The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-10-17

Ing Idltu III tle tluctCy VI uIy tlloTt W
maintain a satisfactory and permanent
understanding between capital and labor.
The citizens of New York and of the
whole country owe To the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers debt OF gratitude
for the courage, fidelity and intelligence
with which they stood by their posts and
performed their duties during the recent
troubles on the New York Central"
Depew touched briefly on the matter OF
government ownership of railroads. "The
time does not permit" he said. "a discus.
sion OF the effects upon our institutions
of the appointment OF million public
servants being given TO an administration
and made the patronage party bosses"
He referred 10 the letter carriers I'm
England who worked long hours and get
on an average of $500 per week. After a
vain effort for the amelioration OF their
condition they struck. The government
instantly filed their places, put a police
man beside each new man aud dispersed
the gatherings OF the old ones. In Ger
many the government owns the railroads.
The locomotive engineer receives about
$500 month and IL he deserts his engine
becomes subject 10 severe punishment.
Libraries have been written upon the
labor and capital question. hut they are
mostly trash. In the varying conditions
of our complex civilization no general
plan seems possible which will be appli-
cable to cases as relief for the antagon-
ism between capital and labor. Every
difficulty must be solved upon
its own merits. Ii is just here that the
intelligent labor organization, composed
| only of the occupation which seeks
10 secure the right or redress the wrong
can meet its employer upon the grounds
which will show their mutual dependence
| and promote their common benefit. Ii is
| lust here that ignorance or incompetence
on one hand produces irritation and resis-
tance on the other. The period ought to
come when the employees in any industry
shall not he arrayed in hostile camps over
the whole country against theiremployers
in the same business; when the combina-
tions will not be of workers on the one
hand and of officials on the other against
each other, but with good sense and
friendly dispositions they shall meet upon
n common ground for their common good
and an overwhelming sense OF common
interest,"
Grand Chief Engineer Arthur was next
introduced and was enthusiastically re-
ceived. He congratulated the Brother
hood on the healthy condition of its af-
fairs, and said in part: although there
is oneness of purpose, there is a divers
ity of opinion, and we hope during the
course of our debates to find the equation
by which the problem of our difficulties
and differences may he solved. Ii is by
honorable action we have achieved sue
cess as labor organization, not by might
nor by loud, boastful assertions of what,
owing 10 our numbers, we might compel
the corporations to Ito. No, that has never
been our policy. We ask but fair, Just
dues, nothing more.
"If there be those who'@ould array labor
against capital, am not one of them OF
, with them. IL there be those who regard
the interests of labor and capital as
naturally or properly antagonistic, | dc
not lree with them. The interests OF la
I. Dor and capital are identical, or TO be
more accurate, reciprocal. Any argumen,
: respecting labor topics which
. does not distinctly recognize and
concede the truth OF this prop
! osition must needs be fallacious.
The insurance feature of the brother
: hood was touched upon at length by th,
speaker. During the past fiscal year th,
brotherhood has paid TO the widows ant
! orphans and disabled members, S322, 500
making grand total of S3,l22, 500. Ad
dresses were also made by a number o
delegates. Referring 10 Chicago tele
gram stating that party of Western en-
! gineers left for for this city 10 champion
the cause of federation, first grand assist
ant engineer Hayes said: ~ know moth
! ing about them. We anticipate no troubl,
! when the time comes for considering th,
! question of federation. / understand tn
I, majority of Western delegates favor sucl
I plan but as to what the outcome will be
i will not venture an opinion.n