The Labor enquirer., 1886-06-05
A TRAITOR.

A Cleveland, Ohio, paper offered
prize for the best essay on The Rela-
tions of Capital and Labor" A great
many essays were sent in. Three judges
decided which was the best. ?. M.
Arthur, chief of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, and two other
nen were the judges.
Among the essays sent in was one that
would send thrill of pleasure to the
heart of every oppressor of labor in this
monopoly land; an essay which
would bring to the author the friendship
of jay Gould and his entire class. In
fact, the effort was just snch a one as
would pass readily as the production of
the pen of Jay or his man Hoxie.
A few specimens from this prize
winner will show the utterly anti,labor
source from whence it origina' ed:
Capital has the moral right to employ
labor at the lowest possible price. Com
petition makes this law. Any amount
paid to labor above an absolute necessity
must be viewed in the light Of gratuity.
These are selfevident truths"
The essaYist advises the workingman
against trades unions and addresses his
remarks personally to the workingman:
"Sir, your strength lies in your own in
dividuality Do not lose your identity
in a combination that thinks. speaks
and acts for you. Depend on no one but
yourself Work out your own salvation.
Be man and bear your burden patiently
until some circumstance arises which
will enable you 10 lay down your load.
If the struggle is beyond the limit of
your possibllities-God pity you-you
must stay in the rut."
Then the essayist addresses himself
Ito the president, governor, mayor, |
would say, be vigilant in case of any
rupture between capital and labor. Look
to it that you render unto society its full
measure of protection. Teach hot
headed men that it is against the law to
tamper with property. At the first in
dication of breaking of the peace plant
the iron heel of the law on the offender.
Innocent men may suffer, struggling hu
manlty may sink beneath the wave, but
the law must be enforced"
These are representative samples
taken almost at random, and more of
the same tenor might be given, but this
will undoubtedly prove to any unbiased
mind that it was the production Of the
brain of an ardent hater of those who
toll. Throughout it breathes spirit of
inhumanity to man that would challenge
the most unfeeling utterances of the bit
terest enemy of labor in this or any
other country,
But notwithstanding the fact that pref
udice against labor is patent in every
paragraph, P. NJ. Arthur, chief of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
says it is good and shall take the prize.
This essay hat would delight the heart
of Jay Gonld finds responsive chord
in the bosom of ?. NJ. Arthur.
1t is not pleasure but stern sense of
duty that impels me to point out this
fact He who would assail the
honestJ of purpose and sincerity of
motive of another without substantial
grounds upon which to base his asser-
tions, Is deserving of just punishment.
He who sees another playing the Evp-
ocrite in the Just and holy cause of labor
and fails to call attention to the fact is
partloeps Criminis.
The actions of Arthur in regard to re-
cent railroad strikes render his decision
on the essay entirely consistent.
The only matter for wonder is that he
should come out so bluntly and endorse
those anti-labor sentiments so openly.
1T is said, with what degree of truth l
shall not say, that twelve years ago this
same Arthur was compelled to live in a
$l2 rented cottage, but to dav he lives in
a $4,000 residence, on one of the finest
avenues in the city of Cleveland.
Those who claim he is labor man for
revenue only base their claim on the
fact that he could not have become pos
sessed Of 80 much wealth honestly on a
salary Of 81, 800 per year. Be the latter
as it may, do snow that any labor man
who will endorse such bitter anti-labor
sentiments as he has is a detestable
traitor. to the Cause of labor