The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-09-23

labor organizations and unions The Home
stead strikers have agreed to accept the new
scale Of wages, and all they ask is the recogn1-
ton Of their association. This F'rick rejects.
It is not wages with him. but freedom from in.
reference.
In other words, the big manufacturers Of the
country are on a strike against the labor organ
tzations. What Is the meaning Of this? Have
the labor organizations been too exacting?
Have they made themselves offensive by their
personal interference and their demands?
Surely every honest employer should recog-
n1ze the right OF work1ngmen to organize for
their own good and their own protection. The
men who handle picks and shovels have the
same right to band together that capitalists
have to form combinations, trusts and con-
Spiracies.
It must follow, then, that the. labor organi-
cations have in some way offended the capital
lists who employ The discomfort manifest In
labor circles is not due to wages. but a desire
upon the part Of employers to be free from all
d1ctation, interference or even persuasion on
the part Of trades unions
This is not a wholesome sign, but it is well to
have the real facts understood tits a war upon
trades unionism.
Yes, 1t is war upon trades unionism,
and it will be well for trades unionists
to take cognizance of the entrenched
position occupied by capitalistic monop-
oily and decide for themselves if there
is not a way Of taking the fort and
turning the guns upon the enemy, by
judicious and united use of the free
mans weapon, the American ballot.
AS Mr.. J. R. Detwiler happily and
cogently writes in the Topeka Advo-
cate:
In recognition Of these facts, it is fitting that
49, <R~A.
be extended to the striking workmen in their
contests against the avarice Of the capitalists.
But let us take view Of the contendiny forces
and their weapons OF warfare Organized labor
has been rel ying upon strikes boycotts and
pressure Of public sentiment, while organized
capital has carefully entrenched itself behind
legislative enactments. In preparation for
the great contest with organized labor, 1t has
secured absolute control OF the legislative
judicial and executive departments of the gov
eminent, both state and national When
it wishes to enforce reduction of wages it calls
to its aid an armed band of Hessians, under the
command OF Pinkerton, for the purpose Of driv-
ing out the American wOrkmen who belong to
the union and introducing gang of non-union
workmen fresh from the densely populated,
oppressed and povertystricken districts Of the
king cursed countries Of Europe. Our work
men fly to arms and repel the Pinkerton invad-
ers the riot act is read and the state militia is
called out, not for the purpose Of restoring
peace and arresting the reasonable organiza-
ton OF Pinkerton thugs, but for the purpose OF
intimidating the union workmen, protecting
capital and crowding down wages through the
introduction Of non-union mon imported from
foreign lands for that purpose. Capital
has been Incorporated Our statutes are loaded
with special legislation in its interests. Cap
italists are now waging war Of determination
against labor organizations with view of re-
ducing the individual workers to q state OF alb.
ject servitute. Is there no escaped
Ah, yes; happily the workmen OF our country