Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-02
Chairman Mclaughlin Issues
a Statement to the Public

The following statement was issued
to-day by Hugh L. Mclaughlin, hcatr-
man of the executive committee of the
trolleymen's union:
"Public sentiment is one of the
strongest assets that any person or
body of man can have bacg of them,
and the striking trolley men are proud
of the support given them by the peo-
pie of Harrisburg and suburbs.
Even when cars have been3 run by
strike breakers or those willing to take
the jobs of the men who have gone out
as a protest against Mr.. Musser's
methods, over 80 per cent. of the peo-
pie have refrained from riding on the
trilley cars, eVn WIN thr hastaoin ee
trolley cars even when there has been
no riot or disorder. If the solution of
the street car strike was left with the
public, it would decide almost unani-
mously in favor of the striking trolley
men and will continue to ride in the
jitneys until snow flies, if permitted to
do so by the Mapor and City Commits
sioners.
Last Fall. an ordinance was passed,
at the reuest of the railways company,
to tax the iitneys out of existence.
The arbitrary action of the COM
pany toward it's employees and its re-
fusal to arbitrate the issues involved,
is the appreciation the railways COM
dinance to suit its own ideas. If the
railways company proposes to rule
with an iron hand, the people may
give them a taste of their own medi-
cine and insist on repeal of the jit-
ney ordinance, and let the public
choose it's own method of transporta-
ton. If the company deprives the
men ia decent living wage, why
shouldn't the public deprive the COM
pany of what it considers a decent
dividend on It's questionable stock
transactions? If the 90 per cent. of
people, who have rebukedk the railways
company by riding in automobiles or
walking, should petition the commits
sioners to repeal the jitney ordinance,
how many of the commissioners would
care to oppose the public will?
The greatest sin that we have COM
nitted is to act in unison. Mr.. Musser
says he will deal with us only as 'indi-
viduals" He has had this opportunity
for five years. but has simply jollied
us, given US a stall and made unre-
deemed promises. Why shouldn't the
capital? The stockholders have few
thousand dollars each and, individual
ly,, they realize that they cannot get
as good earnings on the money, indi-
vidually, as they can collectively. so
they form a corporation and select Mr..
Musser to produce greater earnings
on money invested II the corpor-
alton employs three hundred men, that
means that Mr.. MUSES. controls three
hundred units of capital with which to
pay three hundred units of labor.
Mr.. Smith, the one unit of labor
comes to Mr.. Musser with a grievance
Mr.. Musser tells him he is sorry, that
it's a free country and If Smith don't
like his job, he can uit. He still has
two hundred and ninety cogs in the
labor wheel to keep the machinery
running until he can get another cog
10 replace Smith. Shortly after this.
Mr.. Jones comes with his grievance
and he is told the same story as Smith
The men profit by experience and de-
eide they cannot sell their labor to ad-
vantage as individuals, because Mr..
Musser, with three hundred units of
capital, concentrated under his author
ity is three hundred times as strong
a the individuals, because MIR. Musser,
with three hundred units of capital,
concentrated under his authority, is
three hundred times as strong as the
individual labor unit that dares to op-
pose him. Consequently. the employees
form a union or association. same as
all professional men or employees do,
to regulate their affairs to their own
advantage. But the minute labor at
tempts to sell its product collectively,
there is protest. Mr.. Musser knows
that he is at the hea' OF one of the
greatest unions in existence, with atfi-
liations in every city and State. He
objects to the men having an outsider
to assist them, but he can call in his
attorneys TO advise him and press
agents to write for him and import the
renegades fro mthe metropolitan dis
tricts to come here and betray the men
for the twenty pieces of silver, when
/ n
undertake the job.
Mr.. Musser you are your brother:
keeper and whatever i'll befalls him
must. eventually, react upon you. Hi
prosperity makes the community pros
porous. If you refeat the men, yoJ
may think It is your victory. But the
victory is already won as the strike
has already forced concessions which
YOU never would have granted withou
the united effort of the strikers. Shoulc
these benefits be absorbed by tn,