The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-26
ORGANIZED LABOR.

4 y.
osneral reflections on what is called or
ganized labor"
Tho lsboring man has no better friend
! than TuE TrME,. THr TINES sympathizes
| rr;,b him takes a deep interest IN every
NOVA looking TO an amelioration OF bis con-
d;,,on and speaks out, in season and out OF
saasoo in behalf of all measures that tend
70 raise his wages and accommodate diner
o,oos bstween him aud his employer. Not
onIv 40 but it approves of and encourages
oreauization and union amongst workmen'
which aim al bringing the united force OF
MANY into co.operation towards securing an
end beneficial % them.
But THE TIMES is radically opposed to the
idea which seems TO lie at the bottom
of the labor unions of the United States
although no open declaration is made IN
the articles of association OF these unions
that the body intends to accomplish Its
ends By physical force yet, whenever diner
| epees occur between the unions and en-
plovers the unions almost invariably resort
| 10 physical force to compel the employers 70
WELD 10 their view of the matters IN DIS
mute. This has occurred so often and 80 IN
var,ablv in the past twenty-five years that
we are warranted in concluding that al
/ though this idea is not openly expressed IN
! the articles of association 1t is really the
controlling idea in the minds Of those who
dominate the unions. We are justified IN
concluding that it is the unwrltten OF COM
mon law of the case.
Now we do not believe that the great body
of the men composing the unions enter into
unlawful procedure Of this kind willingly
or knowingly. We believe that they are IN
the main peaceable. law-abiding citizens
who greatly prefer seeing events proceed
orderlv 10 assume their phase and color
as the result of discussion and mutual
giving and taking. Once in these unions,
however. the members seem TO be led
blindly along by their leaders into courseof
conduct which their own good sense con-
dennis. and into acts which they would
never tolerate if applied TO themselves
This leads as to say that impartial obserya-
ton of labor-strikes convinces us that the
unions are originated, formed and con-
trolled by the restless spirits OF the laboring
world who form them and direct their
courses. not so much with view
to improving the condition of laboring
men as TO secure some advantages TO them
selves The labor agtator's business IS TO
fool the laboring men into supporting him
that be may raise great clamor over the
alleged grievances of laborers.
We know of nothing more offensive,
more arrogant than the conduct Of these
self-appointed representatives OF labor"
whenever thew appear upon the scene
to represent their constituents" as they
put it. but to incite 10 rebellion and
defiance of law in reality. A striking Illus
tration of this was made in Washington last
week when Colonel Oates Congressional
Committee had the Pinkertons before 1t.
We are informed by the Post that Messrs.
Hayes, Devlin and Wright, of the Knights
of Labor. attended the sitting Of the
committee to represent the knights of
Labor" in the Investigations as though the
knights of Labor" was coordinate de-
partment of this government 10 BIO consult
cd. as the House consults the Senate when
general legislation is in hand. These
leaders came forward TO present to the
committee a series of written questions
which they demanded should be put to the
Pinkertons One of these may serve as a
specimen Of the character of the question
ers. They wished to know of the Pinker-
tons if they supposed they had the right
to cover the Monongahela river with
fotilla Of armed boats containing 10000
armed men" as though that were not a
question for the laws Of the land to deter
mine, with which Mr.. Pinkertons SUPPOSE
ton of his rights had nothing whatever to
do.
Because the committee was compelled at
that point 10 adjourn its sitting for an i'm
portant vote in the House, and because 1t
left the questions with the Pinkertons for
them to prepare their answers in the in
term. one of the men had the impru-
denoe to tell Colonel Oates that he had adj
| journed his committee in order that the
| Pinkertons' lawyer might have the time and
opportunity to prime the Pinkertons with
proper lies as answers. 1t is gratifying to
know that the one-armed old Alabama
veteran would have administered to him a
thrashing on the spot if he had not been
prevented by the bystanders. Such pro
eedure is not to be tolerated, and the sooner
the deserving laboring men rid themselves
of those agtators as their leaders the better
1t will be for the Advancement OF labor's