The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-09-10
worth while Sto@l % are not 81

2liged TO adopt.
I: II have criticised the unions. let
me now say that sc have. seen IL much
to- deplore lin. the Scoi1rse of those IN
authority who have dealt With them,
There has been to much Of arbitrary
and unreasonable conduct on that side
as we'll.
1.-THE management Of all business is
comparative. A mans effort in posi-
ton of authority must necessarily be
compared with that of other men in
similar positions elsewhere. No man
in authority can long maintain himself
If his expense account is greater than
his neighbours In the same line of busi-
ness. Neither his directors. stock
holders nor the public, If it is a public
corporation, will long have use for him
IL another can accomplish more. You
can not get for q thing more than its
worth, except temporarily, and the cost
of maintaining an artificial market is
greater than the profit in it.
Capitalist and Small Investor.
Some gentlemen interested in high
finance are only just beginning to rea-
lie this, and it is no wonder this fall
lacy has taken root elsewhere. With
business falling off, day by day, here
in New England, find my political
friends opposing an enlargement of
our markets and prefering a phrase
stand pat to the substance which re-
ciprocity with our neighbor, Canada.
would give us, and, when I feel they
ought to know better, 1t is not in me to
too severely criticise the employees of
our company who feel they should
have higher wages when the condi-
lions with which we are surrounded
compel us to disagree with them.
mo man Is more worried over the
tendency of modern business Develop
nent than myself. I regret the pass
ing of the small proprietor, the banker
the merchant, the small manufacturer
the man who worked in his shop with
his own hands and whose employees
were as welcome at his own table as
the best in the world. I believe the
progress Of our country, it's prominence
in the worlds affair has been largely
due to him. 1t Is with apprehension 1
see him disappear and become a part
of the modern industrial machinery,
but shall I struggle against the newt
able. or adjust myself to the new con-
ditions and perhaps help shape and
influence them for the better?
L would not strike for money, but
only to resent injustice, and none of
our men need strike for that reason
while am in position Of authority.
Il have never had so many bosses as
I am working for at the present time.
l never had to say mo- so often when
I wanted to say yes. am under
more restraint than any of you, and
yet, am pegging away all the time
with all my strength to prevail. to
keep my property strong for the bene-
fit of the public, its stockholders, it's
employees, and with little ADVANTAGE to
myself.
What is the end to be accomplished
by us one and all in the life we lead
here? Is 1t that we shall rob each
other like brutes by the exercise of
force, as too many Seem to think; do
injury that we may obtain the use for
few years of what can be of only
temporary advantage that we must
drop, when we depart; or shall we Dis
we go, salong/help each other, reason
out our difficulties, bear with each
other, remembering at the best life is
but compromise. that none Of us gets
that for which he is striving ?'-Rail-
way World.