Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-09-03
From the Ny. Journal Of Commerc,
In OdlOns Monopoly.

in 0dlOus Monopoly.
In various ways a set of men who are con-
tinually whining about the grasping nature
Of capital, the selfshness Of the rich, the
grinding power of monopolies, and other simu-
lar grievances, real or imaginary, permit 1t
to appear that they are themselves bent on
establishing monopoly of the most oppress-
i've character in one of the commoEest articles
Of supply and demand. The opposition to
Chinese immigration, where it is not merely
peculatiye or altogether political, springs
from the fear that it may operate adversely
% the formation Of the intended grand - cor
ner in the labor market. The telegraph
is considerably burdened, and the local
columns Of our exchanges constantly replete.
with the movements Of men who. 1t Is doubt
less true, have some legitimate and worthy
objects TO advance, but whose main purpose
is to create and maintain an artificial scarcity
for labor, especially Of skilled labor to pre-
serve for themselves a monopoly Of it, and
consequently TO extort from employers a
higher price for 1t than it is worth, or would
be WORTH If left to seek its own level. 1t is
remarkable feature Of this conspiracy-for it
deserves no softer name-that it i not mere
ly the common ieud OF the poor against the
rich, or the cmploye against the employer,
hut it is likewise the man who Is compelled
10 labor for a living against the man who
also must labor, steal or starye. One Of
these. having got a round further up on
the ladder than the other, by acquiring a
trade OF occupation, straightwuy sets his
wits to work to pull the ladder up after him,
-o that nobody can follow unless there Is
more to DO than he chooses to monopolize for
himself. This is what the trades unions are
everywhere doing. They dictate to employ
ers how many apprentices they may take to
learn their respective trades and Of course
-he number is determined not by the number
IF youths willing and competent to learn,
out bv the resolution Of the conspirators to
maintain an artificial scarcity in the branches
e labor they control. The unions may
plead that they thus mcnopolize such branches
only. and that persons excluded thcreir0m
nav seek other kinds Of employment but
the apology does not alter the character of
their proceedings, and besides, If the prin-
ciue is an honest one, its application is
universal. in which case il amounts 10 "a de-
caration that only a certain limited portion
IF mankind shall have the right TO earn its
own living al an. ii tne olntt oi'ioh
happen o. be born rich, very we'll II poor
we see no alternate for the unIucky ones but
% beg steal. or as soon as possible TO get
altogether out OF "a world where they are
not wanted. and where they are forbidden
even the opportunity 20 fulfill the divine COM
mand t. ear their bread in the sweat Of
their bruws lt D, perhaps NOT generally
known that tine monopoly OF labor oi some
kinds is So strict, and The tyranny oi the
unions SD rigid. tlat am employer j. Tor
hidicn TO do any part OF his own work with
his own hands under penalty Of a '' strike.
The means employed by these ahormonopo-
lists correspond 10 character with the object
rhcy seek TO attain. Not merely verbal
abuse. prescription and threats but person
I'D Vi.iere.s awaits the DOOR man who, want