Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-05-08
Advice To Labor.

| Locomotive Brotherhood, said;
"Let The men come together and
discuss their grievances, and then
come 70 an understanding. Let the
employer give the men under him to
understand that he is interested in
their welfare, aud not that he consid-
ers them mere senseless machines.
Acting under this policy whenever,
during the past twelve years, we have
been met by the officers of the roads,
there has been no strike Every
strike by US has been caused by the
blunt refusal on the part of tho roads
to recognize us. Now, who is to
blame for the strikes we have had ?
Since the troubles on the Grand
Trunk and Boston and Maine Roads,
where wo we're positively refused rec
ognitiop, even for tho purpose of
amicably adjusting the difficulties,
every difference has been adjusted by
our brotherhood. During the ex-
element Of the past few months we
have had seven different cases, and
in every case tho policy Of the broth
erhood has settled them all. As far
as | know, the locomotive engineers
and the railroad companies are on ex-
cellent terms.
'sNo man has the right to say to
another Thou shall, or Thou shalt
not, and in the violation of this prin
chile is where the trouble lies
among the workingmen to day. We
have no business to say that an EN-
ployer shall employ or shall not EN-
ploy this man. A man has the right
to belong to any organization, pro-
vided it is not contrary to the law.
We say no man has the right to say
to another man that he must not be-
long to an organization, And,S'c /;
we have no right to go to the com
panies and say, You must not en-
ploy that man, We oppose this way
of doing things on principle. I'm
less man is rascal you have no
right as superintendent or master
mechanic to prevent him from get
ting employment elsewhere because
he does not suit you, for he might
suit somebody else. The great trou-
bic, is there has been too great q
chasm between capital and labor,
aud we should strive to bring them
closer together. There should be no
antagonists There is no occasion
for it, and though want every labor
ing man to hold up his head and look
his employer squarely in the face, |
want him to remember that capital
as well as labor has rights which we
must respect We cannot do with
out either Both are essential to
the prosperity of the country. There
should be no clashing between them
there need be none.
"When man is looking up as the
leader of a labor organization, just
so soon as he begins to dabble in pol
itics, then it is ime for you to re-
quest him to resign and put another
one in his place They care for them
selves far more than they do for
those whom they represent. What
| did say about the eight hours law
was this eff tue masses want eight
hours for legal days work, give it
to them for fair trial, but fear
there are q large number OF man who
win not profit by it, Many of those
sometimes called workingmen do not
make good use of their time be
lieve in working Since was twelve
years old | have worked And to
that question l have never given any
consideration further than to say !:
"Make the best use you can of the
time God gives you, aud If you want
an additional two hours for the pur-
pose OF improving your mind, then
hope the lawgivers Of the land will
give it to you, and that You viii APP
preciate it, and not loiter it away as
many men do, / am obliged to &C
knowledge 2 Ny advice is, be sober,
be frugal, be industrious, and prac
tice little self-denial for the bene-
fit Of those whe are dependent upon
your daily earnings. Above all, keep
out of whiskey shops, shun dens Of
infamy and the gaming table, and
spend your time with your wife,
- ~ss----