Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-09-15

the manufacturers homestead within
a stones throw of the men and women
who worked in his factory. The result
was that If workman had sickness
in his family he could go to his en-
ployer and get financial help. If he
was in trouble and did not know what
to do, he could go to his employer and
get advice. If he was an honest, ener
getic employee, he could always feel
that his err ployer's eye was upon him
and that he would be deservedly re-
warded. And if he did wrong the
workman also knew that his employ
er's eye was upon him and that he
would suffer accordingly. The result
was that the manufacturers mansion
and the mechanics cottage were in
such close touch that the owners look
ed upon each other as brothers and
members of a large family, in which
the employer was the elder brother, or
head of the house.
Employer and employee in olden
times used to live together in a COM
munity in the same confidential rela-
tionship that Andrew Jackson held to-
ward the people of his plantation. One
night at evening prayers the wife of
his overseer happened to enter the
room. Mrs. Jackson beckoned to her
to come and sit by her side. An i'm
portant national official, visiting there
at the time, turned to one of the friends
and asked, docs Mrs. Jackson treat
! al her employees as courteously as
1 Al,-4 f~,s1 Il
land if Mrs. Jackson had not done as
she did the general would have arisen
and given to the woman his own
chair"
But though the relations in olden
times between the employer and the
employee may have been very friendly
and fraternal, do not believe that the
heart of the capitalist today is natu-
rally any less kind and loving and
helpful than that of his predecessor.
believe that most of the trouble be-
tween the employer and the employee
is directly attributable not, as many
suppose. to the capitalists hardness of
heart, but to the infinite misfortune
that now the employer rarely if ever
comes in direct touch with his en-
| ployee.
BY the time the capitalists money,
which he gives for labor, reaches the
employee the money as well as all the
sweets that ought naturally to come
as a result of that labor is scattered
right and left. The superintendent
who can run the mill or foundry at
the lowest cost gets the biggest salary.
The big officers of the trusts get their
millions. The little men, who do the
hard work, receive pittances which are
hardly enough to allow them to exc out
bare physical existence. The capital
list ought to see that the money he pays
for labor reaches the men who work
and that it is not lost on the way to
their pockets.
Prosperity Must Be Shared.
Men and women of the capitalistic
class, these labor agitations and trou-
bles will never be settled until you are
willing to share your prosperity with
those who are working for you sc
faithfully to make living. The labor
troubles will never be settled Until q
man willing to work can earn enough
money not only to care for his chill
dren while he is alive, but to fit them
for becoming self supporting after he
is dead.
Hunger is demoralizing; it is mad
dening when it is witnessed driving its
fangs into those a man loves. Howso
ever honest a man may be, his princi
piles are In danger of failing if his wife
and children through no fault of his
are starving. l heard of one case that
must be typical Of the impulses OF
many who are controlling them with
difficulty. 1t occurred a few years
ago, when the silver mines of the west
were closed down. A man walked in
to the village store and drew pistol
Then he flung a bag Of -four across his
shoulder as he pointed his revolver Al
the men, saying: when l could fine
work, was always willing to work
and then paid my bills. But now
cannot find work, and my babies are
starving. l am going to get then
something to eat. l am going to take
this -four home. If any man tries tt
stop me, l will put hole through hi
, heart" That may be anarchy, blu
, that will be the anarchy this countr.
will have to face if the time eve
comes when the laboring classes can
: not earn enough to buy their dali.
bread. The world does not owe a lazy
? good for nothing loafer any lodging
better than the poorhouse or the coun
, ty Jail when he is alive or any buria
place better than a grave in the pot
, ters field when he is dead, but tn
a world does owe every honest, faithful
. man who is willing to work the op
. portunity to work, and, furthermore
: capital does owe this to it's employee
7 when the good times come and cap
h tai prospers then wages should be in
q creased and labor should prosper also
"Now," answers some capitals
20 "you are advocating a lot of hig
o sounding nonsense. You are practica
. ly saying that every capitalist shoul