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Show CLERKS REPLY TO THE CARMEN To Va60tch Lodge No. r.TO, R, R. C. of A. and the Public. Greeting: While we deeply regret that you did not attend out meetings in person, or by letter, and there express ex-press your sentiments, we are still i glad to hear from you in regard to tho 7 o'clock closing. You find fault with us for not being organized. The Trades and Labor assembly, machinists ma-chinists and other organizations did hiiBlness with our committee and ' backed up their adice to organize w ith substantial moral support. i It Is the carmen who "are not golun after this thing In the right way." It seems to us that you have gone altogether alto-gether too far on the strength of what several merchants have told you." As union men, why &ie you not in touch with each other? Why, if the carmen have a grievance, don't they send their committee around to tho Trades assembly as-sembly and get the truth of the matter? mat-ter? Why not Invite the committee from the clerks to give their side of the tory before the lodge instead of waiting until the eleventh hour to undo what has been done? o one thinks to kick the creeping babe V.ecause Its muscles are not organized or-ganized or developed to the walking jyoint. We are sure you will be with us In spite of the inconveniences you complain of after you hae carefully considered the matter from a union, standpoint. The 7 o'clock closing movement has brought the majority of the clerks together on common ground, and Is the substructure of the clerks' union of Ogden, if such there is to be. The history of organized labor in general and railroad organization in parlicular is a record of an armed truce between capital and labor, broken at Intervals by strikes, in which both sides disregard the public's safety and convenience, but expect public sympathy. " The railroads are not run according to the dictation or pleasure of any or-I or-I ganlzatlon of employes, and that Is as far as the comparison between the I stores aud railroads goes. It is not on reeord that any railroad labor organization organ-ization ever Interceded with the company com-pany for reduced rates, better equipment equip-ment of more courteous treatment for the "public." The clerks have acted fair, square and above board. They asked and got public support for 7 o'clock closing. They canvassed the city to find out If their gain might not be a loss to others. The public said "Go ahead The merchants f.ald In effect. "We will close, but you must not leave us at, the mercy of any unscrupulous competitor com-petitor who may elect to keep open." As clerks, we have not asked for sents to sit on nor a half holiday. We asked for a shorter workdav and got it. The Trades and Labor assembly has acted logically and right in supporting the clerks. To have done otherwise would have given the lie to their unionism There Is no alternative except ex-cept a practical declaration that the union Is for Itself and to hell with all the rest. And If a union of that stamp went on strike, who would wait for hunger to force him through the picket line to the waiting Job? Re with us There will be no necessity neces-sity for actual starvation or nakedness. naked-ness. Shopping before 7 Is easy compared com-pared with no shopping at all on account ac-count of etrlkes or hard times, and wo will all be bitter for It In the end. THE COMMITTEE. (Signed) A. R. FOCLC.EK. |