The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-14


From the barn he took many relics
of prosperous times and bartered
them for articles needed in the house
hold.
Returning home one evening by
way of the mill, he saw Mr.. Ropell
at work in the packing room, clad in
overalls as Jay had not seen him for
ten years past. The manufacturer
was struggling to handle box much
too large for his strength. Jay slip
ped into the room and took off his
coat. He knew just how the work
should be done, and his aid was
timely.
II had this order from a good GUS
toner, and could not afford to hire
help. So l thought l would pack
the cases myself" said Mr.. Ropell.
"Are the times so closet" queried
Jay.
81 am on the verge of ruin, Jay. l
don't mind telling you, for know
you are discreet. 1t is simply ques-
ton whether can force my Eastern
| jobbers to pay. They have tried to
defraud me. This is one side of the
business that workmen never see.
They judge of my prosperity by the
goods going out of the mill. They
know nothing of the losses which be-
fall, nor of the vast outside expenses.
About one year in FIVE is really sue
cessful for me; the others are con-
Quoted with slight profit. Often
very large trade is necessary to cover
expenses, and profit comes only in
times of phenomenal demand. Your
Protective Union is all right in the
main. The tendency of our age is to
benefit the masses, and the pressure
of these organizations will result in
great and proper advantage to the
whole community. Only, remember
this: If a man has industrial capacity
and can conduct heavy business
transactions successfully, he is your
ally, not your enemy. In the struggle
for high pay, and against the tyranny
| Of capital, be sure not to substitute
tyranny of labor. Be just to all. !
say this, because if l weather the
storm l shall start up again; but not
at the old wages until times recover.
shall look to you to set the men
right when l do reopen, and I wish
you would come here occasionally
and talk with me about it."
Esther had her say when he repeat
ed Mr.. Ropell's words.
"This dull spell is grand thing
for you," she said. You have found
out more about your family than you
ever knew in all these busy years, and
the children will benefit by it, because
+, you have put your vacation to noble
uses. You have grown cheerful, too,
just because you reused yourself
against fate. One trouble with the
world is that it is an age of whining
Everybody is dissatisfied. Nothing
suits. Wages are insufficient. Some
body else is doing better. The laws
are wrong. The sun and moon don't
shine half bright enough. l say a
little adversely will help to bring
people to their senses, teach them to
appreciate what they have, and bring
about an era when folks will look on
the bright side again"
So it happened that when Mr. Ro-
pell offered to open the mill in De-
cember, at reduction of ten per cent
in wages, and the Protective Union
met to consider whether they should
accept the scale, Jay Haslam, who
had been one of the most uneasy and
aggressive members in former days
made sensation by his speech.
"This union was established" he
said, ito bring about justice. We
felt we were not getting our share of
the rewards of labor. This union is a
brotherhood, but it cannot be COM
plete brotherhood until everybody
interested is brought into considera-
ton. l say it is time to think what
is due Mr.. Ropell. Trade is dull,
and prices down. He came to our
terms when times were good, let us
now give him a helping hand and
back him up by accepting his sched-
ule until we see that he can afford to
give us more again. l tell you, gen.
tlemen, the more think about this
matter the clearer it is to me that
brotherhood is the true word for ina
proved trade unionism. We must
act as if our employer was one of us,
and give his side full consideration.
Justice, in firm and friendly spirit,
should be our purpose, and nothing
else can last"
This view was heartily applauded,