Daily Republican., 1886-01-22

Last evening . commitbee from the
labor organizations In Wilminkton
waited upon US and complained Of our
system OF doing business. They also
complained Of some insult We had given
the Knights OF Labor in an article We
sometime ago and some where published.
Thinking over she past 20 cannot call
TO mind any reflection OF the kind 81
luded 70, unless our playful call upon
that organization, few days ago, 70
induce the town clock TO 60 on . strike
is construed into q reflection. We sup
posed at the time tina, this would be
received in the same joking spiris In
which it was given. IL this was the
offence, we wish TO say distinctly 10
These gentlemen that IL was only .
joke, or q little play on the word
strike, n the clock had NOS struck
for several days. II this was the Of
fence, We offer q sincere apology.
But this was not the real grievance
OF these gentlemen. They objected 10
III. because, IS they said, we employ
boys, who they say should Do going 70
school This may bo true In Q certain
sense, but II 80 is it not equally true in
all other business departments In our
city ? Is the labor In our cotton,
wooden and iron manufactures not
performed TO large extent by boys?
Are there not boys engaged IS cash
boys in our stores? Are they not en-
ployed as office boys In our manutac-
tories? Do they not drive carts all
day long in sunshine and storm while
there is work to do? Do we offend
more than others?
As a m after OF fact our business is
not carried on in the main by boys.
We have in our employ nine men, all
voters, seven Of them owners Of real
estate, and pay more taxes to the city
than all the other printers and printing
establishments in the city combined.
We have been In business In this city
for over forty years, and our success Ia
due mainly u our own exertions. We
have the greatest respect for labor and
those who earn living by honest labor
and these labor organizations In the
pursuit OF q legitimate business have
always commanded our respect and en-
listed our sympathies. But when
these organizations step into our Off "a
and attempt 10 dictate 70 us as To how
we shall carry on our business, or whom
we shall employ or what wages we
shall pay, We most respectfully protes {
Against such interference. We main
tain that We have the right to carry on
our business in our own way so long a.
We do not violate law. We have boy 4
employed like other industries Ia our
city. The parents Of the boys ore glad
that we do employ them and The oOys
themselves are glad tina: they are en-
ip!oyed. II they were not the Raun,
form OF the wolf might look through
windows into some more homes.
The broad ground We take In this
matter Is that labor and wages will be
regulated By the demand for labor aud
the supply OF labor. In times Of de-
preston 1t is impossible 10 force labor
and !o-ce wages, and the attempt to
do 80 viii be futile. We have the
greatest respect for the gentlemen who
honored US with their presence and fol
the organizations 70 which they belong
but we most respectfully prefer tC
carry on our business in our Own way
holding ourselves ameAasle to tht
laws under which we live, and subjec
TO the diotatio1 of our own iudg
ment