The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-09
FOOLISH STRIKES
WILL SEND TO|LER
To P00RA0USE
-CHANCELLOR DAY.
Head of Syracuse University, After
Trip Around World, Issues Warn
ing to Workingmen of the
United States.
Says American Laborer Is Extrava-
CANT and Refers to Pitiful
Poverty in India.
BY J. v. KNIGHT.


SYRACUSE, N. Y, June 9.-Chan.
cellor James X. Day. OF Syracuse uni
versity, noted defender of the Stand
ard Oil trust and apolagist for plu-
tocracy, Is home from a trip round
the world. convinced that the Amer
lean workingman is the best paid,
but perhaps the most discontinued,
on earth.
In the first place. the American
workiIgman is extravagant, the chan
cellor says, and he gave me remark
able talk on his views. To American
laboring people he held up the specter
Of pitiful poverty he has seen In India.
IL men keep up what the chancellor
calls "senseless strikes" and "obstruc'
tive agitation" they're going TO be as
poor as the Hindu toiler. who works
for 10 to IL cents a day, he declared.
Seated on the piazza OF his house
on University-ave., the educator who
praised John d. Rockefeller and John
d. Archbold when their trust was b.
ing indicted, couldn't restrain refer
ence to Standard Oil, even In talk
about the workingman's welfare.
do you know" he asked, that the
vice president az the Standard OIL
Co. is chairman OF our board Of trus-
tees? Yes, Mr.. Archbold has done
much for u.s." and the chancellor bob
eed his head In greeting as several
blends passed.
Then, settling his six feet and odd
inches back in his armchair. he Is
sued his warning to the workingman.
I'm the first place, the laboring man
comes under the influence OF the agi-
tator. These workers are made to be-
lieve they are not getting their just
due, so It is easy to incite them to
strife.
Says Agitation Begins.
"Just as soon as business begins to
revive, these unhappy labor leaders
begin to agitate, and OF course there
Is q contest.
~I don't know how to account for
this general unrest except that the
American workingman with his
ambitions and his spirit. has de-
sire to make the most out OF himself
and out of his family.
"All of which incites him to spend
beyond his means. He tries to escape
by insisting on a bigger wage than
business can AFFORD.
Let me ILLUSTRATES: / know case
where an employer and an employe
lived on the same ground. The en-
Move. n was noted, tried to furnish
his own table with all he saw go on
his employers. He repeatedly de-
mauded that his wages be Increased.
n was a question with his employer
whether there was any real justice in
that form OF discomfort.
az think that the American work
ingman lives In a higher degree or
comfort than any other workman In
the world.
81 don't say he gets too much. I'd
he glad to see II doubled. But there's
a limit beyond which nobody can go
In furnishing wages to working people.
Suppose a certain form Of lucrative
business gave q certain high wage.
what would be the effect on those
working people In other forms OF busi.
ness that paid all the business would
warrant in wages?
"The economic distinction would be
very serious. 1t would be like some
of those homes about US that cold
nav doble salaries TO their doemstics.
That would disturb the whole scale
of wages through the neighborhood.
Must Weigh Conditions.
Then good years and bad years
have to be taken into account by
manufacturers In fixing their scales Of
wages.
"Of course, wages In the lands
where I have been could not be made
a comparison for wages In this coun-
try. because I've seen men working
from early morning till late at night
for 10 to IL cents q day.
I'VE are not In any danger OF COM
ing to such conditions unless we ruin
the business OF the country by con-
stantly undermining Il by senseless
strikes and obstructive agitation"
Chancellor Day sighed as IL In relief
when he was reminded that q change
in the White House had taken place
while he was away.
.sWell times have changed q Bit
he said. Here they used 70 be attack
ing predatory wealth and the preda'
tory trusts, and now | see they are
after the colleges and universities
some fellow asked, l see: What good
is the college?' Well, | think IT Is
lot of good, and my views on tnat
question are quite positive.
There isn't much toll suggest the
vorkInsman about the chancellor, al
though he told me he would pc NJ
work at 1880 the next morning. why,
do YOU know, the first day was back
rot ND at $3.50 In the morning and
be9an signing diplomas
Never Uses Street Cars.
The chancellor dresses In the garo
~ a minister. and he never rides on
the street cars.
srWhat kind OF an auto was THAR
he asked In the midst Of some CONVEX
sation about the workinsman. When
told he said: "H'm-h'm, the gentle
man who makes that car Is one OF my
trustees. H'm-h'm.' he added, rehec'
lively.
John ID. Rockefeller. John ID. Arch
hold. or others OF the great monopoly
which Chancellor Da; defended In
time past may rest assured he stu
stands where he always did. What he
saw In foreign lands has not altered
his state OF mind.
I've been maligned more than any
other man in the country" he said,
but I don't care much; | can stand
g."