Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-16

II. X. THugBER,
Of II. X. Thurber & Co. I don't
think you will find that the trade in
food products has been affected nearly
as much by the labor troubles as those
other trades which depend more large
ly upon the season Of the year for their
success and also those large enterprises
in which people have to look ahead
for long time, and in which the ques-
ton Of the cost Of labor is very i'm
portant one. do not know whether
OF not labor troubles are serious
menace to the peace Of the country.
Are the workmen benefited by
the strikesY Well, yes and no. Legiti-
mato agitation for lettering the condi-
ton Of the laboring-man is undoubtedly
wise and proper, and leads to good re-
suits. Violence and bloodshed will do
more TO set back the interests Of the
| wsge-earner than anything which could
happen. Consequently those who ad-
vocate violence are the worst enemies
labor has. ! do not see any other way
Of dealing with Anarchists than that OF
thrssbiDg them promptly every time
they make war upon society. Force
must be met with force.
THE REV. DIR. CHARLES II. HALL.
feel by no means discouraged by
the explosions which have so far &C.
CURED in the industrial field. The dis
cussiOn Of grievances will naturally
lead to a proper adjustment Of them.
There are ebullitions OF bad temper and
there are dangerous principles inculca-
ted by violent men, but these are ex-
ceptional and not representative. i
believe in the people. Honesty and
good sense largely preponderate among
them. Undoubtedly the workingmen
have suffered from acts of tyranny and
oppression, for the great monopolies
and combinations Of capital are I'M
merciful and have inflicted wrongs
which cry for redress. Bot i have no
fear Of the future. There may be pc
RODS Of severe restraint, but every pa
triot will rejoice that the wrongs Of la
Dor since they do exist in the body
polite are being ventilated.
MR.. WILLIAM L. FLETCHER,
superintendent Of the New York Pro-
duce Exchange No serious danger to
the community at large is to be appre-
heDded from the present phases Of the
labor movement. The ultimate result
of the agitation will not necessarily
prove injurious to the working classes
provided the strikers remain peaceable
and quiet and do not resort to acts Of
violence. In the event Of success the
strikes will, Of course, be high
ly beneficial to the workingmen,
and their chances are better now
than hitherto because they are
better and more generally organ
lied than ever before. The effect of
the existing troubles on the business of
1856 will vary with the different
branches Of trades and industry. We,
for example, do not feel the strikes at
all, while the great body Of manufac.
tuTers will for the time being be Sc
riously crippled by them. These trou-
bles. however, soon decrease, and peace
and harmony return to restore business
and industry TO their accustomed &C
tiyity AMI yigor.
CORPORATION COUNSEL jerks.
/ think that arbitration is the only
way in which differences between capt.
tai and labor can be peacefully and sat
isfsctorily adjusted. | believe that the
best thought, both among employers
and employed, is moving in this direc.
ton. Both sides TO the controversy
will then have hearing and better
understanding Of the questions in issue
will be arrived at.
MAYOR WHITNEY, OF BROOKLYN.
The labor troubles have caused great
damage to business, and have put off
many public works and great enter
prises which would have benefited the
workingman. We don't need any big
ger standing army; public sentiment is
our safeguard. Socialists and Anar-
chists must he roughly dealt with if
they don't behave themselves. They |
are like the little boy who steals your |
apples. If tufts Of grass won't bring |
him down, harsher measures must be |
adopted.
COLLECTOR HEDDEN,
Of the New York Custom-IIouse : ! |
think that the results of the labor
demonstration are rather opening the |
eyes of the woIkingmen. They can
see now that they are cutting their wn
throats in some of the strikes they are
making. Business has been injured
immensely we know, but we don't come
in contact with the effects to any very
great extent. No influx of foreign goods
has come yet, but suppose one
would come very soon if the cost ofpro-
duction is greatly increased. No, we
don't need any more standing army;
it would do harm. AS to Anarchists
and men of all kinds who do violence,
they must be put down, and the work
ipgman who tries TO iutimidate must
also understand that when he strikes he
exhausts his rights. He must not at
tempt to prevent other men from work
ing in his place. Everybody wants to
elevate the laboring-man, but those who
make the biggest noise about his rights
are his worst enemies. Anarchy and
riot hurt the laborer more than any
thing else.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE COTTON |
EXCHANGE.
Henry Hentz, president Of the Cot
ton Exchange Yes, business has been
seriously injured, very seriously In
juIed, but cannot tell precisely how
much. How foolish the men are to
strike when the profits on investment
have been getting smaller and smaller
Some Of the strikes have undoubtedly
done good TO the workmen, as, for in
stance, that on the street-cars in Brook
Ign, in which they gained reduction
OF hours, but on the whole the workmen
have lost heavily, for not only are they
out Of pocket all the money they would
have earned all the while they are on
strike, but they have in many cases
lost their situations and in others had /