The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-31
The Shoe PinChes.

should not and, we hope, will not forget
the attack made by Senators Beck,
ANTHONY, Hale and Plumb upon the
Tvpographical union of Washington City.
The fact that strong union exists there,
and exercises its influence in the Gov
ernment printing office, is beneficial to
the United StatesJ as well as to the print
ers generally. But there are too many
politicians in this great country of ours
senators, members Of congress, state
LEGISLATORS, governors, and others-Who
object 10 trades unions controlling or
influencing any public work.
The trouble is, that in any public work
. or departmen8 run upon trades union
principles, it is rather difficult for such
L" statesmen" to ring in their humble fol-
lowers and country cousins to live upon
the nation or the state. The unions
REQUIRE that the man shall be a compe-
tent workman-the politicians simply
ask that he shall hold place and draw
a salary. The union demands that he
shall be able to do a certain amOnmt OF
mechanical labor, and to do it with a
reasonable degree'o of skill. The politi-
clan desires to make place for someone,
some relative or wire-puIler, who is to
he supported at the public expense tor
political work done or to be done IN the
interest of the man. of influence. These
opposing views, as to purposes for which
public workshops and printing offices
were established, never fail to bring the
trades union men and huckstering, trad
ing gbuying-and-sellingO Ofice-holderS into
collision. Such politicians, when they
happen to disgrace eminent and inttuen-
tial positions, make it their business to
pretend great uneasiness at seeing public
work controlled by secret organizations
They assume to fear that the public inter
ests may suf'er-they are really shocked
at the dangers and evils attendant upon
such system. "What" they eXcIaim
in welI-feigned surprise and anxiety
what! the work of the nation or the
state carried on under the dictation of
an irresponsible secret society"
It hurts them to think Of the pOssibiIi-
ties-so they would have the public be-
ieve. Some few of them, old fossils,
relics of a by-gone time, may really be
deceived by their more cunning col
leagues, but most of them simply lie and
know they are lying. We do not like to
use such harsh terms, but in such case
it seems justifabIe, For they must be
either wilfuI liars or else inexcusabIY ig-
norant of the facts. And for man in
such a position to aSSail and seek to in
lure body of honorable wOrkingmen,
without first making sure that he has
lust grounds for his attack, is almost as
bad as wiIful faIsehoOd,
It is easy to understand why the pro-
fessional politician and ofice-seeker
should object to trades unions controIl-
ing public work. If the union has in
Ruence,he will have little or none. He
wants a place for his cousin, his office
bov, his neighbours son; he don't care
whether they can earn their pay or not,
if they can draw their salaries and help
him to a reelection, that is all he asks
The union, ifit has the power, int6rferes
With his little game. 1t demands that
the. applicant shall give some proof of
his competency and standing, by show
ing that he is a recognized workman, ac-
cepted by his fellow craftsmen as such.
That's where the shoe pinches most of
the politicians and office holders who
object to trades unions.-Haye8 Valley
Advertiser.