The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-18
0RGANIZED LABOR.


bad one for union, or organized labor.
Never before was there time when labor
unions were as strong as at the beginning
OF the year. 1t 10 believed that the mem
bership was larger, and that the members
are loyal to the principles of their associa--
tons is every day being demonstrated in a
manner most convincing. There are local
unions everywhere, embracing all the
trades and occupations, and including the
larger proportion of the higher skilled and
better class of mechanics and workmen.
Not only this, but the unions have feder
eted and associated in such way as to
bind laborers everywhere and in ali
branches OF employment together for their
common protection. The men are pledged
to stand by each other, making common
cause. Thus the union men OF Chicago,
those of Boston. those of New York and
those OF San Francisco are sending more
or less material aid 10 the strikers Of
Homestead, and we viii soon learn that
the striking switchmen of New York state
are receiving substantial assistance from
distant states.
Yet, Notwithstanding the strength of the
union, which forms q close combination
reaching from the Atlantic TO the Pacific,
we say this promises to be a sad year for
organized labor. IL Idaho un:onism has
been struck blow which is almost fatal to
the association. Union men by the dozen
are in jail or under bonds TO answer crimi-
nal charges, while non-union men are work
ing in their places and drawing the wages
which at the beginning of the year were
going to union workers. We understand
that union man cannot get employ
in north Idaho, and in other parts of the
state where uniolism has heretofore been
supreme non-union men are employed
without protest. There is no use denying
the fact that the union has lost the fight
in the iron mills of Pittsburg. The
men may hold out awhile, liv-
ing along in the hope that something
will happen by which he victory will yet
come to them, but they might as well ad-
nit first as last that they have lost. How
ever just their cause may be, they viii not
be permitted TO win. The prompt and de-
termined manner ID which the authorities
are dealing with the switchmen's strike in
New York makes it certain that the trou-
bic will soon be quieted to the discontinue
and defeat of the strikers. Here, within a
few weeks, are three conspicuous instances
of very severe blows being administered to
organized labor. and blows the effect of
which viii be felt beyond the unions imme-
diately concerned.
That this disastrous trouble has come
upon organized labor is not chargeable to
the principle of unlonism. Owing TO the
grasping natures of men, to the insane de-
sire for wealth, and the lack of
keen sense of justice in the great
majority of the human family,
there ever has been and we presume al
ways will be more or less taking advant-
age of the weak by the strong. Capital is
powerful and greedy, and it is not always
marked by sympathetic consideration of
labor. The conflict between labor and
capital has been going on since the race be-
gan and will probably continue while hui
manity exists. Labor is the weaker of the
combatants, and because it is SO it seems
necessary for it to com bine in order to
maintain itself in the unequal contest.
Unionism is not improper; it is not unaw-
full; it is. as a matter of fact, essential in
many places where capital is oppressive
and cruel and takes advantage of its power.
But while unionism is being made to
suffer this year, while it must endure the
blows low being administered with such
terrible effect, it is not unionism that is to
blame for what has brought on the trouble.
The difficulties have all arisen from the
unwise and illegal direction of the union
power. Unwise or bad men have been
placed in control, and as the only way to
make the union effective is to yield blind
obedience to their authority, trouble has
naturally come upon the men. The law
lessness into which unions have plunged
accounts for the hardships which the men
are now suffering. The Ceur d. Alene
miners had a just cause and had they kept
within the law would have gained the
battle and saved their union. The Home
stead strikers were all right until they
lost respect for law and disregarded the
rights of others. The burning of cars and
the destruction of property by the striking
switchmen of New York, made the pun
ishment of the men necessary or the con-
fession on the part Of society that it had
lost its force and organized government
was a failure.
While this year will give unionism set
back, in that it will further antagonize cap
ital, aud incline employers towards non
union labor, the result will be beneficial to
organized labor if the events now transpir-
ing shall teach men that they must wage
their battles for right and justice within
the pale of the law; if they shall impress
upon unions that while standing firmly for
their own rights they must recognize and
respect the rights of others, and adjust
their differences by other methods than
the employment of physical and unlawful
force. We believe some good lessons are
being taught and while they are severe in
their effects on poor men, the ultimate re-
suits will be beneficial, in that unions will
hereafter be more wisely managed. We
hope this will be the case, in the interest OF
the toilers whose lot at best will be hard.
EUGENE BLooDeooD BERBE of New York
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