Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-04-24
Erades aaioll.

We endeavored to show, a few days
since, that there was and could be no
strife between labor and capital, and
that their interests were co-eXistent. and
dependent one upon the other. We
think there can be no dispute in refer.
enfp to this proposition. 1t is.too self
evident to require further discussion.
The very idea Of trades Anion, however,
is based upon such conflict. Wages
must and will regulate themselves.
Their amount depends, and must always
depend, in great measure, on the de-
mand and supply. Each and every per-
son has the right to work for as small
or as large wages as he thinks proper.
No one, we presume, pretends to dis
pute this. Certainly no reasonable man
can or will. Every employer has the
right to employ workmen at such wages
as he can afford to pay. He has the
right to employ or discharge an individ-
ual employe at will. Trades union have
the right to agree, among themselves,
that they will not work for less than a
specified sum- Herein, we apprchcnd,
uG one disputes their pOweror authority.
But they go further. They assume to
dictate to capitalists ana employers that
only particular wotkmcn must bc hired.
They take it upon themselves not only
70 dictate what workmcn shall be en-
ployrd. hut, also, what wages shall be
paid Every association or guild of a
particular profession, calling or class of
labor is not of this kind. We are only
speaking of those ordinarily known by
the term uf "trades union" The loco
motive engineers have an organization,
but it is not of this kind. 1t is pIotee-
tive union, honorable to its members
and beneficial to their employers. 1t as
sumes no dictatorial powers, organizes
no strikes and attempts no undue control
over the rights of railroad companies.
II is Of another kind Of Eunions that
we are speaking We had aa ill4stra.
ton of it in Rutlaud, few years ago,
when certain men undertook to dictate
to their employers whom they should
employ and what wages they should
pay. Such and such wages were to be
paid 10 each and every man, without re-
gard to experience, skill or value OF la
Dor Only particular, specified men
were to be employed, if their demands
were complied with. Such organiza-
tions oonld not, however, control busi-
r,,~s in the country. The men were
Quietly discharged, others employed in
their stead, and business went on as
rsual They were not strong enough to
attempt intimidation, a.~d' u Ihey hau
been, cit could not have ISoTRea III
Vermont. The riot at knights'oWh'
Indiana, is of the same order. The
puddlers struck for higher wages,
and their employers did not see mt 10
comply with their demands. Other men
were found anxious and ready to supply
their places, and for the same compensa=
ton. They did not belong, however, to
the "puddler's union, and the members
thereof were not disposed to let anyone
else work They assumed not only &c
fix their own wages, which they had the
undoubted right to do, but to control the
business of the Western Iron Com
pany," dictate to them whom they shall
employ, and, also, prevent others from
working. These conspiracies against
/ trade and business should be met with
lust punishment They are not only
conspiracies against trade and business,
but direct and fragrant violations of law
When they go to the extent OF riotine
and murder, as in the Indiana case, 1t II
time that the organization, from whlcf
the disorders and riots proceed, shoule
be suppressed.