The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-05-13
A Trades Union Murder.

Last week, at LeaVenworth J. S. Coulter, an
old and well-known printer, committed suicide
by taking laadanum. The act was in conse-
quence of the arbitrary and overbearing conduct
of the Printers Union. Coulter had been Treas
urer of the Union, but recently another person
had been elected. Coulter was in arrears to
small amount, which he could not pay over just
at the time given him by the Union, whereupon
they issued a circular, which they sent to the
Unions throughout the country, proclaiming him
a defaulter, and dishonored member of the pro-
fession This so preyed upon his mind, that he
put an end to his existence. The members of
the Union are industriously trying to create
different impression, and to show that his brain
was turned because of disappointed ambition,
but with little or no effect The Times vigorous
ly charges it home upon the Union, and the re-
suit is bitter war of words between d. R. An
thony and the leaders of the Union. Generally,
We have not very warm feeling for Anthony;
but in this case, think he is the right track
and wish him success in the contest.
Our opinion of the Printers Union has not
changed during period of more than twenty
years. We never had any connection with it,
nor experienced any difficulty from it, and are
therefore entirely disinterested. We have al
ways regarded it as arbitrary and tyrannical 1t
embraces many good men and skillful workmen,
but its tendency has always been to take good
care of its own arrogated rights, regardless of
those of the other party. The proprietor of a
printing Office run by the Union does not control
his own business, but is a mere creature of the
Union. They fix the prices he shall pay for la
Dor, regulate his work, prescribe the number
of hands and apprentices he shall employ, and
dictate who shall be foreman. He cannot employ
hand, no matter if it be an old friend or
number one printer, unless the Union consents
TO it. If he undertakes to run his business in
his own way, the Union hands trrike, stop his
business, organize mobs to bribe frghten or force
men not to work for him, and even go so far as to
damage his material and machinery. They cir
culate ISLANDERS against his reputation and his
business, and stoop to the lowest and basest acts
to coerce, him or to take revenge upon him for
his outrageous conduct in desiring to run his own
business. The leading papers of the country are
rapidly emaDcpating themselves from the con-
troll of this gigantic imposition, and it is fast los
ing its power.
While the Printers Union is perhaps more in
solent and overbearing than n'any other similar
organization, all Trades Unions are of a piece
with it. Organizations for the protection and
advancement of the interests of any profession
are proper, and generally necessary; but there
are always two sides to be consulted. Any asso-
citation that assumes the entire regulation of its
intercourse with the other contracting party,
and looks out for its own interests, regardless of
those of the other party, becomes an imposition
and Tyranny. This is the tendency of modern
trades Unions and this feature iS crroUinu mora
prominent, year by year. 1t is feature imported
from Great Britain, where it is practiced in all
its hideous details. Its introduction and growth
in this country is destroying the laboring inter
est. 1t is breaking out in repeated strikes, in
which the laborers abandon their work, arm
themselves, organize into mobs and prevent the
prosecution of business until their demands are
acceded to. They may be idle for weeks, and
their families he suffering hut that matters not.
Men who want to work, are prevented from do
ing so, and are compelled TO join in the strike
To refuse, is to risk their lives. Millions of dol
lars are lost every year, and untold destitution
and suffering endured, in consequence of the tyr
ranny of Trades Unions.
The object of all unions associations should
be to establish and maintain just and satisfac-
tory relations between employees and employed,
or between those having business connections in
any way. Modern trades unions seem to have
utterly lost sight of this object.