Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-18
AFRAID TO SPEAK.
Nc Man Wants to Ran Countss With
 His Employer.

It sounds well to say that nobody cares a picayune about his employer and that everybody does what he thinks right regardless of consequences, but how much truth is there in itI No doubt ninety-nine out of every hundred human beings would like to act upon that principle. but there are so many 'ifs" and ''ands" strewn here and there many are fearful of results. even when there is no danger, and too ire duently reject the promptings of their own mind and follow that of others. Why don't you make fuss abou, that bill:" inquired reporter of Il very prominent merchant. referring to the application of the Naugatuck Val Icy Water Co. I'd like to- he re- piled. but cant afford to antagonizc the men back of it." One of the alder men said practically the same thing when somebody wanted him to say a word or two about water rates. He asked the man who brought the matter to his attention if he would care to be active in opposition to a measure which his employer was endeavOring to get passed. Another man would like to make a fight against the pen sion bill but he couldn't afford to be- cause some of it's packers are desirable customers at his store. A newspaper editor would pitch into the Naugatuck Valley Water Co and the other corpor' ations if he owned Il paper of his own, but being an employe of big corpora tion he cant always afford to speak from the heart.
 T can't act on that committee is the way another man puts it. "be cause I'm under obligations to one Of the parties and consequently I don't think it would be right to put me there." Another fellow signed petk ton. not because he thought it was a good thing, but simply to please his foreman. Another didn't like to med- dle because a certain man of influence concerned in the success of venture holds a mortgage on his pro. >rty. But what's the use talking this way. Isn't every other man you meet afraid of somebody: If you want to be set right on this ask the newspaper re- porters. During the month more than dozen prominent men wanted to say something on public questions, but were deterred from so doing because they didn't want to run counter with certain clements. Almost all these men figure prominently on the grand list and when you meet man worth over S50,00O who is afraid of his neigh bor, what wonder is it that frail girl should balk before member of the sterner sex whom she suspects is in a position to trip her up when she least expects 1t? There may be no good req son for being alarmed over sticking to your own view of things, but that is another question. The point is, does q man who wields great influence and who is in position to push you to the front or relegate you to the rear. If he wanted to, cut any figure in shaping the conduct of those under him when he comes along to ask favor? That's the question, and probably there is no more gilt edged fraud in the communi' ty than the person who answers this
 n the negative. For this reason em' ployers of labor and men in power are slow to sign petitions that are to be presented to their employees, because they know that it is natural for human nature to be influenced one way or the other by such methods. "fd like tc ask the help to vote for John Elton not for political reasons, but as mat ter of personal friendship said man uiacturer to one of his foremen at tho last city election. but l have decided not to because the principle is wrong and it invariably leads to vicious re suits It is too bad that this is so If men would stand squarely on theil rights few would care to trifle with them on that score: but we know that this is not so and for that reason com non decency as well as as considera ton for the feelings of others suggests the impropriety of heads of depart ments, whether public or private, talk ing the whip hand in anything outside his regular duties.