Put Yourself in His Place.
A STORY OF THE TRADES-UNIONS.
Charles Reade.
Characters:
- Mr. Grotait, Proprietor of The Cutlers’ Arms.
- Henry Little, Inventor, and Manufacturer of Cutlers’ Tools.
Mr. G. Well, Mr. Little, now, between ourselves, don’t you think it rather hard that the poor workman should have to hang and race the master’s grindstone for nothing?
Mr. L. Why, they share the loss between them. The stone costs the master three pounds, and hanging it only costs the workman four or five shillings. Where’s the grievance?
Mr. G. Hanging and racing a stone shortens the grinder’s life; fills his lungs with grit. Is the workman to give Life and Labor for a forenoon, and is Capital to contribute nothing? Is that your view of Life, Labor, and Capital, young man?
Mr. L. That is smart; but a rule of trade is a rule till it is altered by consent of the parties that made it. Now, right or wrong, it is the rule of trade here that the small grinders find their own stones and pay for power. Cheetham is smarting under your rules, and you can’t expect him to go against any rule that saves him a shilling.