The Portland daily press., 1894-07-16
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
Rev. W.. nj. Kimmell Discusses the
Pullman Strike.

The 1000 Employees are Rational Beings
The Pullman Business is, Not Their
Own Private Affair and Nothing More
Neither is Amy NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
All Lawlessness.
The struggle between capital and labor
was the subject upon which Rev. W. M.
Kimmell of the Church of Messiah, ably and
eloquently addressed large congrega ton
at the morning service yesterday, many
members of the First Universalist parish
being present. The preacher selected as
striking example of this struggle, the great
strike which now seems to have spent its
force, stating the circumstances of its
origin and the conflicting claims of the
Pullman Car company and it's employees, it's
exte nsion and the great resulting conse-
quences. For the damage done and the
loss and ill that were suffered the preacher
said the railway Union must be mildly held
responsible. But the Pullman Car company
is not free from all blame. The request of
the strikers that they submit the trouble be-
tween them to arbitration was entirely
reasonable and proper.
company were rational beings, and I'M
doubtedly felt that they had just cause for
complaint. 1t is not to be presumed that
they acted in an utterly senseless manner.
And if the company's statements were
ture and honest it would seem as if they
would not have hesitated moment but
would gladly have awaited themselves of
the opportunity to clear away all misun-
a.. Il
a course would have removed all false no.
tions and unfou nded suspicious and would
have raised them in the estimation of all.
There will be much less trouble in the
world between labor and capitol .whensem-
ployers shall take their workmen more into
their confidence and deal with them more
openly instead of concealing from them
the earnings of their joint efforts. 1t is
only when in their Ignorance they rightly
orwrongly believe that they are not receiving
as much as the employer can afford, that
they are not getting their just share of their
earnings that they grow discontinued and re-
bellious. But to the appeals which were
for two months repeatedly made to them
the company turned an utterly deaf ear.
And for this are greatly to be blamed.
The vice president of the company is
ported as saying that they were contending
for the principle that employers must be
permitted to run their business in their own
way without interference from ANY body.
Their business he said was their own pri-
vate affair and did not concern the state,
federal or any other government. There
fore they would not consent to arbitration.
Their business was not their own private
affair and nothing more. A mans business
can be his own affair.only when it concerns
simply his own life and welfare. When it
goes beyond that and touches his fellow
citizens it ceases to be merely his own pri-
yate affair and consequently he comes I'M
der obligations to manage it with refer
ence to their lives and welfare also.
In many instances when a man is running
his own business in wrong way or when
the business is wrong the government act
ually does interfere. If man make bread
the government says he must make it pure.
If he sells milk it forbids him to adulterate
it and it prescribcs the weights and meas
ures the grocer and the dry goods dealer
shall use. And these functions of govern
ment are important. The company's rea-
son for refusing to arbitrate is therefore not
sound in principle. 1t shows narrow
and sselish spirit (which naturallysleads to
friction irritation and strife.
The speaker then turned to the employ
er's side of the struggle. The workmen may
leave work if his pay is not satisfactory but
heshas no right to intimidate. terror re sor
in any way interfere with the liberty or
property of others. The workman does
right to organize but has no right when
he has done so to attempt to injure those
against whom he has no grievance nor to
PROSTATE commerce nor to interfere with
the persons of others. If he does so then
it is the right and duty of the governme mt
to come with it's strong arm and prevent
him. And one of the results of this strike
will be that the atmosphere will be cleared
asxto these things. The people will obtain
a more correct view of the restriction right
full upon both labor and capitol There
ought not to be any struggle between labor
and capital. They are dependent upon
each other and ineffective without each
other. And in the great majority of cases
are working harmoniouly together.
The world will not be saved from labor
trouble very largely by the containing pow
er of law. Muc more will be accomplished
blythe increase of intelligence and humani-
ty Strife will pass away as the soul IS
educated and ennobled out of greed and
self shness. and people learn more and
more that all earthly things perish and
return dust to DUST that the great. things
are faith, hope-and love, "and the greatest
of these is love-