The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-08-16
~ THERE DANGER AHEAD


Editor Democrats Star
During the strike last spring Of the
mill employees, your criticisms were
very poin'cd, and many thought rath-
or severe, yet perhaps just. AS u mcr-
chant | was strongly opposed to the
STRIFE, but had sympathy for nine
tenths Of the strikers.
The failure of that ill.advised move
seems TO have been Il funeral for or
gained laborcrs in this place. This
result If balanced by a funeral OF the
auarice OF some of the employers
would be hailed with pleasure by all
who wish our place success. during
:hc strike [ took occasion 10 Visit every
mill operator, or their accredited re-
| preventative, and learned from them
That they would not treat or IDEAL with
"orwaniZcd Labor" but if the men
would 90 back to work they could do
so without prejudice, and there would
he no feeling or desire To punish them
for what they had done. This out
spoken understanding has been faith
fully carried out by most of the I'm
blowers, but there is a duep and wide
complaint made by numbers of the
employecs of one of the largest and
richest mill companies we havs. The
first act complained OF Is, that soon
after the failure Of the strike this com
many cut down wages. The second
act complained of Is, that now since
capital has. s'downrd" labor, this rich
company has given their poor labor
| ing men Gotiec That they would not
nav them their hard earned money
until the tenth of each month next
after the labor was performed.
ANY honest thinking man can see
the great injustice of this last act
Especially is This unjust to The color
cd men, who by nature are 10 ecoho-
misls, and /, as a merchant, am frcC
10 admit That it is ruinous to the mer-
chants who deal with these men, OK
cent TO the said rich companies mer.
chant for whose benefit this deferred
payment seems 10 have been ordered'
[ have heard il said that II was a Gus
tom of this sad rich company before
coming to this place, to have no reSu'
lar nav dav Oh Which, or near WhlLl
they naid their hands, and in this way
forced their men to deal almost cxcla
sivrlv al their stores. If thlspe true
and This "defeyyed payment order u
an entering wedge that will soon lcat
all the other employers to :ake a SIM
lar action then, and III that case hi
thriving and growing town wol'lo De
come SIMPLY Il numbering camp co''
tanning a few rich men, three orIoui
conn iSsd1ies and thousands OF PENN
loss laborers. / have as not yet los
faith i'm the conscience of our MANY
born business men, and do not beiicN
they can be lei to believe 1t right l
dictate to heir hands where they shaI
huy their treat and bread. Yet W
all remember that old Eastern icgeh
of the camel and the Arab.
A few wears since an employer con
silerrd that the employee had II
rights in these matters tah llla' IN
employer was bound to respect. u
advance OF CHRISTIAN civilization, chrls
lian thought and justice now say lha
+, lthey have. OF course cannot re
count the Enjury that would result I
all of us should the above pOsslbllltle
7 come 10 pass. All thinking men ca
: well sec what they would be. l writ
this knowing our editor to be an hon
est, fair and brave man and not atral
! to give All sides a hearing, No olht
: merchant OF person may be as on
spokcn IN this matter as | am, but
know nine-tentlIs Of all who iaV
heard speak on the matter think abol
as lido. May the said rich comparl
, SOC fine error of their way and 'qu
= thn;r m~rauucss." MERCHANT.
D;,+ Auruct 10 1889.