Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-08-01
For the Spectator.I
LABOR UNIONS.
Their Hostility to Capital Mistaken
Idea-Thefr Real Object.


Their Hostility to Capital . Mistaken
Idea-Their Real Object.
The strikes which are now going ON
all over the country have directed the
attention of the thoughtful public to
the cause Of their origin.
Many people have been led to believe,
from reading "squibs" Of unscrupulous
and thoughtless newspaper paragraph.
lists, that the strikers were, as q class, q
set of restless and dissatisfied men,
with communistic proclivities. That
they are not is very easily shown.
The situation at Pittsburgh, to say
the least, is q very deplorable one.
Eighteen thousand men stand idle;
and from twenty-five to thirty thous-
and human souls are dependent upon
their labor. Who is responsible for
industry? The voice of justice answers
story but it can be told in q few words
because they do not consider "the Ia
borer worthy of his hire"
Generally speaking, it is the we'll
known policy of the employer to em-
ploy as cheap as possible. Common
sense teaches us that this Is nature, as
"a penny iaved Is penny made" To
thwart xp:6 ofset this false economy
unions are -tamed-experience having
demonstrated the utility Of concentrated
effort to arrive at specific ends. The
lsborers Of Pittsburgh, being fully Inn
bibed with these principles, several
years ago, formed themselves into q
union, styled the "Knights Of Labor"
the principal objects Of which were
"the elevation of the social and intel
lectual condition of its members and
the maintenance of their interests"
That the strike at Pittsburgh was
justified on the part of the strikers is
evidenced from the fact that the men
for years have been paid barely living
wages, whilst their employers (who
were few years ago, as class, conn
paratively poor), have made the most
unprecedented strides to wealth ;-some
of them, who have daughters, it is al
legged, being obliged to send them to Eu-
rope for husbands, because they could not
find men rich enough in this country
to marry them to: That such 9 state
Of selfishness exists in q country noted
for Fourth of July orators and fine
churches is sad, but those who are in q
position to knowlfully verify this state
ment. fs-- e,tl ,l.
Many people are prejudiced against
labor unions because they are unac.
quainted with the objects they seek to
attain. The constitution of large and
influential union says the organization
was formed ~ "for the elevation Of the
social and Intellectual condition Of its
members; (2) the relief of its members
when sick, and their proper burial in
case death steals upon them unawares !;
| (3) the regulation, in conjunction
with employers, Of prices; (4) the en-
couragement Of good workmen, and
the cultivation Of feelings Of friendship
and respect between employers and
employees" Thus it will be seen that
the objects of unions arc as lofty and
high-spirited a. those Of the Odd Fell
lows or Masons; that the hue and cry
against them is unwarranted, and that
instead Of being hostile to capital, they
are friendly. as BY making prices general
In one locality they place all capital on
an equal footing, In competitive sense.
| That the day will soon dawn when
the workingmen will WELD . powerful
influence over the legislation OF the
country is quite perceptible. Then the
rotten tariff laws will be modified tc
tsuit the exigencies Of the times practi'
cable men will be at the helm Of state
who will steer Us to the haven Of proc.
perity. May God speed the era!
KNIGHT OF LABOR.
Staunton, Va.