The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-26

men are turned adrlft. 1t would appear, then,
that the struggle is more labor against labor
than labor against capital. 1t is certain that
were capital to attempt to exercise half the
tyranny that labor assumes over labor, there
would be a revolution within year. The
comparatively few workingmen who have
banded together for mutual advantage have
assumed that they are the arbiters of all labor,
and that without their consent no working
man has the right to 60 to work nor to con-
tinue to work. That this is hateful exercise
of unwarranted power would need no argu-
ment ordinarily, and none now but for the
fact that so many people have been afraid to
say what they think of such outrageous pro-
ceedings. But he is no friend of the Knights
of Labor who does not attempt to point out to
them the danger Of occupying the position
they have assumed. In the end labor itself
will rebel against this unwarranted tyranny.
1t can not possibly be maintained. The sup
posed political influence of the Knights may,
for time, prevent politicians from expressing
their views on this subject, but the tide that
ever sets in the direction of justice and right
can not forever be turned back upon itself,
nor can the rights of the individual continue
to be trampled upon. Where there is no free
dom Of expression there Is no stability.
Sentiment stifed is still there, and
in time will assert itself. When
the tyranny Of organized labor
becomes intolerable it will be shaken off; not
by capital, but by labor itself. The working
men Of this country are not so stupid but that
they see that to prevent any man from work
ing for whom he chooses is an outrageous in
vasion of his rights, he being citizen en-
titled to all the rights and privileges vouch-
safed to every American citizen. Monopoly
of power is hateful, whether exercised by a
man with money or one with mono. The man
who works with his hands has no more right
to interfere with his neighbours affairs than
the man who works with his head or does not
work at ALL There certainly can be no more
comfort in the fact that the tyranny comes
from workingman than from capitalist. If
aman is not to be allowed to work for his bread
for whom he pleases, and for such terms as he
chooses to make, his income is cut off just as
effectually whether the stoppage is COM
PEELED by Knight of Lahore or railway presi-
dent. If capital were to presume to dictate
to capital that it should not employ certain
men because they were Knights of Labor it
would suffer rap over the fingers for its i'm
pudence In short, capital dare not dictate to
capital in such things and has never attempt
ed to. Up to this time capital has not boy
cotted capital. 1t has been free to go into
any of the channels of trade and to make the
best in the race for the patronage of the
world. Capital has been run over and run
down by capital, but the motto has been,
may the best man win, and the best man has
won. So far as fair field and no favors are
concerned, capital has not sought to keep
capital down, nor to assume to dictate to capt.
tall
The mistake made by the Knights of Labor
has been to- forbid men not members of that
organization to work and to exercise the COM
monest rights of American citizenship. They
have presumed to dictate to all the working
men of the United States, and, for the most
part, have defantly arrogated to themselves
the most outrageous rights" This cannot
be kept up, for the good reason that it is not
tolerable by free and intelligent people. 1t
may succeed for time, but in the end it
must be abandoned. No corporation has the
right to demand the discharge of man be-
cause he is member of certain labor or
ganization or a certain church. Neither has
any labor organization the right to compel the
discharge Of an empIoye because he does not
agree with it, and does not chose to cast his
fortunes and the fortunes Of his family with
it, 1t were just as reasonable for the Masons
or the Odd-fellows to attempt to exercise the
same outrageous species of tyranny. 1t would
not be tolerated; neither will it be in this in
stance. In this fight of organized and AFRO
giant labor against all workingmen who do not
belong to it prblic sympathy will go with
those who suffer by reason Of the tyranny
that is temporarily possible. AS between
corporations with monopolistio privileges,
sympathy has been and is with the working
men. 1t is 50 because the former are powerful
and the latter are comparatively weak. This
explains why tho public is disposed to stand