The Irish standard., 1886-05-15
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
rT11E IRISH STANDARD does not wish to be un-
derstood as always applauding the sentiments
expressed by correspondents. Communica-
tions for publication should be written only on
one side Of the paper, and must be accompanied
with the name Of the writer. Correspondents
must use ink and not pencil. Long letters will
stand q poor chahce ofinsertion in our columns
--Ep. IRISH STANDARD.
Captain Boycott.
To the Editor of The Irish Standard
S1R,-Would you please give me
some information regarding Captain
Boycott, whose name suggested the
word which has been brought so much
into prominence recently in connection
with the labor troubles. What has be-
come of him. Yours, ETC.,
MATTHEW MEEHAN.
TCaptain Boycott has left Ireland.
On April % he sold out his establish
ment at Lough Mask, and started for
ENGLAND as the agent of Sir Hugh
Adare. No man ever became perman-
emily famous or infamous more rapidly
than Boycott. His name will live
while popular Indignation and scorn
are used as the cu.e Of punishment of
grinding oppression. Boycott, how
ever, was on good terms with the peo-
ple of Lough Mask when he went home
to England.-Ed. IRIsH STANDARD.
4 Business Mans View Of the Plumbers
Strike.
! To the Editor Of The Irish STANDARD:
In reference to the present strike ex-
| isting between the journeynen plum
bers, gas filters and master plumbers
of this city and St. Paul, in fairness to
each, I would like to make a few COM
nerts, having heard both sides OF the
question. In the first place, the plum
bers, or q great many Of them, could
get and were offered sd per day, ten
hours work, but, in justice to themseA-
yes and to the laboring voice OF the
country, they agreed to reduce the
number of working hours, thereby Sc
curing more rest to themselves and, it
possible, employment of their fellow
craftsmen, equalizing their labor and
securing employment to those who
might need it. At the same time,
while they demand $3.50 per day for
each man who has worked FIVE years at
the trade, they do not expect nor do
they force any master plumber TO pay
said wages to any man who is incom-
petent and incapable to perform SER
vices to the equivalent Of $3.50. With
regard to the indenturing of the boys,
they have nothing to do with the num-
Der Of boys the master plumber may
employ to meet his demands, but they
do insist and ask, after q boy has served
three years at the business as helper,
that he then become an indentured ap-
prentice for two years, thereby serving
his time in full, becoming good work
man and an honor to the trade, instead
of a botch. as you will find many to-day
being sent Up at to early a period OF
their trade, spelling themselves and
whatever they undertake, besides de-
priying good man of a job in slack
times because he can better satisfy the
desires Of the master plumbers by work.
ing $2.per day less, and for which the
public will have to pay in full. While
I recognize the master plumbers Of this
city as men Of good sound judgment: I
also recognize the fact that their intell-
ectual faculties are in no manner sup
erior to many of those I have conversed
with in the journeymen's ranks, and |
doubt, practically speaking, on an av-
erage if they are equal. Recognizing
those facts and the Importance they
bear to the public, the demands made
by The journeymen are not exhorbi~
tant, as they demand nothing further
from the public than what they had
been receiving, but on the contrary are
trying to give to the public just re-
compense in good work. Nor can L
conscientiously see why the master
plumbers should try to shield themsel-
yes under the cloak Of public sympathy
when their very action in this matter
is the reverse, and they are solely and
entirely the cause las far as the plumb
ing and gasftting strike in this city is
concerned) if there should he any de-.
probation in business. l further say
that it is the duty OF our citizens to
patronize such men as f. T. Sykes,
Peterson, Ruel and others who have
complied with the journeymen plum
bers' demands. They will have their
work promptly attended to by good and
competent men and there will be no ex-
tortions, but justice and equality ex-
tended to all. Respectfully yours,
BUSINESS MAN.
Facts for the Readers of the Standard.
A fact that the public should know.
That to get a cold glass of pure soda,