The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-05-26
Honest Advice to Labor.

I~t the men come together and
discuss their grievances and then
come TO an understanding. Let The
employer give the men under hlm
N understand that he Is interested
in their welfare, and not that he
considers them mere senseless ma
chimes. Acting under this policy
whenever, during the past II years
we have been met by the officers OF
the roads, there has been no strike.
Every strike by us has been caused
bv the blunt refusal on the part OF
the roads to recognize US. Now,
who is TO blame for the strikes Wa
have had? Since the troubles on
the Grand Trunk and Boston and
Maine roads, where we were posi-
lively refused recognition, even Tor
the purpose of amicably adjusting
the difficulties, every difference has
been adjusted by our Brotherhood.
During the excitement of the past
few months we have had seven dill
ferent cases, and in every case the
policy of the Brotherhood has set
tied them all. As far as | know the
Locomotive Engineers and the rail-
road companies are on excellent
terms.
No man has a right to say to an
other " Thou shalt or Thou shalt
not" and in the violation Of this
principle is where the trouble hes
among the workingmen to-day. We
have no business to say that an en-
plover shall employ Dr. shall not en-
ploy this man. A man has a right
to belong to any organization, pro-
vided il 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, too,
we have no right to go to the com
NAMES and say: You must not en-
plov that man" We oppose this
way Of doing things OF principle.
Unless a man is a rascal, you have
no right as superintendent r master
mechanic to prevent him from get
ting employment elsewhere because
he does not suit you, for he might
suit somebody else. The great troub-
lie is there has heen too great a
chasm between capital and labor
and we should strive to bring them
closer together. There should be no
~antagenism. There is no occasion
fer il, and though | want every Ia
boring mar to hold up his head and
look bis employer squarely in the
face. | want him to remember that
capital. as well as labor, has rights
which we must respect. We cannot
do without either. Both are essen
tial to the prosperity Of the country.
There should be no clashing be-
tween them-there need be none.
When a man is looking mp as the
leader Of a labor organization, just as
soon as he begins to dabble in poll
tics. then il is time for you to request
him 10 resign, and put another man
in his place. They care for them
selves far more than they do for those
whom they represent. What l did
say about the eight-hour law was
this d" If the masses want eight
hours for q legal days work give 1t
to them for a fair trial, but | fear
there are a large number of men who
will not profit by it," Many of
those sometimes called workingmen
do moi make good use of their time.
| believe in working. Since | was
twelve years old, | have worked.
And to that question | have e
given any consideration further than
to say : Make the best use you can
of the time God gives You. II you
want an additional two hours for
the purpose ofimproving your mind
then / nope the law-givers of the
land will give it to you, and that you
will appreciate it and not loiter If
away as many men do, | am oblig-
ed to acknowledge. My advice is,
be sober, be frugal, be industrious
and practice a little self-denial for
the benefit Of those VINO are depend
ent on your daily earnings. Above
all, keep out of whisky shops, shun
dens ofinfamy and the gaming ia
bic and spend your time with your
wife ."--Arthur's Hartford ADDRESS
10 has brotherhood.