The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-07-03
HAS THE QUESTION TWO SIDES :?
The Rights Of the Public Sug-
gested.
The Council of Labor States the
Case.
Position OF tho A. n. U.-Rcfutation of
Charges Made AgAinst Organizsd
Labor by the Los AN
geles Times.


with the same eyea upon any one occur
renee. Historians agree that given
fact is interpreted differently by as
many witnesses "a may have seen it,
and the rule of law governing the credi-
bility of a number of witnesses lie bsned
upon the aphorism that no two will
agree absolutely. This perhaps is too
trite a matter to be again brought to
the notice of an intelligent reader, but
it has it's application in the final resume
that will be made of the struggle that is
now on between the allied transporta-
ton corporations and those of their en-
ployees who are allied to maintain their
wages at such q standard as will permit
them to exist respectfully.
In the abstract, setting aside all ques-
lions as to who is right or wrong in the
controversy, would it not be well to look
at another eide of the question? Two
papers on the coaHt have presented the
matter fairly and squarely. The others
have, with wonderful unanimity, seen
but the one side of The question, and
shat is that the railroad employees were
debating to their employers. These
other two have stated the point at issue
in unequivocal terms about thus:
Do not the railroad companies owe
their first duty to the people OF the
state OF California, regardless OF any inn
sginary duty to themselves or grievance
against any one else? In other words:
Does not the treatment the local rail-
roads have received at the hands of the
ass of the people OF California demand
that the railroads in return exert their
best efforts in behalf of the greater num-
Der Of their patrons? Simplified still
further, would it not read something
like this: If the railroads, in their dis
putes with their employees, cannot run
full trains, why not run such as they
are professeGly able to get to their desti-
nations? Simpliied again: Is not half
= leaf better than no bread ct all2
Now, in the name OF all that 10 logical,
why should not the railroad companies
take this view Of the situation, ae be-
tween themselves and their patrons, in
etead of making the puerile excuse that,
"Unless we can do things exactly az we
Please we will take our dolls things
aome and won't play any mors?'
And this leads up to the local situa-
ton and thu attitude of the Los Angeles
Times upon all matters where corporate
greed is arrayed against individual ne
cesslty. In its usual hostile attitude
toward labor, the Times has availed
itself OF the present struggle between the
American Railway union and the various
railway companies to prejudice the pub
lie mind against organized labor by mis-
representing the objects of trades unions
and anpprsssanG sqcb tAHtgs iSpytheatifsssa ID ri
behalf OF the strikers.
In view Of the fact that the present
struggle ia not in pursuance of an ag-
gressive policy on the part of the Amer.
lean Railway union, but that it is merely
resort to the only recourse which
labor organization has under the present
status of industry to obtain living wages
for its members, and believing that the
sympathy OF the public will be with the
striking employees if appraised of the
facts in the case and given a proper COM
prehenslon OF trades-union principles,
the Los Angeles Council of Labor re-
lpectfully submits the following:
The American Railway union Is an
organization composed OF EMPLOYEES
from every department of the railway
service. from engineers to switchmen.
and including shop men and car build
ers. 1t was found by experience that
the unions of the separate departments
were inadequate 10 afford the desired
protection, and hence q new Oraaniza-
ton, founded on the principle that
AN injury to one is the concern of ALL"
was organized, including all classes of
railway employees.
The present trouble, which has as
eumed such mammoth proportions and
10 now SO far-reaching in it's effects, was
brought about by refusal of over 5000
employees, members of the A. r. u, to
continue to labor under conditions
which were 80 unjust and degrading as
those imposed upon them by the Pull
man Car company. The conditions
from which the employees revolted were
these: Workmen who we're married
were compelled to live in Mr.. Pullman's
tenement houses and were obliged to
pay extortionate rents; they were COM
PEELED to deal at the company's stores.
uEe the company's gas, fuel, water, etc.
and. in fact, have all their material
wants supplied by the Pullman Oar
company, which, in fixing the price of
lite goods was not sui ject to the compe.
tition which ordinarily governs free
trade. This single men were com PEELED
to board at the company's hotels. and
water was supplied to the community in
opsn barrels, in which it became putrid
and unwholesome. Not only were the
Pnllman workmen thus compelled to
'dUor uuu6r cOn0ltlon4 more degrading |
than those of feudal serfdom, but the |
average wages of all the skilled and un-
skilled employees exclusive of foremen) |
amounted to the paltry sum of 922a cents
a day.
Seeing that the strike of the Pullman
wage slaves was liable to prove a failure,
their fellow unionists resolved to refuse
handling Pullman cars, thinking that
by thus subjecting Mr.. Pullman to Pc
cuniary lose they could compel MIN to
accede to the just demands OF those in
his employ. The railroad companies,
however. who, like Mr.. Pullman, are
hostile to organized labor and do not |
wish to ant their employees @ voice in
establish ng the rae OF wages and de-
terminink the conditions OF service, have
refused to run any trains unlees permit
ted to carry Pullman coechea. If they
had q modicum OF sentiment for labor
and would sccede to the demands of the
"A. Il. ", the Inconvenience TO which
the pubic 10 at present subject could be
Immediately removed.
While the Los Angeles Times has
dwelt, in long, loaded editorials. upon
the nuferinga Of the public caused by
the suspension OF railroad traffic, it Laws
the whole blame upon the A. r. u
but GqvH matthias of tba ;n;.,.:L.