Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-13
TIE RREWEsS PROTEST.

The action Of the United States Brew
ers Association will probably bring the
question of the powers of the trades unions
TO practical test in struggle with the
employers association. The situation as
stated by the Brewers Association may be
briefly given in this @sy.
The brewers of the United States being
unorganized, have Cor seine three years
submitted to the dictates Of the Brewery
Workingmen's Uzion, as to employment,
discharge, treatment, AID compensation Of
the employees. For eighteen months the
employers chafed under this domination,
and they began to consult one with an
other. This resulted in organization. In
March they issued manifesto declaring
that they would resume the management
of their OWE affairs in their own way, adj
hitting the right Of the employees to ergan-
ize and claiming The same right for them
selves. In doing this they assert:
That we are rot governed liz our present
action by the desire or intention 70 abTidge or
to abr1gsie any fair concession rs to hours of
labor and reecmPense therefor which we have
made to our Torkmen under former agree
ments.
The manifesto then promises that the
Association viii use its influence to the
correction o. real grievances and to the
proteetionof the rights of labor, but also
TO the assertion of the inalieaable right of
the manufacturer to conduct his own bus
mess. They pledge themselves to stand
by existing agreements with employees, but
to make 10 new ones when the old COM
pacts expire, but to reserve the right to
enter into individual agreements between
employer and employe. They base this de-
cision upon the clear right Of the work
man to sell his labor when, how and
TO whom he pleases, and denial of the
claim of the employee to withhold from the
employer the privilege of choosing his help
to his liking in the open labor market
from those willing to accept his offer of
terms and conditions, or to hire and dis
charge his help to suit his own judgment
andto deal with employees according to
individual merit
The brewers furthermore claim that the
unions have abused their power by MAX
ing tyrannical exactions and inhieting
humiliating annoyances; that they have
in some instances drawn workers into
utilization with anarchism, which all loyal
citizens abhor and condemn. They con-
clude with the asseyeration that their
movement is not intended and shall not
work reduction of wages or imposi-
sition of more hours of labor. All
the brewers in San Francisco and adjacent
towns have signed this compact, in com
mon with the chief manufacturers OF
ale, porter and beer, in the great cities OF
the United States.
The right Of these employers to thus
organize is admitted by the claim of the
employees to unite, and is simply IN
deniable. 1t is the first open and pro-
nounced movement of any great number of
employing manufacturers in the United
States to resist the Trade Unions in efforts
to dictate terms to employers, and the out
come will be awaited with anxiety. We
are strongly of the opinion that the result
will be beneficial to both parties most
Immediately interested. If it shall bring
i'll upon the workers, it will be because OF
unreasonable resistance the employees may
make to the movement. The organiza-
ton of employees for mutual educational
social and provident ends, always has
been and will be commended OF
men. Converted INTO instruments OF
dictation and tyranny, they cannot
expect to receive public sympathy The
sentiment of the people against the strike
that forces men into it who have nc
grievances and make no complaint is rap
idly crystallizing into irresistible hostility
TO all such schemes, and determination
that they shall not succeed. The doctrine
that bare majority, or as often happens
mere executive board may interrupt
trade and stay the wheels of the commerce
Of nation, in order TO enlist aid against
single employer who offends against tn,
arbitrary DEGREES of the unions, is abhor
rent TO the American sentiment and vii
not be tolerated. Similar action by en-
ployers is precisely as obnoxious to the
just sense, and is estimated at the same val
uation by the public The whole question
comes down to this As labor has the right
to work when, where and for whom, and
on what terms it pleases, so the employer
enjoys the right TO hire when and whom
he pleases, and on such terms as the indi-
viduals may settle upon. Anything be-
yond this, or in defeat of it, is in violation
of the inalienable right of the free man.