The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-05-11
Honest Advice to Labor

hOueSG AuflCe 10 L0DOr
Chief Arthur, Of the Locomotive
brotherhood, is wiser and better man.
we suspect, than any of the oracles of
Labor. Here are his words of wisdtm
in an address. at Hartford. Connecticut
to his fellow workingmen:
Let the men come together and discuss
their grievances, and then come to an
understanding. 'Let the employer give
the men under him to understand that
he is interestedi in their welfare and not
that he considers them mere scnseless
machines. Acting under this whcnver,
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 rcfus-
al on the part of the 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 we were positively refused
recognition, even for the purpose of
amicably adjusting the difficulties every
difference hos been adjusted by our
Brotherhood. During the excitement
Of the past few months we have had
sever. differnt cases. and in every case
the policy of the Brotherhood has settled
them all. As faras know the locomotive
engineers and the railroad companies aro
on excellent terms.
No man has the right to say to another
"Thou shalt" on ''Thou shalt not" and
in the violation of this principle is where
the trouble lies among the workingmen
to-day. We have no buesincss to say
that an employer shall employ or shall
not employ this man. A man has the
right to belong to any organization,
provided it is not contrary to the law.
We say no man has the right to say to
another man that he must not belong to
all organization. And, too we have no
right to go to the companies and say !:
you must not employ that man. We
oppose this way Of doing things on
principle. Unless man is rascal you
have no right as superintendent or master
mechanic to prevent him from getting EN-
ployment elsewhere because he does not
suit you for he might somebody else. The
great trouble is there has been too great
chasm between capital and labor
and we should strive to bring them closer
together. There should be 10 anita.
gonism. There is no occasion for it and
though I want every laboring man to
hold up his head and look his employer
squarely in the face want him to re-,
member that capital, as we'll as labor,
has rights which we must respect. We
cannot do without 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 labor oganization, just so soon
as he begins to dabble in politics then it
is time for you to ask him to resign and
put another man in his place. They care
for themselves far more than they do
for those who they represent. What 1
did say about the eight hour law was
this !: "If the masses want eight hours
for legal days work give it to them
for fair trial, but fear there are large
number Of men who will not profit by
it." Many of those sometimes called
workingmen do not make good use of
their time. believe in working. Since
was twelve years old 1 have worked.
And to that question have never given
any consideration further than to say
Make the best use you can Of the time
God gives you, and if you want an addi-
tional two hours for the purpose of i'm
proving your mind then hope the law
giyers of the land will give it TO you
and that you will appreciate it, and not
loiter it away as many men do. ! am
obliged to acknowledge" My advice is
be sober, be frugal. be industrious and
practice . little self-denial for the benefit
of those who ase dependent upon your