New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-29
NOT AGAINST UNIONS.
President MeIlen Willing HIS Men
Should Join Them.

Hartford, Conn. April ss.-President Charles s
sIeilen OF the New-Vork New-Haven and Hartford
Railroad Company. addressed the WorkngIaen s
Tree Reading Room Association tonight IN fulfil
xnent OF a promise made some months ago. he
spole on a topic relating 10 the present condition
OF xvorlingTnen At the time the promise 20 speak
was made there peace among the trades In the
oonnpany's employ but now strike OF enc cray
Is IN progress. Some curiosity had been aroused as
10 whether or not Mr.. Mellen would keep the en-
saeement When asked about it he said that he
surely would speak and the topic he had IN
mind the tine the invitation was accepted put
he added that he wished that conditions on ais road
IA regards labor controversies were different Inc
audience was made up Of workngznsn- their fam
lies and friends and Mr.. Mellen had an enthusl-
sstic reception when introduced by Alderman Shea
lie was frequently interrupted by applause.
President MeIlen SAID that he was nothing more
or less than q workingman himself and, born OF
parents who had to work. he had personal knowl-
edge OF the trials privatons OF living on small
income He said that ne spoke from platform OF
equality. from point OF view Of experience from
the position OF well wisher ano from d OeslI7 :"
be Of assistance. lie said:
This IS the age OF the workingman. Let him
with moderation with conservat is:n. show ms aDl
iy responsibility and there Is no boIr4
OF the future are among you sJFoggnng az ~ ioonS
wages Cor recognition. Men % .+ 5.sr,l 81
me. the higher positions the modern lnuuslI,aA
combinations creating. But they are not ioo.s
sn FOR frebrands for trouble breeders, for takers
but rather for the quiet man who Mo5hs ms
Others do the talking. To those OF you Mho De'os
10 unions, ] wish 10 say believe they have , &C
SoIfP-iSeo Tgc S 70 The laboring man They
tend TO the encouragement OF Individual efIort ana
ooS ming fer The drone, the inefcent man, for
The walking delegate and the officers but they are
aInnecessary for the who has the coursas 20
carve his own way IN the world. Divested OF aa
captrap. the union is simply a means OF ~ e
device Tor making those who are WILING 10 "0IA
care for those who want TO soldier
President aTellen said that possibly he had hurt
the feelings OF some OF his hearers. but he wouIo
saw that he believed that unions condition
had come 10 stay. and that he had no prejudice
against properly conducted ones ana IL was ms
wish that his own men generally would JOIN THEM
He would not run a union plant as SUCH out hS
.,s NO, "a have In the unions the conservative
snaueucs OF many OF the good men who are 0uI' y
oounteract the hoater. the anarchist. the man VINO
hes nothing at stake. who works with his mouth
more than his hands. lie continued;
The trouble with uniOnsm is its in>oleTaI 9@besT
succeed this world one must Dear s, S -, ,,,,ion
The same spirit intolerance that mis- ne Is
man toward the non-unOn is what history sl 49,
IS 10 have prevailed ages in religion ana oier
ways II is through the elimination o. tne les
lishuert OF results that real progress is MAGE s
You cannot force things your way puI you may -
10 one interest has done more TO promote the
branded labor j has forced them into existence
FOR protection from eNaction INTO Wa 80 tbs-a
viii be 70 employ you: ara SoTpor1 ora f
by the government NsthlNaA "a
sick investment where nothing but Joss anu - ~,
sroversv is the result The rule Of the IdGICaL
VII nos prevail. The hOthead must be fetireO. OI
sn the contest in which he viii involve YOU YOHH
viii 20 down 10 defeat. Education ana brains VI
outweigh numbers and Drawn. The spectaCleu
student Is to DE the general OF future armies cap
fains OF industry may not always re those VIZ. 10
have worked with their hands GIVE heeo 70
whittier you drifting. Resort 70 force gives We
brute that is ascen6ancy. II Is only bg sen
denial Of the individual that the community
crosses The rich man Of to-day can accoInpllsin
les than at any time IN the history OF the worId
and the restrictions placed around him are growing
Greater with every year. Ny advice 10 you VINO
have families is TO Join your union and be always
g force for conservatism. -.t-.
The managenent Of all business lis comparative.
One cannot get for a thing more than Il Is worth
Some men interested IN high finance are just pc
GINNING 10 realize this With business falling on
dav bv oay here in New-England, IND my pohu-
cal friends opposing enlargement OF our mar
kets and preferTing phrase. stand pat. 10 inc
substance reciprocity with our nelghDoT' Nsl4-
ada, viii give - -.
/ would Ike to pay the men Of our company pet
ter wages and allow them greater privileges thsI
nv neghbors but II do il some one else VIII take
my place and bring about equitable comparison
II our employees could only know The struggle ~
has been for the last few months te keep so many
of them at work at all they would feel that our
officials have had their interests IN nllno nlHSH
more than they are willing TO admit