The record-union., 1895-05-10
COL. WARING AND LABOR UNIONS
Some Disclosures from an Anonymou.
+ risud.

Some Disclosures from an Anonymous
Friend.
Commissioner Waring has e wen out for
publication the suhjOined letter, remark
ing: Il have received the following letter
from a member of labor union. 1t is
given verbatim:
Strictly confidential.
"Roa. George Il. Waring, Commits
sionel', Street Cleaning Department, Nea0
York Ctty-MR. COMMISSIONER: AS you
are aware, your unique course of action
since called to office has attracted general
attentiou-so just, sensible, and courage
Gus. Moreover, your attitude IS distln-
guished by firmness, the cornerstone, or
rather keystone, in the charScter OF the
strong man by whom you were placed.
Each succeeding act or utterance occa-
siOns renewed comment and draws me
nearer to you; and now l write.
heretofore every man, whether pub
lie official or private citizen, that has ex-
posed social evils and dangers and pro-
posed remedy, has met with signal defeat;
withered on the one side by the trowns OF
a tinid conservatism, and on the other,
roasted by the denunciations Of labor
demagogues. That you, also. did not
succumb or weaken beneath the concen-
trated attacks TO which you have been
subjected, has been to me as much sur
prise and qualification as was to the
French staff at Wagram, when, after each
fresh discharge of grapeshot. they beheld
General Mac Donald riding unscathed at
the head of his rapidly falling guard.
Again. ain surprised that since you
show comb bative qualities and staying
powers, that a few good mon and true
have not gathered around you, but also
by drawing upon themselves the enemy's
fire, and to give you more land needed)
time to devote your energies and expert
ence upon your administrative duties as
head OF the 5. Z. ID.
"Ah, ii but a few social leaders would
only evince this civism, they would be
astounded in quickly learning that there
are many level-headed, patriotic men in
the labor unions. who will then dare to
assert themselves when public opinion
has been reused in behalf OF the right.
But, unfortunately, every unionist who
has essayed fight has been left by con-
servatism to perish under prosecutions of
malignant chiefs of labor unions. The
member is expelled from his union for
treason (?) and as consequence black
listed by employers.
And now permit me to say. myself
native-born and Protestant, suffering
from the effects of monstrous social
wrongs. more than twenty years ago was
drawn into the National Anti NJ onopoly
movement. But when the stability of
society was menaced by the destr1stives
and other foreign born agitators, l Ceased
active work in that movement. Aud
assure Colonel Waring OF many of my
way of thinking who remain in the
unions for the sake of earning necessary
food for their families. They yet stand
ready to spontaneously support any bold,
Intelligent advance in behalf OF the right
reason, equity, when undertaken by sim
cere and determined men.
Therefore, l respectfully suggest that
you, while cOncealing my identity. COM
municate these disclosures to few Of
your more intimate friends. and request
their counsel and corporation in the mat
ter in hand. And after you shall have
had tims to consider these views, / will
do myself the honor OF paying my re-
Spects to you.
"In conclusion, the question of the
duration of your single-handed, though
splendid, tight with the demagogues,
walking delegates, and other aristocrats
OF organized labor. will, of necessity, be
determined by the extent OF your indi-
vidual power Of endurance. That is to
say, simply matter OF time, even as is
the wearing away of the adamant under
the incessant fall OF the drops of water.
Then, alas, will have been broken and
swept away one of the ablest of the chiefs
of municipal reform. while conscien-
tously carrying out the principles OF the
movement on the lines judiclously laid
down by the city's Incompatible chief
magistrate, William il. Strong"
..Katlier than submit this letter to few
personal friends" writes Nj. Waripg,
Il submit it to the public. and especially
to workingmen who arc suffering from
the tyranny of the labor unions. 1t ,is
they, and not "a few social leaders, who
are 10 fight this tight for freedom. New
York POST