The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-18
LABOR STRIKES.

LABOR STRIKES.
All men, except United States
Judge Ricks Of Ohio. concede to
laboring men the right to quit
work at their pleasure, and Judge Kicks
will In time be taught by public opinion
that he must surrender his views. and
grant this elementary principle Of liberty
to a free people. Not only is the right
conceded to the single laborer to quit
work when he pleases but the right Of a
whole body Of workmen, acting together
in concert, TO quit work at the same mo-
ment, is equally conceded, provided the
motive inspiring the act is an intention by
the workmen TO better their condition.
If, therefore, employees believe that they
have a grievance against their employer,
and that nothing short Of leaving his en-
ployment will meet the exigences Of his
case, they have an absolute and unquali-
fed right TO leave his employment at
their pleasure.
To quit work is to exercise the God
given right Of having a free will.
These labor strikes have generally been
actions by labor unions, which was the
simple and plain case Of a number Of
men doing together in concert what each
one had perfect right to do by himself.
But, having exercised this unquestiOned
right Of the unions, the next step has al
most invariably been an attempt to pre-
vent their old employer from hiring I'm
men.
Now, the unions have no sort of right
to attempt this. The employer has the
same right to employ those who are nom
union men as the laborers have to join
the union and go on strike when they
please.
The labor unionists plea in defense Of
his conduct is that the labor unions are
necessary to the progressive elevation
Of labor and TO securing 10 the laboring
man the best attainable results for his
labor. They think, therefore that this
end justifies them in coercing all other
laboring men to join the unions, for. say
they, while there are guerillas allowed
to carry on Independent campaigns out
side the regular army, the army is al
ways kept in disorderly state, unequal
to bringing its full force into action when
an emergency arises, and always weak
ened by constant assertions. They are.
therefore, prepared to make war upon
those who are non-ulhon men, and equally
upon their old employer. now become the
ally Of the non-union man.
We use the word war advisedly, for
the state Of affairs brought about by
war in spirit and effect.
A state of war in a period of profound
peace is an anomaly in nature. War
means purpose of one party to coerce
another party by force into doing some
thing which the first wants done and
which the second party is opposed 10 do
ing. This means the abrogation of all
government and law. and the prevalence
over all Of the dictatoriai command Of
one man. The idea cannot be tolerated
In a civilized community when the law
undertakes TO protect all men In their
rights Of person and property, the most
important and essential one Of which is
the right of each individual TO do as he
chooses. SO long as he respects the rights
Of others. which right is denied TO the
laborer who is coerced from taking en-
ployment, and to the employer who is
coerced into refusing to employ men.
unions must be abandoned by them, or
they will certainly destroy themselves.
A strike of very considerable proportions
has been on hand In New York for some
time between the manufacturers Of cloth
ing and their employees. which seems now
to be nearing settlement. All ques-
lions between the parties were recently
adjusted except that OF the right of the
manufacturers to employ non-union men.
The strikers insist that the manufacturers
shall surrender this right. but the manu-
facturers. as free and Independent. cit:-
zens, refuse to surrender 1t, and they are
right. Another large strike has been on
hand for some time in England between
ship owners and the Dock Laborers'
Union. in which the latter are contending
that the former shall surrender the right
to employ non-union men. The ship
owners refuse to make the concession.
a'Ad " Looks now as though they are 60