The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-06-01

when he said: 'Plugson, of ST. Dolly
| Undershot, buccaneerlike, says to his
men: Noble spinners, this is the hun.
dredth thousand we have gained
| wherein [ mean to dwell and plant my
vineyards. The 6 100, 900 is mine, the
daily wage was yours. Adieu, noble
spinners! Drink my health with this
groat each, which | give you over and
above" Now, what we want is to re-
build that bridge of sympathy, and l
put the trowel to one of the abutments
to-day, and preach more especially to
employers as such, although what
have to say will be appropriate to both
employers and employees.
The behavior of a multitude of la
borers toward their employers during
the last three months may have in
duced some employers to neglect the
real Christian duties that they owe to
those whom they employ. Therefore
l want to say to you whom | confront
face to face and those to whom these
words may come that all shipowners
all capitalists, all commercial firms, all
master builders, all housewives, are
bound to be interested in the entire
welfare of their subordinates. Years
ago someone gave three prescriptions
for becoming a millionaire: First,
spend your life in getting and keeping
the earnings of other people; secondly,
have no anxiety about the worriments,
the losses, the disappointments of 9th
ers; thirdly. do not mind the fact that
your vast wealth implies the poverty
of a great many people," Now, there
is not a man here who would consent
to go into life with those three prin-
ciples to earn fortune. 1t is your de-
sire to do your whole duty to the men
and women in your service.
First of all, then, pay as large wages
as are reasonable and as your bust
ness will afford--not necessarily what
others pay, certainly not what your
hired help say you must pay, for that
is tyranny on the part of labor unbear-
able. The right of laborer to tell his
employer what he must pay implies the
right of an employer to compel man
into a service whether he will or not,
and either of those ideas is despcable.
When any employer allows a laborer
to say what he must do or have his
business ruined and the employer
submits to it, he does every business
man in the United States a wrong and
yields to the principle which, carried
out would dissolve society. Look over
your affairs and put yourselves in i'm
agination in your laborer's place, and
then pay him what before God and your
own conscience you think you ought to
pay him.
God bless yous" are well in their
place. but they do not buy coal nor pay
house rent nor get shoes for the chill
lren. At the same time you, the en-
ployer, ought to remember through |
what straits and strains you got the
fortune by which you built your store
,r run the factory. You are to remem-
Der that you take all the risks and the |
employee takes none or scarcely any. |
You are to remember that there may |
De reverses in fortune and that some |
lew style of machinery may make your
valueless or some new style
# tariff set your business back hope
essly and forever. You must take all
hat into consideration, and then pay
What is reasonable.
Do not be too ready to cut down
RACES. As far as possible, pay all, and
ay promptly. There is great deal CT
ible teaching on this subject Malachi:
| will be a swift witness against all
orcerers and against all adulterers
nd against those who oppose the hire
ing in his wages" Leviticus: Thou
halt not keep the wages of the hireling
II night unto the morning" Colos-
ians: "Masters, give unto your serv-
nts that which is just and equal,
moving that We also have Master
l Heaven" So you see it is not {
uestion between you and yonr en-
loye so much as it is a question be-
ween you and God.
Do not say TO your employees: snow,
you don't like this place get another" 5
hen you know they cannot get an ;
her. As far as possible, once year '
sit at their homes your clerks and {
our workmen. That is the only way q
ou can become acquainted with their a
ants. You will by such process find -
ut that there is blind parent or a i
ok sister being supported. You will I
nd some of your Soung men in rooms Il
ithout any fire in winter. and in sum- |
er sweltering in ill-ventilated apart j:
ents. You will find out how much o
.pends on the wages you pay or with d
I'D. Il
Moreover, it is your duty as employer. Z