteI
hours. E1asperated with the men had scabbed'
during our strike, we refused to 90 to work while they
were in the shop We agreed. however. to furnish all
the good mon needed ana whsn everything was satis-
factoriiy arranged returned tn work This was my
few machinsts in It. tho decreased hours and
the Increased number OF men required Ia consequence
q demand as at once wrought Increase of pay;
From TINS time | saw that fewer hours Tor all
since continued to talk in favor OF eight
hour standard OF time for workngmcn
+ AMI
chairs and conductor for four lodges In the place
At thirty years OF age weared OF Lexington: left for
Louisville and embarked on aseaner for St Louis Mo-
Here again Witnessed the disposition ofnan 10 oppress
price and paid fare but when hours out the
boat grounded on bar ana We were de-
preached st. Louis the captain demanded additional
fare becauso had been long rOrfe and he had
been compe led to board us two davs lon ger had
expected. Unreasonable this demand was. quite
number or tho passengers were preparing 10 snhnt 10
the extortion. when I perrmptory refused and inau
the boat and pnt ashore but defcd him. Embodened
by the stand taken. the other passengers Joined
with me- and the captain finally let the matter drop
After working year IN 81. Lons with no very start
graduated as full-fedccd shaker of cillsand
fever persuasion. This. seemed could neither KILL
compelled TO retreat which did in good order, fixing
my next headquarters at Lexington No There worked
for several ysars advocating tradesunionism. eight
hours for labor antiand monopoly. aud and ant-child
and.womanabor in the fac cries These thing, brought
me in sympathy with the Grange movement. then be-
coming very popular al oncc united my name ana
Influence with the trangrrs In less than two years was
OF the largest In the state. and at
the end of four had successfully carried forward a
move to establish a Grange wagon factory which Is
7 NEXT dritted into Kansas City Having again ac-
qured some means and thinking to profit by former
experience. once more embarked IN business; bn',
seeing the deadbeat element marshalling around me
again. took advantage Of the first opportunity and
sold ont then southwest Missouri ami pros
pected for lead until reached the bottom OF pocket
work in Rosedae. near by, L continued 10 work and
agtate MY favorite hobbies for several years during
~ Ord. of
men the knights OF Pythas. each OF which pos
sessed features in harmony with the trend OF my
ever. when had removed to sedaa. Mo-. and learned
of the objects and aims OF the Knights of Labor did
feel tnat had struck the chord entirely In harmony
with my SOU. When hat beautiful watchwori OF knight.
NV % an9 ND oe weeS rs 'Ie esroed h nsh6ood
embraced every grade OF honest toll IN ifs heights and
hensve union labor a basis that would counter:
balance the power OF aggregated end Incorporated
share of the wealth he creates-rhen I felt
that I had reached held on which | was
ready to spend the remaining energies OF my li'e.
the first TO enroll name on the list to organize an
assembly in sedaa. | was there during the strike
against reduction of pay in March, 1885. was one
OF the committee that waited the Governor To con-
vince him that there was no necessity for troops In
Executive Board OF District Assembly l01. which Exec
uve Board under Instructions from the various locals
OF the district first sought to adjust a series OF
sriSyance: that hsd cSrn .ong aeeumaasi9g
knights Of Labor to withdraw their skill and muscle
until the railroad company was ready TO recognize our
manhood and our knighthooh rghts. his grea
strike need not have been-woud not have been, had II
been made possible for myself and my coadjutors 10 ap
proach and negotiate with the general OF the
railroads. now under eD10nmeDt OF the employees We
exhausted every effort in seeking peaceful solution o
the question. Every avenue closed by barrier OF
ableness Our only resource was to lift our
hands and the roads feel the loss Uf power and
skill. One bours gentemanly courtesy on the part or
the manager would have averted all this disaster
have never known strike that might not have been
avoided by the simple recognition OF the equal rights OF
man, the application Of the elements Of reason and
common sense. Strikes are the outgrowth Of imperial
] pfion of ann N O A
spending Reputation of that assumption the other.
Strikes not right nevertheless they seem necessary
protest against wrong. It 10 not right that they
should necessary. But they the counter
irrtant virulen disease. Let hope that perfect
health will render such remedies forever
sary!