Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-03-11
Leonard and Labor.

To the Editor Of the Globe Republic:
In the present excited state OF public
feeling in Springfield and the neighboriug
country. on the labor question. prudent
men-meu not Influenced by ulterior per
Sonal mutiveS-are endeavorng by calm
counSelS and peaceful Suggestions, 10 find
way out Of the impending difficulties. and
thus, as far as possible. suhSerye the inter
eSts of ali concerned. and 80 preserve the
good name of our city. And whoever
would excite a deeper prejudice, and
more bitter feeling between employer ans
employee in the present condition OF things,
cannot be considered a friend of either.
and least of all. friend and contributor I"
the peace of the community, or a. intoxicating
the spirit OF Him who said. My peace
| give unto YOU" Look at this case
Mr.. Leonard gave notice that he would adj
dress the hundreds of men who are now out
of employment, and whose direct and per
sOnal interests make them sensitive To every
influence touching their condition. And
with their feelings thus wrought up. he
proceeds Ia inform them of their great wrongs
suffered at the hands of the capitalist. and
Of the GOODNESS and even hostility" of the
capitalist toward the lab0Ter, thus widening
the breach that all hoped would be narrowed
thus adding fuel to the flame that all true
friends are labOring to quenCh. He says,
There is deep. wide gulf between them
the manufacturer and the men employed in
the shops. True, he speaks in general
terms. but in the present state of things in
this city Nj LIS deep. wide gulf he To-
Gates between William y. Whiteley and his
late employees. He speaks of the elegant
mansion" ON the one side. and THE rented
house of small proportions" on the other.
and calls on the late employee TO note the
difference between his humble home" and
the home OF the manufacturer. William y.
Whiteley is the mabUh whom a stranger would
ppOsc. from Mr.. Is talk tC be a chill
OF fortune, reaIed up in ths lap Of
case and SplendOT. and who Is now pursu-
ing his usual avocatiOn OF ''rObbing" the
iabOrer. Then. who i VIM. Y. Whiteley?
In early life plain bOS-and thirty Years
ago working IN little. old frame shop near
the L. Z. church on Limestone street The
manufactures Of this town al that time
consisted OF Barnett'S mills and "A little
foundry near the mills. Vim. v Whiteley
might then have been seen, clad in no ars- .
tUcratic robes. walking from shop Ia
foundry and from foundry To shop. carry
Ing under his strong arm All iron or some .
part Of the reaper he was inyrmting and
bu ldng with his own hands. He was in
vtmtOr. builder and even drayman. and
after months or perhaps years. the reaper
was finished as it was at that day, and VIM
y. with his own hands, with some assist .
ance, loaded it on a wagon from the old shop
L. he conveyed 10 the harvest ticld. Some
laughed, some pitied. He noticed neither. .
He had faith in his inventive head. and
faith in his machines. The horses were
He held the lines. They moved
on and the reaper did reap. Ii was ,
great a. FultOn'S. What next?
He had no money. only faith. But he
called in two mechanics. who had but little
aside from their trades He bought shop
on Market street. 2OX4O feet. two stories
high. Other machines were made by him
and his two assistants. Additional patents
were obtained from time Ia time. He added
another 30x4O feet and raised all 10 a third
story. In year OF two a hundred feet
were added to his shop, and again another
hundred feet, and again he bought M
against High Street-hs shops extending
the entire distance from Washington 10
high-three stories high, and giving EN-
ploymeR Ia 500 men. need 90 no further.
All know what followed-the largest shops
in the world on East High street. And
from that thirty years ago up Ia this time
m. y. NhlteelN ha- been !. TleT worker,
and has worked more hours a daN by tifty
per cent, than any man recently discharged
He has furnished employment for thousands
Dt men in those years. II is safe To say
that the inventive genius of William "
White ey and his iniumItahle energy and
labor started and gave impulse to Isanufac-
turing establishments in this city that have
been the means of adding at least fifteen
houSapd 10 its population. And. altogether
.heSe manufactures are giving employment
Oday 10 many thousand wOrkmen Mr
Editor, will not join in denunciation of a
nan who has brought forth such magnificent
'eSultS. | will make all possible efforts to
'econcile the difficulties and get the dis
'harsed men employment. but [ will not use
ne incendiary word nor put forth one dep
ecatory remark to rasp the feelings of
'itheT side. Nor does Mr. Whitley. He
moves among the men lately discharged A.
'almly as ever, saying only that he is act
ng upon principle that he believes to be
'ltal to the labOrlng interests OF the cOun-
ry." feel as kindly toward these men as
lnyUne can feel. but | will not add to the
difficulties of the situation by calling at
entiOn 10 the mercilesS heartIeSs en-
Of capital upon labor" nor
tir up and eXaSperate the feelings of men
,y asserting that such encrOachments have
created the recessity for labor cOmbina-
ions" Mr.. Leonard asks. who is re-
ponsible, etc, aud adds the capitalists -