The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-06
The Labor Problem.

are one compact and well organized body.
They are endeavoring to shorten the hours OF
labor, increase the pay regulate the number
of apprentices and supervise and control the
business of railroads, mine owners and man
ufacturers. The movement is general, and
where their demands are not complied with
strikes are ordered.
In the meantime the press and people are
discussing what they call the Tabor prob
lem.' Just what the problem is, we don't
comprehend Under our form of government
every man has right to buy where he can
purchase the cheapest and sell where he can
get the most. Employers have right to pay
what wages they deem proper, and laborers
and mechanics can accept or reject their pro-
positions Everybody will concede this
Then where does the "problem" exist? Ii
laboring men and mechanics choose to band
together and agree that they will only work
certain number of hours and at certain
price, they have perfect right to do so. Ii
employers choose to regulate the wages they
are to pay, they also have perfect right to
do so.
What is called the problem we suppose,
is the clashing between employers and en-
ployes But there is no problem about 1t.
The need of the hour is men in the halls OF
Congress, in legislatures and in city councils
not demagogues, ambitious for place and
pay. Men who can withstand the appeals or
threats of corporations and monopolists on
the one hand, and stand up against the I'M
reasonable demands and lawlessness of me-
chanics and laborers, led by demagogues,
communists, socialists and outlaws on the
other. Such men as John Most and Justus
Schwab, and others of their kind, should
either be banished from the country or i'm
prisoned for life. They go about denouncing
every man who by industry and economy has
accumulated competency, as oppressors OF
the poor, and advising the use of the pistol
and torch against all who have money and
property. They preach sedition, murder, ar
son, and anarchy, and are nowhere restrained
in their vile utterances or interfered with by
the conservators of the peace and order OF
society. When their pernicious teachings Gull
inmate in acts, when the demon OF dlscord
and violence which they invoke breaks loose
it will be too late to take remedial measures.
Red handed violence will stalk over the land,
and there will be no recourse but violence.
The present quiet indifference of the civil
authorities is scarcely less reprehensible than
the incendiary appeals of Schwab and Most.
The organization of mechanics and labor
ing men for mutual advancement and pro-
lection may be well enough, if properly done.
The original intention of the organizers of
unions may have been praiseworthy, but such
organizations now have been carried far be-
yond reason and right They undertake to con-
troll the business of everybody, and are very
vindictive toward all who differ with them.
The number of apprentices in an establishment
must accord with their notions, or they will quit
work. They have right to do this; but they go
further, and say that no others shall work IN
their places, and if any employer does not
accede TO demand by Union, they at once
begin system of 'boycotting," and in addi-
ton s'boycott" those who do not take stand
with them. Sometimes when q strike is
ordered. many men of families desire to con-
tinue at work, but are not permitted to do so.
If they attempt to resume labor, they are
liable to violence at the hands of the others.
This was the case at Chicago few days ago.
Mr. McCormicks employees asked for an in
crease of wages. The increase was granted,
but the men made further demand that two
or three men who did not belong to the
"Union'' should be discharged. This was
refused and strike was ordered. Some of
! the men wanted to continue at work but the
others prevented them. This is nothing short
of conspiracy against the rights of others, and
as such is punishable by law.
The man who joins 'Union, now, deeds
away his liberty. He is not only taxed to
support the order Throughout the country, but
can only work for such wages and in such
places as majority decide upon. If a ma
iority decide to ask an increase of ten cents a
day in their wages, and the demand is denied,
strike is ordered and he must obey. In
order to gain their point they will suspend
work for perhaps three or six months, and in
the meantime expend all their savings and
perhaps be reduced to actual want and suffer-
ing.
In standing out for a principle, as they call
it, a man will lose more in three months than
he can make up in three years. Strikes for
! increase in wages are actually reducing me-
chanics and laboring men to the condition of
paupers. For years nearly all of them in
large cities have lost from three to six months
year by strikes, and consequently reduced
their wages from fourth to half every year.
The leaders-for the average mechanic and
laboring man, uninhuenced by bad leaders, is
law.abiding and reasonable are carrying
things with high hand and entirely too far.
They should accord to others the rights they
: claim for themselves. Vindictiveness will be
met in like spirit some day. Already there
is beginning of this, and employers are con-
sidering the propriety of employing only non
union labor,
What is needed now is the suppression CT
the blatant socialists and communists, and all
who counsel violence and blooashed, or the
application of tie torch. Heavy penalties
should be imposed upon those who destroy
property of others or prevent any man from
working when and where he chooses and for
what wages he chooses. If the laws are not
adequate to these ends, they should be made
so, without delay.
There is no cause for ciashipg between en-
ployer and employee. Their interests are
mutual-usr!ess each without the other. II
little reason and common sense were exer-
cised by both, there would be no cause for
the present condition of affairs But reason
seems TO have taken fight, and the law should
step in and prevent wrongs or punish those
who commit them.
The New York World and the New York