New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-01
LABOR'S GREATEST NEED.
c. p. HUNTINGTON DISCUSSES THE PROB
LENS BEFORE wORKINGMEN.

SHOULD HAVE ITS REWARD.
Mr. c. p. Huntington. president Of the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company. recently delivered
an address in San Francisco before a hundred or
more railroad officials IN which he discussed
various phases Of the labor question as 1t pre-
sents itself 10 the railroad man. In view OF the
present trouble between railroad employees and
their chiefs his remarks may he studied with In
terest. Part Of his speech was as follows:
do not want TO talk TO you tonight about the
things that behind us. but Of those questions
that belong to the present and the future always
feel in my happes mood when | see around me the
men who have worked long by my side, each
following his own line Of duty. each man OF ac-
ton. and my pleasure is heightened ny the iact
that am able greet YOU on this occasion IN my
own house and bid YOU welcome here have told
you before and like to say 1t again ana again.
that the morale of the men who compose the work
Ing force Of the Southern Pacific and the associ-
ated companies is high as, and. believe higher
than that which distinguishes any other raliroau
corporation in the world But think we can raise
IT even above Its present standard. not so much
for the pay IL might bring for the greater oppor-
tunities it would present for doing good to those
below you in the scale of work and wages
OF course all honest work is honorable. but the
good workman does not stop at mere honesty for
to him that but the natural accompaniment OF ms
labor II is what a workman does with his time
and his money after his days Work is dohe
that counts for the future. / would Ike 10 see
sitting at these tables tonight all of those whose
heads and hands are busy in the common interest
tina, bat this army of employees Is TOO
great for any single roof 10 cover. What an army
81 is, gentlemen. IN the command or when YOU
share, AS look back at the many railroad prop
critics that I have time or another con-
trolled | feel quite that there have been at
least a million and a half Of men who have worked
with or for me and OF all this vast aggregation
the number Of those who have deceived or wronged
is small to mention. have been ready 10
trust them all. and l am proud to say that in re-
fusng to give any preference to~race. creed or
labor Organizations. l have not been disappointed
In my shipyard at Newport News. Va. there are
now employed about eight hundred negroes. ana
the last time there. while standing by the
side Of one OF the ponderous machines used In the
building Of ships. the coiored workman in charge
Of +, said: Mr. Huntington. you have trusted us;
We shall disappoint YOU" Then he turned to
his machine, much as 20 say NO words OF mine
can speak so well a this Men want for their IN
element the encoura cement. not much Of better
wages of the faith and trust and confidence that
promotion and better pay imply. Some years ago
we opened some coal mines in Mexico and when
It came the question Of employing labor to Work
them. told the superintendent 10 give the pref
erence native Mexcans. Az the end OF the hrst
year he reported to me that he had tried the native
labor thoroughly and found them wanting that. in
short, they would not do. l replied; Have pa
thence with them; show them our ways and try
them twenty years longer" Two years later the
vice-presdent paid visit TO the mines, and, as he
was about 10 leave. the superintendent said 10 MIN;
Tell Mr. Huntington that have not yet tried the
Mexlcans twenty years. but that have tried them
long enough to find at last. that they are among
the best workmen In our mines
You can understand with what sense OF gratih-
cation received this good report: for, in my opin-
ION. there is no better matera. out OF which 10
build I'D a great nation than the native races OK
Mexico and believe 1t will be brought 70. that
successful development, IL ii shall be the gooa
fortune OF that country 10 have the present al
ndInstrative head Of the Government, General Diaz
Continue at the helm for the power OF his genius.
+he wise and conservative policy that he has con-
sistently maintained, and his sincere desire TO ad-
vance the interest Of his people will be the nations
guaranty.
7 think there is not enough sympathy between
the employer and the employe and for this unfort-
innate situation neither is wholly at fault. There
&c often a great Indifference on the one side. and
perhaps as often jealous envy on the other In
the first place, the man OF stronger nerve ana
energy and self-confdence Is almost certain 70
forge ahead OF his fellows. and. in his eagerness
10 press forward scarce drops his eyes 10 see
whether there may be, perchance, some tpainP PIE,
from beneath his feet ana on he 0 se sias his
admiration in his disappointment az ms Own G ~ ~
The former are produced. in their extreme develop
ment. aristocraces and the RUE OF Naesais - IN ~
almost the first ougrowth OF the latter Is ''aueS-
uhi0ni''iS LABOR UNIONS.
do not share the belief Of some that the labor
union in the abstract Is mistake for on us iesH-
innate platforrn the conscientious workingman may
confidently ask for Justice and his Individual
rights Does he get them to-day through his pa
ternal society. whose avowed object Is 10 better
the condition OF the workingman? ! think not.
Take any 100 men gathered together In labor;
nick out from their midst the specially skiful, the
most industrious, the ones who seek. by utilz'ng
the hours that do not belong TO their employers 70
gain self-mprovement. which shall lit them 10 a
higher plane OF thought and action. What re%a n
49, The labor union offer them. except the assur-
snce that the least efficient aborers 81 ther cIass
who work by their side ana wmQ % ne devices
I'D baunts OF ideness, are just as good as theyy
arc ana e en5 to- 70 thai the labor Union
half way when il instrucS rs imeil n% bas 6otbns
their rights and wrongs as Dopy ann ma T he
10 offer in furtherance OF what shouia De x y
principal and proper Object on ana S advaE"emen Of
ifs individuals Its tendency seems 70 NJ I,sI
b rs weakest ones instead Of reversing me proc
ess and lifting up the We master instead of the
sssrvant of his people. and his mission appears ~
be to stop the wheels OF nSustry ,p is mighty
Sc, and II il Gould be eXerted in the direction
Of Sou fse replace the novels and MISERY!
II "a a comment that mas oiten DeYl ~ con-
the ,osness Of he laborer in his work; and Is
significant fact that me oyerscep; WI" bcoTnes less
% less necessary the quality OF me aDor rlsen
When good CITIZENSHIP good worKn aence the the en-
I1yer in the selection OF his empoyes Ihen i1oIi
unloia rradation OF individual effort Perhaps mem
wben Il is TOO late their walking delegates wi nt
"In.her nniseon and be sent 10 preach uIisIe u.
anSnei m men who Will by that time De reauy /"
receive II.
I,NsOUND DOCTRINES
, A. not like - speak Of these things to-nlgh"
,hon we are gathered together for the interchahee
OF pleasant thoughts. but feel the 1a'se, ''@
VI - 90 a. American citizens in the propagation
- acr,nes which are unsound at their foundat'ois
The rules Of life that are REQUISITE 10 Saee
nv ,erv few and simple that the aVerdse .We,
nrLer needs no 10 instruct MIN III thel'. ,a,
nth an honesty OF purpose and I'VE on res o hoins