The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-27

Hughitt. Did he look like a labor leader?"
 "Yes, and mo-" said the secretary. T could not quite make him out
 Huh! Well. send for him." said MT. Hughitt
 It was late the following day when MT. Tabor arrived. He sent in a card as before, but was admitted so prompt ly that when he reached MT Hughitts desk he found that gentleman with the card still in his hand. The railroad president seemed to be studying the type on the card as if that would give some clue to the character of the man he was going to question. Sometimes 1t does.
 What is your business?" asked MT. Hughltt, glancing from the card to his caller.
 I'm a strike preventer." was the an swer.
 "A strike preventeri" exclaimed MT. Hughitt.
 Yes" replied the visitor, It's a new line. but I believe 1t is going to be a great one. I'm the first in the field. I came here nearly three weeks ago to see you and prevent strike on your road. I was not able to see you and I left a message. I presume the message was delivered. for, except at your in- vitation, I should not have called a second time."
 Mr. Hughitt's keen eyes were search ing the other mans face. Evidently the scrutiny was satifactory.
 "Yes," said MT. Hughitt, "the mes sage was delivered. Now I want you to explain how you were in a position to make such prediction as you did when you were here before. You look like a clean cut man. Let us get right down to brass tacks."
 The visitor smiled. MT. Hughitt," he said, Lit may seem ridiculous to you, but 1t is fact that the vast majority of strikes grow out of causes that have no relation to wages or the number or hours the men work For example. take the case of this trouble on your own road. Have you any idea of what started 1t? Of course you have not. Few of the men have who now are thinking most about striking and doing the most to bring on the strike. But the truth Is that it all is the result of the con- duct of the foreman in one of your shops. He Is married and has children, but he wronged the daughter of one of the men under him. You'd never sup pose a great railroad strike would crop out from such an act, but I as sure you big labor troubles have come from offenses less serious.
 "This particular foreman of yours IS a. brute. Every man in the shop sympathizes with the father of the girl. The foreman, knowing the attitude of of those under him, made it as unpleas- ant for them as he could. One injus- tice. one wrong, followed another until every man in the shop was embittered. Men who are treated unjustly have remarkable faculty for making others see where they, too, are treated un iustly. The men of that shop have spread discord and dissatisfaction throughout the whole line. They did not intend to and they are not con scious of 1t, but they started the ball a-rolling and if I am not much mis- taken you are going to have a lively and costly time stopping it."
 "How do you know so much about the Chicago and Northwestern if you never have been In its employ?" in ouired MT. Hughitt.
 q might answer by saying Because if is my bushes to know and let 1t go at that, but I'll be frank with you. I have some of the big labor leaders acting as agents for me. Don't look incredulous. l can furnish the proof if necessary At the first sign of trouble in any large industry. on any trans portation line or in any big field of em- ployment am in position to get the eaRlest advices. But that is not suf- fcient I have some representatives not so many as I should like or as I mean to have-who report as to the way the various bosses in one depart ment or another treat tn cir men. A just boss, a level-headed. honest man never has a strike develop among the men under him. His men may strik e from sympathy, but it is safe to let the men under just boss go along without scrutiny. It Is the unjust boss. the ob- stinate or dishonest boss who makes trouble. Ninety per cent of the strikes in this country and perhaps of the whole world are caused by the acts of injustice tyranny or folly of fools who are foremen or minor bosses, and nearly every time the employer would correct the wrong if he knew of it/ but unfortunately he does not, and he rare- ly If ever does. for the initial wrong