The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-15

liberty and law.
Why not. while this matter Is still ripe, make
n firm resolve. as individuals that oil law shall
no respected; that liberty shall not become
license: that We will in this land 81 ours see
that every mans right shnl be enforced. and
that OF the richest individual not disregnrded.
NEW YORK. July Ia. BIZ
Fighting the Law OF rnir Connect ion-Ls.
Dor We. Inbor-Thc Dear Iu- Arnipst tho
Cheap Outx-That Is the whole or It
To TIVE EpITon OF TnE SuS-Sr: What Ia
generally known "a organized labor In contra-
distinction to the great body o; tho laLoring
class that does not allliate with tho nssocla-
tons. is now apparently thu only element In
tine United states which holds itself above and
independent OF fair, every day. givc-anl-take
competition. which refuses to yield to the nat
ural laws Of supply and demand.
It's peculiarly supposed and demagogues
encourage this yiew-that tho trouble ut the
Pennsylvania iron works Is essentially a con-
test betwcen capital and labor. 1t Ia nothing
OF tho kind 1t Is simply square fight OF
labor against labor: organized labor against
the unorgani2ed mass Of labor OF the high
priced ms against the cheap outs Capital is Q
mere spectator Of this. as OF all similar con-
tests; like tho rcst OF this selfish world. IL
is only biding its time to take advantage Of
competition. OF n g!ut in the mark els OF labor.
before purchasing.
The Amalgnmatcd Assoc iation knows that
the moment its guard at the gates Of the Home
stead mills is Withdrawn. the Carnegie Com.
pnny can and will instantly Ill their places
with other laborers. equally competent. who
stnnd ready to accept their terms.
1t Is this class OF competing workmen the
Homestead rioters are lighting. and not Car
nogie They conceal their real design by q
fa!so appeal against the alleged tyranny OF
capital. but nevertheless they seized the mills
only to prevent tho other class Of workmen
from getting a job 1t Is cheap labor
and not capital that is bothcring this Amalga-
mated Association. Comrctl9n o. labor Is
what brought the Association into existence.
1t is engaged in buldozins it's own downtrud-
den brethren and not capital. IN 1t would have
the world believe.
There could 10 no possible objection II all
the skilled !aDorers in tho country were to
unite and say: We will not engage except
on the terms prescribed by the Anal samatod
Association: We will not comp,tc with our
Homestead brethren" Then there would be
no occasion for moi's seizing and holding
illegal possession OF Carnesie's mills: there
would be NJ competition for hs work: he
would be compelled to reGm poy his o d hands
or Shut down. Bat competing auor does not
o"S ''io' hc'itN viz eHcctdcle VI t.i u Intu MT.
tempt mt its coercion. We cannot dis pute tho
right of skilled laborers to form associations:
that is their privilege. But they must no. ut
tempt to deprive othcr citizens of rights rs in
alienable. Tue SUN states this principle
cleverly and strongly. 1t Is well the country
has one paper courageous enough TO combat
domaGoguery.
The real trouble Is this: There has been an
overrroduction OF labor. 80 to +, rnk Cou-
petition is too sharp to maintain the rates An
overproiuction OF wheat. corn. or FORK brings
m inevitable decline In the prices Of tHoss
products and the producer suffers. An ovo--
production Of cotton affects the PLANTER Gko-
wise: the manufacturer also hns to lower his
prices. and the consumer Is generally cnr-
fitted at their expense. We have known an
overproduction OF iron to produce such low
prices Gs to temporarily close 10th mines and
mills. SO on through the list.
The consumer the purchaser. always takcs
advantage OF ovsrproduction and conse uent
low prices by common consent 1t is the one
unquestioned. universal rulo OF trade and
commerce. Why should the nborer be ex-
cepted2 Should he not be governed by tho
same laws Of composition as his grocer. the
farmer. the manutacturerI Is 10 better than
his fellows7
II the Homestead steel workers. as is held
by many superficial. shallow demagogues.
have q moral right to prevent by armed force
tho Carnegie Company from entering the mar
ket OF labor for their contingent Of hands.
why should not the clerks in the Treasury
Department likewise organize and determine
the amount Of their salaries and that no others
shall DO en- ployel? And II it Is merely a ques-
ton OF might. then why should they not loot
the Treasury tomorrow
The Homestead laborcr has tho undeniabls
right to decline to work for whom soever no
pleases. whatsoever tho wages profIered:
tho farmer has the similar right to hold
his products until they rot. at whatever price
he may choose to fix upon them: so have tho
merchant and manufacturer. But the farmer
cannot compel consumers to buy Of him at
any price whatsoever. be 1t high or low. Nor
can the others. How can organized labor ar
roGate to itself such privilege1 On what
reasonable ground In this democratic repub-
lie. where MI are equal. can it base u claim for
privilege not enjoyed by other people7
Such an assumption is not only against public
policy. but it is illegal and q wrong to labor
itself LESLIE j. PERRY
WASHINGTON. D. c.. July H.