The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-09-20
THEIR EYES OPENED.

| THEIR EYES OPENED.
| One night last week discharged en-
ployees of the New York Central railway
or, more properly speaking, strikers, held
meeting IL Albany, the speeches at (which
were significant. Most of the men who
talked confessed that the strike was fail
ure, and several of them said 1t had been
| ill-advised and unnecessarily precipitated;
that 1t ought not to have been ordered and
the leaders Should be censured for calling
out hundreds of men when ordinary intelli-
gence would have suggested the improb.
ability Of the men winning. But the sug-
gestive speech of the evening was by a
laDoring man who proceeded to 'iroast'' the
leaders of the organization, first for. order
Ing the men out, and then for their 'style"
and extravaganza. He said the bosses were
living high, staying at the best hotels, eat
ing the fat of the land, riding in carriages and
hiring high-priced lawyers, while the fam
lies of the poor strikers We're necessarily
placed on short notices. He said if the
leaders would be less eager to show their
authority and call men out, and would
practice economy in their expenses the
real workers would be good deal better
of, and their families would not so often
be hungry and ill-clothed.. The man was
heartily cheered by his associates, show
ing that the men generally had been keep
ing their eyes and ears open and giving
their intelligence a chance.
Some of the leaders were present and one
of them, in an effort to defend the others,
proceeded to denouuce the men in vile and
blackguard terms, among other things
saying they were "a lot of white livered
| ours" There was more of this kind of
talk, and while the meeting did not break
up IN row everybody went away with
il!-feelings.
1t is unfortunate for the members of the
labor organizations that they too often
place blatherskites and irresponsible agita-
tors to the front, or maintain them at the
front after they have crowded themselves
forward The wisest, most cautious and
most conservative men should stand at the
head of workingmen's associations, and
men whose integrity, honesty and personal
department are above reproach There is
too much at stake for men to place them
selves under the control of unwise or in
competent persons, and submit to rule or
dlctation which can bring them to starva-
ton. II men are going to place themselves
in position where they cannot act indie
pendently-and it seems necessary that
they must so place themselves in
this age of warfare between labor
and capital-they should be doubly
careful to choose as leaders persons who
will not abuse their authority but use it for
the best interest of those in whose behalf
they are supposed to labor. One of the
strongest, most successful and best re-
spected of the unions is the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, and that it is strong
successful and respected is due largely to
the fact that its head is man of great in
telligence, Of big brain and admitted con-
servatism. We regard Chief ARTHUR as
one of the really great men of the time.
On the other hand PowDERLY, who stands
at the head of the mighty organization, the
knights of Labor. is little better qualified
for the duties Of the position which he
holds than bull is to preside over china
store. He is eternally auarreling with the
order or with employers, keeps the men in
| trouble almost continually, and personal
lives like prince at the expense of the
honest Woodworking but misguided fellows
who maintain him in the place. If Pow
DERBY were wise, capable and conserva-
tive leader, the Knights would long ago
have been the most powerful labor organ
ization that the world ever saw: instead of
which the association, while strong as to
numbers, is weak in every other respect,
torn by internal dissension and discomfort,
and steadily going to decay.
Workingmen should understand that all
power is in their hands. but that they will
be helpless so long as they place wide
mouthed agitators and blatherskites in
authority. With wise leaders who will
think more of the interests of the men
than of their own personal pleasure, profit
and Importance, the labor associations will
thrive will obtain justice and their rights
and enjoy that essential to success, popular
respect and good will. The leader who
will spend money lavishly on himself and
for style" while the poor fellows who
contribute the cash are suffering for the
necessities of life, win never be success
full head of workingman's organization.