Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-13
ASSAULTS FROM WITHIN.

We have had occasion to refer several
times to the fact that labor is organizing
throughout the country upon basis that
gives more promise of permanency and
greater power than under the previous sys-
tenn. Heretofore organized labor has been
in many unions, leagues and confraterni-
ties, having no relation to each other
stronger than that of sympathy. But
under the new system labor is massing its
strength in one compact yet widely-ex-
tended organization, and thus like an
army well in hand, it is able to make itself
felt along the whole commercial and in
dustrial line. Now all organization involves
responsibility, and this with self-interest
fosters conservatism. Il is because of this
general law that we have believed the
new system would be better, both for CAPT
tai and labor, than that which preceded it.
But while this unifying of the interests of
labor enables its representatives and those
of capital to meet sooner and come closer
together, and thus more readily reach
amicable results whenever issues arise. it is
also true that organization which begets
power operates upon the weaknesses of hu-
man nature TO an extent that very fire.
quently develops a tyrannous disposition.
That organization which is guided by the
wise counsel that directs the use of power
with gentleness rs well as firmness is always
stronger and more enduring than that
which exerts its strength for strengths
sake alone. Thus far. with here and there
an exception, the aggregated force of labor
in Its new form has been far more conserv-
alive and wise than when multitude Of
unions and leagues were endeavoring to
advance the claim of labor TO fair share
in the results of its application. The
country has now reached a critical point
in the new history of labor organization.
There are indications that the conservative
calm and iirmness that has characterized
the new system, is being hard pressed BY
those who claim to believe in welding
power for the purposes of punishment, and
in making strength tyrannous, and very
many of whonf are secret agents of Social
ism. Should these elements gain any con
siderable force in the ranks of the wage
winners, the result viii be disastrous. The
wisdom that marked the councils Of the
Knights of Labor in San Francisco a few
weeks ago, when that organization refused
to eountenanee even vague suggestions Of
violence, and that put the seal OF condem-
nation upon disorderly tendencies, and I'M
hesitatiDgly declared for the law and its
faithful observance, won for the organiza-
ton in this State the plaudits of all self
respecting and loyal men. But within the
organization, and in its subdivisions espe-
cially, there are elements that it appears
unable to wholly control, and these
are manifesting by word and action Gis-
position to embitter the relations between
disagreeing wage-winners and wage-payers,
and to establish sort of persecution for
opinions sake wherever there is the man
illness to stand for belief and conscience.
If these radical influences attain any con-
siderable power in any of the new system
of aggregated trade and labor organizations
we may look for the disruption of a system
that. we believe, properly administered
and conseryatively controlled is an iniu-
ence Of vast power and great good, since it
will work the complete extinction of So
cialism in this country by withdrawing
the last one of the misguided working men
10 socialist ranks. Organized labor will
become mob when it attempts to ignore
the natural relation of inter-dependence
Of capital and labor If wisdom directs
the federated labor associations. thev viii
stand in defense of capital aggregated for
the conduct of great industries, as well as
the protection of small capital indiyidu-
ally invested. The strength of labor organ
ization resides in its ability to conserve
alike the interests Of capital and labor.
Demands born merely of might, and not
fortified by clearly just reason, viii simply
drive capital to hiding, since it is cowardly
and always has the ability to protect it
self by fight The present counsels of the
chief labor organization of the country all
favor arbitration to avoid strikes, as equal
ly injurious to industry and It's dependents,