The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-04-22

l.
~ N or about the 9Th inst. one OF
the best known and popular con-
~ drctors, Mr.. Robert Shearer, on
the Woodland street railway line re-
ceived his, walking papers-to use
street parlance,- much to the sur
prise and regret, of almost every one
living at Woodland, and those who
Travelled on his car. He was one OF
the oldest conductors on the route,
acquainted with almost every passen-
certifying i'm the suburbs, Especially
woodland Park) and knew their stop
@ping-off places as well as did the
patrons of the line themselves. Like
other old conductors and motormen
on this route he, was always on guard,
and on the lookout for passengers
who might be a little tardy, owing
in many cases to their long residence
from the road. The residents of the
district, therefore, have been justly
aroused at his summary discharge
without special reason). The two
petitions which have recently been
circulated and so largely signed by the
patrons on this route, who number
over. III for his reinstatement, should
be taken as an index of their high
appreciation of his services It is per-
haps not always wise to oyer-praise
the efforts of an Individual empioye.
looking only from our standpoint and
to pass him up the list; but this is
the only way we have to judge, when
we are satisfied with man, and when
we are not. afforded an opportunity
to hear the other side, and when the
discharged public employee is not
given any specific reason himself for
being discharged.
The Street Railway Co. is a public
servant and carrier; it owes it's exist
.ence to the public and occupies the
public streets, and its patrons are i'll
common partnership with it, without
whom they could not exist, it is there
fore self-evident that the. patrons of
the road have a just right to enter
complaints, when in their estimation
they have not been properly served.
IS In asking the reinstatement of Mr..
Shearer, to his former position, we
simply submit our views, the express
sion of ninety-seven per cent Of those
who were interviewed, and who 81 gned
the petition for his reinstatement 1t is
neither reasonable nor right that the
travelling public should he submitted to
the inconyenience. and annoyance con-
sequent Of repeated changes of EN-
5ployes, whether il be for the purpose
of breaking up. the union or to reduce
expenses to the company. The people
pay the same fare, be it for good or
indifferent service, and they have a
perfect right to kick if they do not
get what they pay for. So far as the
general service Of the Duluth street
car system is concerned, the people
have very little to complain about be-
cause heretofore we have been well
served; this complaint, however, is
local in so far that Woodland people
object to the seemingly unreasonable
discharge, accompanied with incon-
yeniemce to the public, OF our old
conductor Robert Shearer. who. not
only the older people but especially
the children, have learned to love be-
cause of his faithful attendance to
their little wants. But this case is
only one sample of the unrelenting
overtures of the D. S. r. r. co to
break up the union; such plans may
succeed for while but finally the
rights of those who honestly serve
their employers, will be recognized
and the arbitrary system of labor
corflnp, Inv will hal
stifled by it's own greediness.
& Rome, yes. glorious Rome. when
thinking to be on the pinnacle of sue
cess because of its few great and
money-wealthy people, little dreamed
that the rumblings of a mighty earth
quake, were boiling under it's very
History has told us of
the rise and fall OF naughty Rome,
monied Rome, and slave ridden
people, history never lies, and the
history of unrighteousness ever rises
like Banquo's ghost, to haunt the
conscience.
Finale.
Mr.. Mendenhall, receiver (?) of the |
Duluth Street Railway Co. Question:
''Did you consider the petition of the
residents of Woodland in respect to
the reinstatement of Robt. Shearer,
the conductors 81 did. and I think
you Woodland people made fools of
yourselves Will you consider his
No. viii YOU give
the petitioners, or Mr.. Shearer the
cause for his discharge, seeing that
so many patrons f othe road have en-
pressed their perfect satisfaction No
! will not. 1t is nobody's business.
(97 per cent fools including some
sixty ladies' who signed the petition.
1t is evident that Mr.. Mendenhall has