The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-07-13
What Pullman Has Done.

1t is well understood that capital is
cautious-shy of investment. 1t is al
ways difficult TO interest capital in any
enterprise that does not afford, not
only a reasonable certainty of profit,
but of security of protection and safety
ness in which they engage; if they can
not feel assured that they will be suf-
fered to manage it in such way as
they shall deem to be to the best adj
vantage of its upbuildng and pros
perity, they are not likely to engage in
the industry at all If the men whom
they employ and whom they agree to
pay such wages as they think the bust
ness will warrant, and no more, are to
be allowed, in case of the noncompli
ance of demands for higher wages, to
destroy their property and TO prevent
by force of arms others from taking the
places of those who refuse to work, and
there is to be no redress, only compli-
ance TO the dictation of the workmeu,
then time has come when capital will
be chary of engaging in new enter
prises. Again, it has been held in the
past that the country has been enriched;
that communities have been built up
and the people greatly benefited
through the employment of capital in
business enterprises Money that is
idle helps no one but the owner, but
money that is used as a means to carry
on useful enterprise, a great manu-
featuring industry, whereby raw mate
rial is worked up into form that is avail
able for use and adds to the convent
ence and happiness of the world, and
that gives employment to people at
good wages, such use of capital has
been supposed to be commendable as
enhancing the welfare of the people;
and the man who thus employs his
energies, talents and wealth has been
held to be a public benefactor.
1t would seem that Mr., Pullman was
entitled TO commentator for the fact
that he devoted his capital to establish
ing a great manufacturing industry
the building of the celebrated cars that
bear his name. Further than this, Mr..
Pullman has built what is declared to
be the best manufacturing town in the
world. The shops, public buildings,
dwellings, and grounds have every de-
vice and requirement necessary for
comfort, health, recreation and instruc.
ton of the workmen and their families
that can be found in the best ordered
communities in the land. OF course it
must have all cost vast sum of money,
and no one will deny that such an ex-
pendture of capital is greatly to the
benefit of the country. The cars that
are built there go all over the world,
wherever they can be sold. The men
who are employed there have good
homes, their children good schools,
good libraries, good places and means
of amusement, etc. In fact, the advan.
tages that accrue to the country through
the activity of such great industry as
this at Pullman are endless and great
Per contra, what has Mr.. Pullman oil
the Pullman Company done that he
should receive the execration that some
deluded men are disposed to give him.
Why, simply, SO far as appears in the
public press, he refuses to increase the
wages of the men. He asserts that he
pays all he can afford to pay and that
the Company is losing money as it is
No question but that the men may quiz
work and leave the employ of the Pull
: man Company. But why should not the
Company have the right to hire Other
men if they choose to do so, or be SUI
fered to close down their works anC
wait for better times. True, it may
occasion suffering on the part of the
7 men; but who is to blame? Mr.. Pull
man did not create the hard times anC
he cannot be condemned for not wishing
to run his works at great loss.
Good wages are a good thing; they
indicate good times and prosperity
But large wages cannot be forced ano
cannot be paid unless the business will
warrant it. The price of labor must
rule with the rise and fall of the com
modify in the production and sale o.
which that labor is Employed; and
while it is the interest of the American
people to secure good wages for the
laboring masses, as far as can be done
with justice to all concerned, it is just
as greatly in the public interest to pro
tect capital in its rights; to see TO it thai
capital that gives employment to labor
and upon which labor depends for its
support is secured and protected. The
country cannot afford to allow strikers
or a mob of sympathizers with strikers
to destroy the Pullman property, or the
property of any other company, by dis
satisfied workmen. All rights must be
protected, otherwise anarchy, and not