Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-04-13


ofa sermon preached In Reading, Pa,
BY Rev. DR.. Doyle, March %, and are
published by special request:
How strange, how unreasonable.
how unlawful 1t is that these very
combinations of capitalists and corpo-
rations into syndicates for the greater
protection of their wealth should be-
come so terribly enraged at man for
joining q trades union for his self-pro-
lection and defense against the tyr-l
amy of such moneyed combinations.
These combinations of capitalists have
determined TO grind these unions to|
powder, to hold no consultation with
them or their representatives, and to|
make connection with such unions oil
just ground to discharge man from
their employment.
at is because Mr.. Hall, employed
on the Texas Pacific Railroad, and
who was q member of the Knights Of
Labor, was discharged without any
reason being assigned for that arbitrary
act, that the workingmen on that sys-
tenn of roads demand that a reason
shall be assigned or all the men would
| refuse to work. The cause of one man
is the cause of every man. If the
cause OF one man falls the cause Of all
| falls with IL, and those who think that
| the unjust and unreasonable discharge
Of one man Is q trifling Offense and not
sufficient to arouse the resentment and
Opposition OF all laboring men, have
not the first correct idea of the first
| question of human rights involved in
this contest.
Now where is the lawyer, or the
Statesman, or the legislative body In
the United States which has taken up
the case of Mr.. Hall, which is the case
of the producing classes, and has de-
tended it?
Elm 1874, when the first great finan-
cial distress came upon this country in
consequence of the withdrawal Of the
circulating currency of this country,
the great Cambria Iron Company, Of
Johnstown, discharged its hands be-
cause they had formed protective
union. / was called upon by the
workmen to address them in public
meeting, and though what said was
very tame and commonplace and con
ciliatory, yet because dared to defent
the workingman at all. the Sheriff wa
sent the next day to levy upon tn
church property, which owed the com
pany $500. In addition to this tn
,. Hon. ID. j. Morrell addressed an opel
, letter to the Rev. M. p. Doyle, settin
forth the case of the company, and ad
vising him to mind his own business
IL was Immediately after waited upo
by Judges and squires and others i
high favor with the company not
} reply to the letter, lest it would pre-
) mote riots This refused, and wis
, now to read to you brief extract iroI
3 the reply to the Hon. ID. j. Morrel
D which was written over twelve year
l. ago in defense of the workingmen.
"You (Mr. MorrelD agree with m
: that the workingmen have a 'perfet
/ right to form trades unions but 20
i, inform me that the rules of the Cam
t bria Iron Company prohibit the EN-
ployment of men who belong to sue
unions--that is to say, the company
y rules will not permit the employmeI
y of any person or persons who exercls
!. this perfect right You say the rigt
. of the company to make such rule
Is cannot be questioned. 1t is question
), able whether any company has rigl
!. TO make rules which conflict with th
= perfect right of others. for right cal
IF not conflict with right, and no man {
company, under the same government
can have right which conflicts wit
q the rights of another. All that ar
1t company can require of any OF its en-
'r ployes is faithful and proper di
st charge OF the duties assigned them, al
when any corporation assumes Il
y right to go outside this, TO prevent sue
d employe from the exercise of acknow
. edged perfect rights, 1t does that f
|. which it can have no legal authorit
t "If trades unions are authorized
= law, and men have perfect right
q belong to them, the Cambria Ire
Company dishonored the law, al
condemned these rights, when 1t di
charged the men for the sole reas'
ID that they were exercising these lawt
n rights. When the company discharg
"a Its employees because they belonged
lawful trades unions, and for this re
= son drives them from house, home al
n family, reducing them to want al
ly suffering, it is prosecuting them as Ct
st tainly as if it treated them in like ma
ner because they belonged to a re
IF gious union or association. Had it n
q been for the extraordinary reducti
of wages-the sudden and unexpect
:. suspension of payment-and the efft
ST to compel men to purchase goods fro
, ar the company at high prices, you won
have no unions to contend with.
. at was not until after the men b
"a. experienced these pressures that tn
nc. resorted to trades unions as means
defense. You say the men have PR
at pered in the employment. of the Co
ut pany. Very true; but has not t
y. Company prospered while employ
= the men2 1t has been mutual pre-
IA perity, Just as it should always
The prosperity Of the men was not
- much the result of higher wages pi
blythe Company than what labor,
received from other corporations,
it was because of their STEADY indus
aud their economy. On the otl
hand, the great fame and success
the Cambria Iron Company was t
=, great extent the result of the super
skill and orderly habits of the e
ployes.
md "During those years of prospect
ng. the company which has gathered 81
M strength from the industry and skill
the employees, at the first approach
i've the financial difficulties manifests 81
= weakness, and is only remarka
strong in its power to resist union n
L.. Ahn nxarninn Of anlx N a N ladnpd riI]