New-York tribune., 1886-04-25
THEFT AND BLACKMAILING.

It is good thing to see that in Missouri the
laws are in one respect at least, peculiarly well
ADAPTED to the public needs The provision by
which boycotting Is made robbery in thcthir
| degree, and punishable as a crime, may not be
more effective on the whole than similar
! statutory provisions IN other States, but IL
marks the public sense of hostility to foreign
custom which ought never to be tolerated on
American soil. In that State however, the
main question s whether the laws which the
people have enacted for their benefit and pro-
lection can be faithfully enforced. The
officials whom the people elect are not always
ready to do their duty when there is danger of
incurring the political opposition OF any active
body of citizens by so doing.
In Missouri as in other States, the law ought
to recognize and to punish the offence commit
ted by those who hire persons to refuse to work
in order to destroy the business of a II employer.
Under the laws of some States it is clear enough
that such an offence would be punishable, and
yet it is publicly announced that in Missouri
foundrymen were hired by the Knights of Labor
to abandon their work in Missouri Pacific shops
in order to cripple the railroad company, and it
does not appear that any attempt Is made to
punish the offence by law. Perhaps that Is be-
cause the local officials care more for the favor
of strikers than for the respect OF law abiding
citizens generally.
One other feature, in which all boyc0tts as
they are now conducted are violations OF law,
was brought out clearly in the trial of Che
musical bOycotters before Justice German on
Friday. 1t appeared that the boycotting con-
spiracy demanded and received a sum of money
to remunerate the trades union for the cx-
penSe of the boycott a demand which has
become very common, and which, where the
union is successful, is usually submitted to by
the defeated employer. But Justice German
said with truth, This is most diSgraceful
case of backmail. | believe if a complaint
were made against these men for theft,
the complaint would hold and they would be
punished" On precisely the same principles the
extortion of money i'll any and every case by
boycott, or as part of the settlement when a
boycott is removed, is a punishable offence.
There are many manufacturers and other en-
plOycrs who are able to prove just what sums
they have paid and to whom, under similar
circumstances, and they may think it we'll to
inquire into their legal rights in the matter.
From every point of view the boycott is
crime against American institutions. In this
country labor ought to be free, but labor can
not be free unless employers also are free.
Every attempt to coerce the employer inevita-
bly, results in restricting the freedom of the
laborcr. A wrong to one is inevitably a wrong
to both. The trades unions which cOnspre to
break up the business of an employer also con-
spirc 10 take the bread from the mouths of
those whom he has employed or nigh employ.
If by conspiracy they extort money from him
they take part of the wages which would other
wise be earned by honest labor. No laws can
be too clearly drawn or too stringently en-
forced for the prevention and punishment of
crimes so hostile alike to the interests of labor
and to American institutions.