Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-30
AHALr CALLED,
By n Writer. who Thinks There are Too
Many secret Orders and Not Enough
Labor UnIonISrn-

BY n Writer, who Thinks There are Too
Many secret Orders and Not Enough
Labor UnIoniSru-
10 tn Editor Of tbs Rs0tSts-:
SIR: In times of general prosperity,
employment In abundance and every
body engaged Ia some pursuit or an
other for a livelihood, workingmsn as
rule took stubborn stand and dis
played q selfish spirit by voluntarily
refusing to support labor unions
with small contributions. The average
workingman's interest in labor organ
izatlons OF late years is but an in
significant unit In comparison TO the
interest taken In secret and benevolent
associations. Therefore the pal pable
aud runous effects wrought by the dis
placement Of labor unions by those as
Sociatlons has given an open oppor-
tunity TO employees to reduce wages at
their own sweet will
Is it sound sense or commendable
foresight ia wage workers to branch of
into secret organizations and forget
that 1t is from the wages regulated by
labor unions those associations are kept
up. If the observant workers Of intel
ligence would perceive the general DRIFT
of the social, industrial and economic
question as the employers have seen it
for years past, they would be more
fully prepared TO have the working
masses organized to meet good and bad
times alike. Instead OF this the situa-
ton and condition OF wage earners are
becoming alarming in every instance,
and the workers loss directly goes to the
employers gain, as long as the social
question preponderates and taxes pre-
cedeace of the industrial question by the
C!ashng Of secret order against secret
order, class against class and sect against
sect and the strongest OF those classes
or sects gain the supremacy In their big
otry and foolishness in crushing the
weaker out Of employment. Isn't 1t
reasonable to believe that If the strong
er would go on strike for any cause that
the employers would not be out
witted In falling to utilize the weaker
to defeat the former as their enemies
and prosecutors. II tho working masses
propose TO improve their condition they
must learn to do more Of their own
thinking to she exclusion Of politicians,
agitators and those out OF easy jobs
who wish 30 retain them by NEEDLE
some interference, creating discord, ad-
vocating and encouraging this class or
that sect TO be ia the ascendency.
We have witnessed in times or gen
eral prosperity when industrial troubles
would arise, employers importing labor
ers from Europe to take the places Of
American workingmeu. Has not those
kind OF people been imported by en-
ployers of this city to work on the gas
pipe line at 81 90 per day? They have
been the principal workers on the Ter
minal Railroad tunnels, the new stone
bridge and on the water main to the
new reservoir, and the professional agi-
tators whose glory it is to create strife
among American and naturalized citi-
zens did not offer one word Of
protest against this cheap labor.
He who wishes to be free must
first strike the blow. II the workers In
the factories and workshops OF the
country wish to be free to protect
their wages from being brought to a
level with European wages more atten-
tion will have to be given TO labor
The circumstances surrounding the
ge-workers' condition in these trying
times Of depression should not be passed
over indifferently. 1t pointedly iDdf-
Gates to all intelligent workers that i'm
mediate steps should be taken to organ
lie labor unicns, cast aside prejudice and
intolerance and unite in one solid
body, and stand shoulder to shoulder
for the amelioration OF their condition.
Employers always have on hand
remedy for hard times and they feel no
way embarrassed in presenting 1t, and
that is reduction of wages. Conpetl-
ton with those people is the life Of
trade and the keener it is, the quicker
II will bring down prices, especially so
when credits are extended and the mar
ket dull or overstocksd.
When. one reduction Is accepted by
the employees competition is commenced
anew ana is continued on the same
line as before until the workers
are asked TO take another.
This Is one OF the cry
ing evils principally pr.cticed Of
late years by manufacturers aud EN-
pleyers, and ii is little it disturbs their
selfish minds how much it will pauper-
iZe the wage earners aud their families
Where IS this wild aud reckless COM
petition OF the manufacturers going TO
land the wage workers at II not re-
sisted by united LABOR, for whenever
they bring their prices under the point
Of profit is 1t not naturally character
istlc of them to make their employees
shoulder the burden by forcing them
to less wages ordo more work.
The workingmen who refuse to con-
tribute twenty-five or fifty cents month
" dues to maintain labor unions, and
voluntarily and foOlishly spend from
one 10 five dollars OF each pay in gam
bling, intempersnce and other vices,
are not solid props 10 the industrial
structure to stand against the encroach-
ment Of manufacturers and employers
who are trying their utmost to crush
out OF existence the remnants Of unions
that are lighting labor's cause. The
fight inaugursted by the powerful CON-
hination OF wealthy glass manutactur-
ers against the Flint Glass Workers
Union is an object lesson for working
men TO consider, and is this hight any
more CALLING or heartleSs than the war
OF determination that's made on the
Amalgamated Association OF Iron and
Steel Workers by the rich barons that
are masters of the iron and steel indus
try Of the country?
The railroad corporations and cos!
operators are resorting 70 the same
heartess, soulless practice. So is IL
the case with owners Of every other
branch Of industry throughout the
country. And not to be outdone by
this selfish spirit, snd in order to be 10
the fashion, has not our own free and
"a N -rnlnd EIartrin Straaf Car Com