The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-27

he said, 1T may seem ridiculous :,
you, butt is fact that the vast ma
| jority of strikes grow out OF causes
that have no relation to wages or the
number OF hours the men work. For
example, take the case of this trouble
on your own road Havc you any idea
of what started 1T? or course you have
not. Fcw 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 re-.
suit of the conduct of the foreman in
enc of your shops tie is married and
has children. but he wronged the
daughter OF one of the men under him
| You'd never suppose a great railroad
strike would crop out from such an
act but assure you big labor troubles
have come from offenses less serious.
This particular foreman of yours is
a brute. Every man in the shop sym
pathizes with the father of the girl.
me foreman. knowing the attitude of
those under him, made it as unpleasant
Tor them as he could. one injustice, one
wrong, followed another, until every
man in the shop was cmbittered. Men
who are treated unjustly have re-
inarkable faculty for making others
see where they too. arc treated UNI
justly, The men of that shop have
spread d'scord and dissatisfaction
throughout the whole line. They did
not intend TO. and they are not con
sclous OF it, but they started the ball
a-rolling. and if am not much mis-
taken you are going to have lively
ana costly time stopping it,
How do you know so much abou,
the Chicago and Northwestern If you
never have been in its cmploy?r in
CURED Mr. Huglitt.
might answer by saying Because
IL is my business to know and let il
go at that. but I'll be frank with Won
| have some of the big labor leaders
acting S agents for me. Don't look
lncredulous / can furnish the proc.
If necessary. AT the first sign OF /
trouble In any large industry, on any |
TRANSFORMATION line or in any big field |
OF employment L am in position to
get the earliest advices. But that is I
not sufficient, | have some represen- !
tatiVes-not so many as I should like I
or as | mean to have-who report as
TO the way the various bosses in one
department or another treat their mon |
y Just boss. a leyel-laeaded, honest
man never has a strike develop among.
the men u.sder him. His men may
Strike from sympathy, but it is safe
TO let the men under Just boss go
along without scrutiny.
1t Is the unjust boss, the obstinate
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 in
Justice, tyranny or folly of fools who
are foremen or minor bosses, and
nearly every time the employer would
correct tho wrong If he knew of it,
out unfortunately he does not, and he
'arely IL ever does. for the initial
wrong is lost sight of when the men,
liscontented and dissatisfied, begin to
search for grievances,
Mr.. Hughitt, I'm q strike prcventer
70 me a strike is little short of a
'r1me 1t lis disgrace to a civilized
ountfy.tlt Is an outrageous waste of
men, money and material. If the big
Employers of labor paid as close at
ention to strike prevention as they do
o some subjects of far less economic
1T would be much better for
hem and decidedly better for the men
am not entering into any question I
I wages or hours OF labor. Employers
nd employees can adjust those ques-
ions without difficulty when they APP
roach them in a rea sonable and hon
st spirit, but wages and hours cut
mall figure In the real causes that
ring on strikes : he things you must
uard against are the acts of Injustice
hat you would not tolerate for mo-
lent If You know about. but which
our men arc subjected to without
our knowledge and which breed re-&
allipn.
Where do you come in2 Where do
on get&your compensation?' inquired
r. Hughitt
AS an insurance company does,
piled the visitor, II do everything TO
lard against strikes, and an insur
nee company does everything possible
prevent fires. The insurance com
any pays If there happene TO be "a
TO. ! pay nothing, | merely render
service. II that service Is not found
lotitablesit ends,
Tho president OF tho Chicago and
orthWoStern had been deeply interest
Tho theory seems al right, but what
,out the present situation on this Ell
ADJ he asked.
TN afraid replied the visitor, Won I38
$50 lost most valuable time. Whcn1
WAS mere hefora you cota have
out the Kinks without IS
Ii,rf n,