Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-05-05
WHAT LABOR UNIONS DO.

above caption, apparently written
in the interests of capital. The
writer says: sour experience with
labor unions is that in the end they
invariably injure rather than assist
the working man. They create
antagonism between the employer
and the employe that always ulti-
mates in the weaker going to the
wall. Capital has invariably con-
trolled labor and will continue to
do so as long as the world shall
last; and although the power Of
labor unions may seem paramount
for time. it sooner or later falls to
the ground. and King Money reigns
supreme.
Labor unions on the Pacific Coast
have had unusual difficulties to
contend with. Chinese cheap labor,
by its various ramifcations, has I'M
favorably affected all branches of
labor. and thus afforded capital an
opportunity to overcome trade or
CARNATIONS. But the fact cannot be
controverted that unions have, and
do exert great influence for the
welfare and elevation of laborers.
It cannot be denied that wrong has
been done at times, but it should
be remembered that capital is al
ways aggressive. In Europe and
America the condition of the laborer
is to-day far better than it would
have been if there had never been
any labor unions in existence.
Trade unions date far back, and
they have been a prime cause of
the spread of intelligence and civil
cation to all classes; to the same
factor we owe our republican form
of government, and the same force
will one day make all Europe free
later, perhaps the whole world.
The Tribune says:
In Virginia City there are more
idle men in proportion to the num-
Der of inhabitants than in any city
on the continent, and why is it so
Because, say the mine owners and
snperintendents, we cannot put men
to work at the prices demanded by
the Miners Union. We could and
would employ hundreds of men
provided they were willing to work
at such wages as we can afford to
pay them. They say that they have
no desire to offer those who work in
the lower levels less pay than they
are getting, but that the prospect
ing miners cannot stand that rate,
hence work is stopped. On the
surface many men could get en-
ployment il they were permitted to
work at from two to three dollars
per diem, but the rules of the
Miners Union are such that men
dare not labor at reduced rates.
The long continued and unpre-
cedentsd depression of shares has
so paralyzed our mining industries
that thousands of men have been
thrown out Of employment, and of
course the managers of some of the
non-producing mines would like to
reduce wages. That such reduction
would result to the advantage of the
whole Comstock community, may
well be doubted. The underground
laborer is worthy of his hire. He
is subject every day to considerable
risk of life and limb, and the ex-
pense of living, which is not likely
to be reduced, should be taken into
account. And. il mining expenses
are to be reduced. We believe it may
be more easily done in other ways
cutting down of salaries of officers
and economy in the purchase of
supplies. s..,,.
Daily we hear the reduction of
wages talked Of, but we have not
learned of any probable reduction
Of freights and fares on the
Virginia 4 Truckee railroad, or
OF tolls on the wagon roads. No
reduction has been made in the
price of wood, timbers, lumber,
groceries, provisions. clothing or
other goods. The hotels and board
ing houses have not reduced prices
Of board and lodging, and, in fact.
we hear Of no talk of general re-
duction in the cost of anything but
labor.
The Miners Unions of Virginia,
Gold Hill and Silver City will hold
. reunion this afternoon and even
ing. and we presume they will con
slider the present condition of the
l.