Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-01-07
HEWITT EXPLAINS
some Sound Truths About the Relations
OF Employer and EmpIoye.

some Sound Truths About the Relations
OF Employer and EmpIoye.
NEW YORK, January 6.--The criticisms
that have been passed, especially by work
ING people, on Mayor Hewitt's speech at
the recent dinner of the Board Of Trade
and Transportation nave moved him to
make an explanation.
The occasion was afforded by a letter
from Mr.. Henry Thornton, OF Brooklyn,
who wrote commanding the speech, but
regrcIting that ii did not cover the ques-
tious discussed more coaprehcnsiyely.
The Mayors reply which was made
public yesterday, is as follows:
Sill am in receipt of your letter cl
the n inst. commencing the Opinions eX-
pressed in my impromptu speech at the
dinner OF the Board Of Trade and Transpor-
tatiou,
II note that you think it was to he re-
gretted that did not present the other
side Of the case, and show the necessity
and means by which wOrkmen could de-
lend themselves against unjust employers.
ID Is perfectly true that ! did not discuss
the whOle question. / limited myself to
. single phase of it, The relation between
commerce and municipal government
! Cities are dependent for their existence oil
/ highways of commerce. II these are shut
/ up, either by au enemy OF by failure OF
common carriers to dO their duty, OF by
/ the action OF combinations to prevent
common carriers from doing business, the
existence OF cities is impeTilled and their
prosperity destroyed. l did not consider
| the question ofthe duties OF employers
and employees to each other, because it was
not involved in the subject under consider
alton.
| The duties OfCOmmOn carriers thus GS-
seutial to the public can only he inter
| tered with by operation Of law. The case
stands apart because il concerns the pub
/ lie safety and must be separated, there
I fore, from all other questions not in any
way involved in IT, | have repeatedly CA
| pressed the opinion that organization Is
necessary both for employers AMI employees;
| that they consult their interests and their
duty alike by forming unions. 1t would
/ be great misfortune il they were broken
/ up, aud in the future l think that strikes
and boycotts will cease to exist, because
/ the organizations will, through proper
agencies, either settle or arbitrate their
/ differences without resort to extreme meas
ares This has been the course OF progress
in Great Britain, and think it will
ultimately result in the same way in this
country. But in the meanwhile any at
tempt OF the organizations, either employ
ers or employees, to interfere with those
great duties which concern the existence
of large communities must be met with
resistance and punishment
In the case which you put to me, that
OF manufacturers who will not pay the cur
rent rate OF wages, | should recommend re-
s;stanCc on the part OF the wOrkmen through
union, and if necessary through the aid of
other unions of workmen. 1t is exceed
| iugly desirable that the standard Of wages
| paid to workmen should be as high as pos
sible, and all efforts to raise the rate OF
wages. without interfering with the rights
/ OF individual wOrkmen, are to be encOur-
aged by night minded men.
Yours respectfully,
4 nm ~ Il NFVH# #Tr-rH