New-York tribune., 1890-08-31
SUBRFNDER OF FREEDOM.

II is but week since many thousand IN
dustrious and hardworking men employed on
various railroads, with wives and children ana
others dependent on them numbering aoou'
half q million. were anXiously awaiting the
tidings from half dozen men who were III
secret session at indianapolis. Had these few
mon given the order. strike would have
bepun on some of the great trunk lines which
might have extended to nearly all. ma.
nrder would have been obeyed by members OF
the organization only, and yet these were
numerous enough to make 1t doubtful whether
some roads could be operated for time WIN
ont their aid. and numerous enough also 10
produce among employees of railroads general
lv an impression hostile to the railroad com
nanies which might have been hard for many
10 resist.
The leaders of the organizations justly de-
cided that they had no right to order a strike
in the circumstances which then eXisted, OF
10 use the money of their organizations 70 alh
tbe strike which KNIGHTS OF Labor had begun
But if they had been as ready as some OF the
most influential of them actually were to be-
Gin a struggle. the means of support would
have been taken at their bidding from many
Thousand
fathers wouId NOT have been asked The
members would have been expected TO ODE!
and quit work. whether they had any cause
of complaint or not, under penalty OF kInd
of ostracism which in multitude oi cases mas
been powerful enough 10 drive man entirei!
out of the occupation to which he had been
trained.
This is an opportunity 10 consider the power
which the members of trade organizations sur
render to a few leaders. great many times
if la, happened that the trusted leaders were
not as sagacous as they proved to be III TINS
instance great many times the bread has
been taken from thousands of families with
out consent or warning by the mere edict OF
a few leaders on the ground that the interests
Of other organized workers were threatened
1t might be deemed high heroism, this sacri-
flee for others, if the leaders who decided upon
the step were not in measure placed beyond
the risks and sacrifices Of their followers by
the salaries and expenses they received. But
can men who support themselves by labor
afford 10 ntruSt such power To any set oi
leaders? Have they ever right to make the
very livelihood Of their families dependent
upon the Judgment, fidelity and self-control
Of a few individuals?
Let it be granted that organization is alb
solutely within the right Of the worker, if he
thinks it for his good. No man can deny the
workers freedom 10 enter into compact TO
mt work whenever Others with whom he
associates may choose TO do So But would it
not be clearly wise in making such compact
10 fix il first as an irrcvOcabe condition that
no strike in one employment shall be ordered
because men in some other employment have
engaged in controversy? Would it not be
wise. next to make it condition that no
strike shall be ordered except by free and
secret ballot of all members of the assoca-
ton concerned?
The worker does not always realize how
large a part Of his liberty he surrenders. Ag-
tators sometimes talk Of white slavery. But
no master ever had more despotic power over
the lives and acts of slaves than some or
ganizations in the name of labor possess over
workingmen who nevertheless think them
selves free.