The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-14
AS TO BoYCoTrINa.
4 Knight of Labor Replies to the
Structures. Of the New North West.

MIssoULA, Mont, Nov. 10, 1885.
The Deer Lodge New North Vest ofOcto-
her 3Oth, in it's leader, after publishing the
b~oycotting Chinese notices OF Walkerville
and Butte, respectively, states
Against the above in matter, manner,
letter and spirit, we, as an American citi-
zen, enter solemn protest. Boy
%cotting is absolute, unrelenting estracism.'
*~* 1t. il ~unrepublican, undemocratic
and un-American."
The editor of that paper is a leader and
member of a party that from it's formation
until the present, as it's dearest creed. it's
hottest plank aud it's most unselish aim,
has always pinched protection to Ameri-
can labor. For years, while the present
generation has grown to manhood and
womanhood, the Republican party has
placed and kept a high protective tariff on
nearly, if not quite all the necessities Of life.
This tariff has been and is SO high that it is
almost exclusive in it's operations. Foreign
manufactured goods are by it's high rates
kept from the American market.
THE REPUBLICAN ART ON ABOR.
The Republican party, stump speakers,
it's platforms, it's reformers, it's press, with
put exception, have said that by this pro-
tective tariff we build up, foster and encour-
age home manufacturing industries. which
in turn give employment to American la
Dor. Under the operation of this protec-
tive scheme countless enterprises rave been
organized. Manufactures of all kinds and
Tor all purposes are planted all over the
country, n not acne like foreign
competitors in their fields of operation
they have SO crown in numbers that COM
petition has arisen among themselves.
In some OF the industries the corporations
have come to agreements as to rates. there
by creating monopolies; in other industries
the manufacture OF certain goods or the de-
velopnlent OF like plants are spread over
many States and Territories, and a combi-
nation in one pool is impossible to success
fully compete against Others, one Or more
of these corporations have contracted with
foreign labor elements to come here, do
their work for these firms and corporations
and then returned the element to it's native
shores. All this has and does tend to dis
arrange the American labor. BY paying
the rates for necessaries of life and the
means of living in America, our labor must
charge enough to meet that expense for self
and family.
o ANYWHERE.
The New North Vest utters no word
against these combinations against us, yeti
turn, when we organize for mutual assist
ance it protests.
11S says, III IClCEIluS W OuI OOJCOVCIuS
being bad in it's results in our country, that
it might be good in Ireland. 1t strikes US
that if quinine is good for fever and ague in
Michigan it might do some good in Peru for
the same ailment. He next gives the
thrilling Information that this is 1.-THE land
of the free in fact as we'll as in NAME" If
the gentleman had only thought OF that in
time and had preached it to the miners in
the Hooking Valley, to the telegraphic ope-
rators some five years since when they were
compelled to work over time without pay
for the same, why the editor of the New
North West has got a field right at home il
he will only collect the washerwomen Of
Deer Lodge together and tell them how free
they are.
AS 10 %DICTArIoN.
From first to. last the editori very
coolly intimates that he who would offer
his services to another for hire has no right
to dictate the terms by which he disposes
Of his time, art, strength and brain. II tho
owner of a horse has a right to say what
must be paid for that animal, certainly
that owner ought to have something to say
about the sale of self, even if but for an
hour. Besides the sale of a mans life time
is of more concern than that of a brute,
the editor of the New North West to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
Referring to b%oycotting, Editor Mills
says: This is a dangerous encrOachment
on the PERSONAL and individual rights ofthe
American citizen" He grows eloquent in
is q breach in the walls of personal rights
that, if permitted, will open the way to
their citadel and their entire overthrow"
For years, from the time when the men,
DRY of man runneth not to the contrary,
women have fallen from that sacred posi-
ton in which the pure are held and a per-
petual boycott is laid against them; mel
have committed crimes socially and po-
litically. and the same thing ia levelled at
them by good and true people; Catholics
do not affiliate with Masons; Quakers
avoid liquor people; the editor of the New
North Vest probably never recognized an
Indian, negro or Chinaman as his social
equal, and Republicans do not always vote
the Democratic ticket. The letter, matter,
manner and spirit of boycott has always
been present in all institutions of govern
ment. Why, from the time when the first
Chinese colony was planted in America
they have always boycotted Americans
They buy nothing and leave nothing in our
country.
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS,
Again he takes the position hat the
Knights OF Labor have no right to inter.
fere between an employer and an employe.
By the same reasoning, if, in q family, the
wife wanted to die and the husband or any
other person granted her wish. it would not
be right for the murderer to be punished
according to law. 1t is simply a matter
between the murdered and murderer. Now,
I believe that any man or set of men that
tend to destroy the labor market by re.
ducing the same, without a corresponding
reduction in food, rent and clothing G, com.
nit a serious crime, whether SO done
under a secret obligation 0 rnot, and should
and ought to be punished by social and
business ostracism. We not having vast
or any great sums of wealth to put up as
~forfeits, have solely to rely on our words OF
honor, delivered in the presence OF each
other. And as u~nscrupulous employers do
not consult with their victims. our knights
Of Labor get along without him in our de.
alterations.
As TO
The New North West man next initiates
his dignity and pompously alleges that he
has been in Montana longer than nine out
of ten of the Knights of Labor, and knows
the spirit OF Montanians better than do
the Knights, / certainly doubt him in the