St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-19
The Sensible Remarks of the Grand Mas
ter Workman of the Brother
hood of Firemsn.
He Sees in the Labor Troubles Of the Past
Few Months Benefit to
WOrkingmen.
The Trades and Labor Assembly or
Minneap oils Discusses {. M.
Foote'S Attitude.
Thursdays Labor Convention to be
Public--The st. Paul Lyceum
Elects Ofnc6r5.
LABOR VIE WS.
what the Locomotive Firenien Have
rn SAY of the SiImaIi ton.

=
to Say of the Situation.
The thirteenth annual convention of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen of
America now in session at Minneapolis has
brought over three hundred delegates from
all parts of the United States and Canada,
representing an organization of 1900
men. The Firemen'S Brotherhood, like
that of the engineers, is organized for the
mutual benefit of its members, and does
not seek the elevation of mankind, regard
less of trade, craft or profession. like the
organization known as the Knights OF
Labor. The opinions OF the leaders of the
representative body of workingmen upon
the labor situation of the day are especially
interesting as coming from division OF the
laboring classes. the views of which are
not generally known to the public.
F. P. SARGENT,
the grand master of the Brotherhood, in his
annual address, said:
During the past few months we have OBJ
served in many localities troubles between
EMPLOYER and employe. The cry has always
been. labor fighting capital. Capital is not
the enemy of labor: it is the monopoliSt, and
such mOnopolist as grinds down the labor
ing man to starvation wages in order that he
may enrich his own Golfers. Labor is the
creator of capital, and as such there can be
no strife between them. 1t is the monOpOlists
that control capital, that antagoniZe the
laborer and compel him to work for scarcely
enough TO keep his family in food and it is
those mOnOpOliSts that to-day nave capital
bound in chains and separated from It's crea-
tor-labor. For years laborlng men nave
been subject to reductions in wages, until in
many instances the amount OF their daily
earnings would scarcely buy food sufficient to
sustain life Men of liberal views have OBJ
served this state of affairs. and many OF our
great thinkers have examined into TINS queS-
ton. and becoming convinced that it was
wrong to allow their fellOw-men to be trodden
down bv a class of men that have only one
ambition. and that is TO control all the capital
of the land, have organized for the purpose
OF getting for the labOrer, the creator OF the
vast wealth of the coantry,
REASONABLE DAYS PAY
for a reasonable days work, not to antago-
nize capitaL but to ask that he who creates
the wealth of the land shall have at least
enough to clOthe and feed his family and live
IN respectable little home. To be sure,
there have many things occurred dur
ing the past few months that have caused
some of these organizations of labor to be
looked upon with suspicion, and there are
many that stand ready to condemn tbem-but
let US not be too severe; we have al made
mistakes and we should always be willing to
concede to others what we would ask for our
seves-charity; ard let us be charitable to
those that during the past year have been in
vOlVed in difficulties with their employ ers.
The members are not to be censured for all
that is done by these organizations. Officers
that WELD the power can involve an order in
difficulty by making unjust demands. Men
ought never to be placed at the head of these
labor organizations who are unprincipled or
unjust. Place men there who will work to
the interests of those they represent. and at
all times avoid a conflict when it is uncalled
for. l am convinced that the labor troubles
of the past few months have been beneficial
to US all, Notwithstanding there have been
many wrongs committed. many lives lost and
much property destroyed
j. E. PHELAN,
of Brainerd, the travelling engineer of the
Northern Pacific railroad, and member of
Division IA, Brotherhood of Engineers,
said:
Unity among labor organizations is possible
and right in principle. 1t becomes practicable
on broad and common issues; but when it is
attempted to join forces and bring different
trades into common acton,it fails. You have
your squabbles and factions within your Or
ganizatiOn. The engineers have not been
free from the same. Should it not teach a
lesson concerning the outcome of joining ad-
verse interests. Christ's mission on earth
was to establish a universal brotherhood.
Centuries have marked its progress, and to-day
we find it as divided in sentiment and united
action as when He preached by the Sea Of
Galilee. Self-preservation manifests itself,
and all the preaching concerning federation
De labor for purposes other than legal or leg
slative reform will have little practical effect.
EUGENEV V. DEBS,
the grand secretary and treasurer. said:
All that is required is an honest analysis of
the situation, to discover the remedy and
apply it. Thanks TO the labor organizations
Of the country better day is dawning for
those who toll. Thanks are due to all brother
organizations for this. 1t has been said that
there is no community of interests between
the skilled and the unskilled laborer. L want
to deny it. l believe that the interests of all
classes and all organizations of laboring men
are indissolubly interviewer and mutually de-
pendent one upon another. l detest caste and
I hate anything that looks like social classih-
cation. In my estimation a manly section
hand is worthy to stand side by side with a
director of a road. Why? Because he is
equally essential to the railroad enterprises
Of the period. About the only difference that
know of is that he works harder and gets
less pay for his work. Applause. The most
manhood is not always found on the side of
the highest wages. Every man who does his
level best is my brother In the aristOcracy
of manhood the poor are the peers of the
rich. and God bless YOU warm from the
heart which throbs beneath the covering of
honest toll may have all the beauty of sim
cerity which can be claimed by those who
live in palaces, dress in purple and feast like
princes every day.