Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-05-12

/ brick, VINO mad come at last.
'Why too late! This is only Wednesday.
Have you changed your mindl | did not
suppose there was so much hurry. and
| wanted TO have everything ready
ut is too late answered Philip gloomily.
| What use to tell the old gentleman that
/ Philip Bretons wife was a criminal before
the law, that the transfer OF the mill property
| was only part of his scheme to save her
| from an infamous penalty, that their deadii-
! est enemy knew all their plans now, and no
| doubt her sleepless eyes watched their every
movement, lest they should escape her hate.
1 The servant came to the door. II suppose
| you will have lights, sir. Some men from
the mill folks want to see you.n
1 ''Oh. yes; show them in,n he said care
lessly.
There were not chairs enough for the four
| workmen who came stumbling in like pail
bearers at a country funeral, but Philip did
| not seem to look at them. One took his
place by the window, and soiled the curtain
| with his hands; another, apparently the
| spokesman, disdained to lean against any
| thing, but stood stock still in the centre of
the room, bent forward little In an attitude
borrowed from the prize ring His feet were
| planted well apart, and his arms bowed out
| at the elbows
II suppose you have some complaints to
make said the young mill owner with a
| gentleness Of tone that was quite miSfnder-
stood by the delegation, who Immediately
| tried to look very fierce.
"Ye're right, sir" answered the man in the
| center of the room ssYe know yerself, We
amt dom the right thing by U.S."
Philip did not speak for moment, and
Mr.. Philbrick would have thought he had
not heard the fellow, only for a little twitch-
ing at the corners Of his mouth. Apparently
the young man was deeply hurt by his fail
ure to satisfy his men.
81 have done the best knew"
wal, we kin tell yer, if We don't know no
better presumed the workman insolently.
Philips eyes flashed at him, then dropped to
the carpet again. "Pay us more wages for
one thing, shorten up our hours for an
other"
"You fare better than others. / divide the
profits with you You thought was very
good with you once" The young mans tone
was not argumentative, it was too hopeless
for that.
eyer don't divvy even; our share don't
mount to much" put in the man who was
soiling the window curtain.
81 am sorry for you, but you can't expect
me to make you all richn There was such a
sadness of reproach in Philips voice that a
mist gathered before Philbrick's kind eyes.
But the workmen got the idea they were
frightening the young master.
II have gone as far as / can see my way
Don't you think you had better be patient
with met"
"Be you goin' to raise our payr Philip
shook his head thoughtfully.
II cannot understand it is my duty or my
right
''Are you goin' to shorten up our hours3n
asked the man at the window.
81 cannot
The chief spokesman turned to his COM
panions. ether amt no use Wal, squire,
tomorrow you may wish you had Come
along, boys"
Philip had dropped back heavily into his
chair He seemed to have forgotten the pres
ence of Mr.. Philbrick, until that gentleman
began to explain his more perfect system.
"How can you expect your help to be salts
fed" Philbrick was saying; :even if they
were well paid it would be small object for
them to be shut up all their lives, as if they
were convicts. But you don't pay them,
either. 1t isn't because the business don't
pay, for your fathers rrobts and yours were
enormous 1t is all the esolt of false yalua-
ton of the worth of services. Now shall
seek to remove the burdens that crush the
people and restrict there natural develop
ment.o
Philip said nothing. How well his old friend
had kept his enthusiasm through all the
years of his life Well, it would do no harm
| to let him talk on.
'You will ask me for details" Mr.. Phil
brick took his seat again and drew up to him
sheet of paper and pencil. You will ask
what burdens they are that are on the mil
lion, besides the common necessary burdens
burden, it is the intolerable tribute to ac-
cumulated capital lald upon the working
classes, which makes q tyrant of the man who
has saved a surplus out of his wages, and
caused the hopeless Wis inertiR of poverty.
Like all forms of slavery its effects are great
apparent luxury, which never penetrates
below the very surface of society, and tire
less industry which earns nothing for the
workers but food barely enough to support
his days work. 1t is benefit enough for the
| man who has saved money that he can work
to better advantage; 1T is a lever III his hands.
| If we permit capital to take such enormous
profits as it does, every day and year it in
| creases, as wealth increases, the crushing tax
on labor / shall pay you but per cent
| on the money shall owe you on account of
| the mill property. The rest of the income of
| the business above two per cent, belongs to
| the laborer."
The reformer glanced expectantly at
| Philip But the dull, hopeless look that was
| on his face an hour ago had not changed
81 am not sure but that IS too much" pur-
| sued Mr.. Philbrick, ''but it will only be II
| little while before l shall pay up the debt"
There was no use in stopping the enthusl-
astic old gentleman, whose great heart was a
| fountain of human kindness. 1t would be
time enough for Philip to tell him that he
had changed his plans later.
'But | shall also shorten the hours OF work.
| Six hours of confinement in the mills is
enough, and withoul leisure all the advant-
ages | can give my work people Will be OF
| little avail ! can let different sets of hands
| relieve each other if it seems necessary, or
build new mills and take in thousand more
hands to share the blessings of Justice"
| Mr. Philbrick leaned back in his chair and
| n great light of benevolence shone in his
face 1t was pity to disappoint him.
This is an opportunity have hoped for
| whole lifetime | can show the world that
| labor ought not and need not be wretcheC
and furnished 1t is more blindness than
gillful cruelty that delays great reforms. If
| can once show the world what justice is
| and how it works it will not be long be-
| force
"But, my dear friend" said Philip, drop
ping his eyes to the floor, 'did not tell you
| il was too latef / am not going to sell. You
will have to select some other spot for your
| Utopia The young man spoke bitterly;
Unconscious of his seltishness, he begrudged