Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-05-05


In an address delivered In Hartford,
Conn, Chief Engineer Arthur, Of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
expressed some business like views that
worktngmen might do well to take as o
guide In their efforts to advance the
cause OF labor. Among other things he
said:
Let the meu come together and dis
cuss their grievances, and then come to
an understanding. Let the employer
give the men under him to understand
that he Is interested in their welfare,
| and not that he considers them mere
senseless machines. Acting under tn ia
policy, whenever during the past twelve
| years we have been met by the officers
l of the roads there has been no strike.
| Every strike by us has been caused by
| the blunt refusal on the part of the
| rovds 10 recognize us. Now, who is to
blame for the strikes we have had?
Since the troubles on the Grand Trunk
and Boston aud Maine Roads, where we
were positively refused recognition,
even for the purpose of amicably ad-
justing the din ,ulties, every difference
has been ad listed by our Brotherhood.
During the 81 element of the past few
months we have had seven different
cases, and In every case the policy of
the Brotherhood has settled them all.
As far az know the locomotive engi-
neers and the railroad companies are on
excellent terms.
No man has the right to say to
another: Thou shalt," or Thou shalt
mott" and in the violation of this
principle is where the trouble lies
among The workinemen to day. We
have no business to say that an enc
Ipioyer shall employ or shall not employ
this man. A man has the right to be-
long to any organization, provided 1t Is
not contrary TO the law. We say no
Imam has the right to say to anothe,
Imam that he must not belong to an or
gaDizAtion. And, too, we have no right
TO go to the companies and ray: "You
must not employ that man." We op
pose this way OF doing things on prin-
Iciple. Unless man ia rascal you
have no right as Superintendent or
master mechanic to pre- vent him from
getting mploy ment elsewhere because
he does not suit you, for he might suit
somebody else. The great trouble is
there has been too great a chasm be-
tween capital and labor. snd we should
strive to bring them closer toge her.
There should be no antagonism. There
Is no occasion for 1t; and, though l
want every laboring man to hold up his
the face, want him TO remem ber that
icapital, as well as labor, has rights
which we must respect. We cannot
do without either. Both are essen tial
t. ihs prosre ity of the country. There
should be no clashing between them
there need be none.
When a man is looking up as the
lead or OF labor organization, just as
soon as be begins to dabble in politics
then it Is time for you to request him to
| resign and put another man in his
; place. They care for Themselves far
more than they do for those whom they
represent. What did say about the
eight hour law was this: "lf the masses
want eight hours for legal days work
give 1t to them for fair trial; but fear
there are large number OF men who
will not profit by it." Many OF those
sometimes called workiDgmen do not
make good use of their time. believe
in working. Since 1 was twelve years
old have worked. And to that Queg-
, ton have never given any considera-
, ton further than to say: snake the
bsst use you can of the time God gives
, you, and If you want An additional two
hours for the purpose OF improving
your MUD, then hope the lawgiver oil
G the land will give 1t to you, and tina,
: you will appreciate it and not loiter II
away az N any men do" My advice
s Il. be sober, be frugal. he industrious
and practice little self 1enial for thu
q De nefit of those who are dependent
!, uOon your daily earnings Above all
keep out Of whisky shops, shun deas OF
intAmy and the gaming table, and
spend your time with your wife.