East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-07-26
SYSTEM, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL, AT FAULT
An Economic Story by Fran; Watkins Local Railway
1rainman.
1'rainnian.

ons that will not permit him to prac
tice what you preach
/ who write this story am Fran
Newman, at present pastor of tn
First Christian church, Nome, Michi
gan. My parents died when / wa
but eight years Of age, leaving mod
est fortune to a brother and myself
my father having been one Of tn
most successful shoe manufacturer
in his day. My brother James wal
eighteen years my senior and at faith
er's death was taking an active hant
in the management of the factory
Mother dying two years later, 1t was
decided, as James was bachelor
that / should leave for boarding
school,
/ was just the opposite of brother
Jim, he being strong and fearless and
l frail and weak. Brother Jim ad-
vsed that / study for the ministry
upon becoming of age. l had placed
the management of my affairs in
Jim's hands, as Jim had several times
alluded to the cruel methods of the
business world or the system, and for
some reason he was adverse to my
coming to my home town.
was now twenty-six years old
had received my degree as a minister.
l had not received a visit from broth
er Jim for four years and 1t was
nearly seven months since he mad
written me. Why did he not want me
to visit our home town and factory?
Now that | was to become a man Of
to surprise him with my presence.
Now that / had received my degree
as a minister l would take II upon my
self to make him a visit.
1t was a rainy day in March that I
alighted from the Overland Flyer on
the d. W. & E. in my old home town.
Not knowing my brothers address
other than his business one. en-
gagged a hack to take me to a hotel.
After eating l inquired my way to our
factory and upon arriving / present.
ed my card, but was informed that
was expected in about an hour. in
troduced myself to the manager and
requested him to show me through |
the works. From department to de-
partment we went. and was struck |
with horror for on every hand were |
little children ranging from the ten
der age of nine to fifteen. | could |
not make myself believe that Jim |
Newman, my brother. could be guilty |
of such gross cruelty, knowing him to
be kind OF heart and a man among
men. 1t was impossible to believe.
l asked the manager, what hours
do these tots work."
Twelve and one-fourth hours per
day." he replied.
l noted at noon they ate bite of
corn bread and bacon. then toppled
over and slept until awakened by the
foreman with shouts and kicks to be-
gin their afternoons labor.
l thought to lift one of the little
toilers to ascertain his weight.
through his thirty-five
pounds of skin and bone there ran
n tremor. He struggled from me in
fear then offered him a dime He
looked at me dumbly from a face that
might have belonged to a man OF six I
ty. so furrowed, tightly drawn and {
full of pain II was. He did not reach q
for the money. He did not seem to /
know what II was. tried to stroke '
his head and caress his cheek. but my I
smile of friendship meant absolutely /
nothing to him. He shrank from my t
.ouch. a
There were hundreds of Just such I
children in this factory. physician C
whom | met later and who knew of a
he conditions. told me that over fif- "
" per cent of these children would T
lie within two years. and those that o
lid survive this awful ordeal would &
become broken down wrecks and fu, a
ure criminals on society's hands to
contend with. And to think that jim "
Newman. my brother, of all men was t'
he man to stoop to this! Brother or il
10 brother. | would show him the ID
leartless cur and brute he was. u
L
nd heartsick the day / went through n
he factory! SO this was the reason
e had not wanted me to visit him! Il
he dog!! But would now face him "
nd tell him my opinion of him. m
With such thoughts fitting through g,
ny mind | found myself ascending vi
he steps leading to his office. Upon oi
ntering | found him seated at his
esk deeply engrossed in matters of 1t
eemingly great importance. Could al
MS man sitting before me be the Sc
rute that circumstances proved him? in
so, how he must have changed!
"Why. hello. Frank! Have q seat. Sc
low me to present you with one of TO
ly best brand a good smoke | as sa
Ire you" ST
"No, thank you, jim. | decline to sy
noke cigars that are dripping with an
,e blood IF those babies out therel WI
m Newman, dare | call you brother! tu
have come here to tell you just what m
think of you. l no longer care for tn
,ur friendship for you are brute to
nd a scoundrel! No man with one
t of honor would work those tots at
1t there as you do. You cannot de- yo
nd yourself against such brutality"
Franklin, you do not understand. to
cd knows I don't want to work those do
lildren-but | have to do so or go tn,
lnllrupt under this system of dog ais
t dog. I want to do what is right, ca
It the system will not permit me. loo
have both your own and my fortune inl
III nm I'm These works and I dare not COZ