The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-03

Some Good Advice Volunteered to the Late
Strikers.

10 the Editor or Inc lines:
Will you kindly permit me to Jrespass on
your space in order as best can TO say that 1t
seems useless to attempt to prolong the agony
that still seems to survive in the hearts OF the
men who were lately employed at the LOcOmo-
tive and Machine Works by any attempt TO az
range for arbitration. The cold fact" that
now cOnfrOnts the men is that not only Will
the company be obliged TO ask the men IN
case Of re.emplOyment) for promise not 10
interfere with their way of doing business;
but many more ideas of shop practice and
economic methods Of doing work will have TO
be introduced before the concern can be said
to be on a sure and safe foundation.
Our Richmond mechanics, aided by others
from various sections of the country, have
gained fairly good reputation for the quality
of the work done at the Locomotive and Ma
chine Works, but this good quality OF Work
has been done at such an enormous expense
that no profits have come 70 the capitalists
who have had the noble courage TO put up
their money to build up this concern and
make it in some measure an educational insti-
tuition for the training Of our young men IN
the higher branch of mechanical endeayors,
hoping also that eventually they
might have seasonable return tor
the large amount of money invested.
The writer can assure the men that all the
locomotive shops in this country reserve to
themselves. and do practice and carry into
shop management, and do give out work to
their men according 10 their best judgment,
irrespective of whether man has served tour
years or four minutes at the trade.
There are very many men who have served
their apprenticeship as machinsts and have
prncticed their trade for ten and twenty years
that are not and never will be of much ac-
count in their trade. while some men with
strong and natural turn OF mind for mechan-
les have gone upward and into the very front
rank of expert machlnists, having never
served any regular apprenticeship, but who
have gained their knowledge as opportunities
presented themselves.
The employment of these men. whether they
know great deal or little about the work
they are given TO do, is clearly within the right
of the management as If he spolls the work
given him or breaks valuable machine be-
cause of his lack Of knowledge the company
has 10 stand the loss, and while some men
might question in their own minds the advlS-
ability of that way of doing they have no
right to try TO force the company 10 adopt
any other methods of shop practice (bad or
good than those they think best, and by
which both managers and owners must stand
or fall.
Let us now look at the so-called rights Of
the apprentices, about which much has been
said The writer cannot find in his linden
lures of apprenticeship any promise on the
part of the parties who undertook TO teach
him his business that one of the rights and
privileges that went along with the acquisl-
ton of said business was that of questioning
and interfering with the rights of his educa-
tors TO employ and put to work any man on
any machine they saw fit.
The only advantage that can be claimed for
the learning of any trade or profession is the
increased ability TO earn larger amounts Of
money than could otherwise be. possible thus,
so far as money can do it," increasing the
welfare and happiness of ouch as desire 10
learn such trade or profession.
In conclusion. the writer would say that as
the strike is over, and the men are no longer in
the employ Of the company, no outsider has
anything further 10 do in the matter If the
men want work upon such terms as they and
the company can agree upon, they know the
way to do it. If they don't want TO work
upon any terms but those that practically rob
the management of their functions, let them
90 and take employment in such shops qf
they con find them as allow the dictation
they call for. And there is very little room
TO doubt that a very large majority of the
men who are now idling away their time and
running into debt would be glad 10 go TO
work Tor the company they left SO hastily if
it were not for the thought Of what Tom,
Dick, and Harry might say about them.
Very respectfully yours, CITIZEN.
Richmond, Va. May q 1891.