New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

government for its employees and for and on all
work for the country or state. and on demand Of
the combined labor interest
Why this class legislation? Is it because Con-
sress and Legislature anxious that labor
must be protected from overworking. is it be-
osH S mere $ where the largest number of votes
aiIon IS decidedly wrong; II inteTfeTes with ndi-
Huq I liberty and creates class hatred because
20 bear upon the legislators on the part of COM
which the employer undc- existing laws is unable
70 meet In other words. labor can combine and
Is Soscoined to obtain any legislation favorng 1t
al force Il upon the employer, but the employer
- prevented from uniting with other employers 70
~ a sullicent advance on his goods TO oIset
me increased cost Of Labor This latter would be
against the Sherman actin restraint OF trade.
am constrained TO ask YOU to give this letter
space at this time, because OF the strenuous efforts
trusts and combinations; and 1 claim that the
greatest existing trust is the labor trust Qabor
uilois) which obtains conditions very much in re-
straint of trade.
have the misfortune to be in a business in
WIlich % per cent of the cost of the goods con-
sists Of the cost of labor. and. standing alone the
combination OF labor. and I am prevented by law
10 combine with employers Of makers of like goods
20 obtain an increased price for the goods to cover
the increased cost of labor. I am a believer in
paying good wages 10 good men. and good men
need no union to obtain good wages, and good
men do not belong to unions I'm order to obtain
SOU WAGES lhey are ophged 70 JOIN Ihe uiIl !
or lheir lives are made miserable. Labor unions
are benefit for the inferior workman, who wants
10 obtain the highest rate OF wages. whether ne
earns II or not, ana IN many instances ne gets II;
/ am not opposed to labor unions, but want equal
tights Tor the employer and the employed
Recently great strike aVerted which was
threatened by railroad trainmen who demanded
shorter hours and higher wages. This was ac-
Complshed by arbitration of government on1cial Is
I'm making concessions 10 the employees. The result
is. of very satisfactory to the employees. as
we'll the general public but how about the
railroad companies? They Obliged to concede
shorter hours and increase in wages. thus in
creasng their expenses. and at the same time
various states enact laws limiting the maximum
charge of passenger rates to cents me-and
this rate is too low for many roads in the West.
as we'll many roads in the East. where large
reductions are made to commuters and in eXcur-
sion tickets. II would not surprise me at all IL
some of the railroads should conclude TO charge
two cents a mile commuters This would be a
great hardship suburbanites. but the railroads.
i'm my opinion. have perfect nSht 10 hN thelr
rates maintain earnings.
II laws can he made 10 prevent watering or
stocks and stock gambling for the purpose or en-
rChing individuals. they should be enacted by an
powers when II interferes. or attempts TO manage
the practical conduct Of business
I plead for equal rights for all WlJnolI pS' nat
ism politics. MANUFACIt H.
bloomfield " y April 10. 1901