The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-24
UNIONS ARE PROTECTED.

Criminal for Corporations to Discharge Men
Because they Belong to Unions.
Representative Deery's bill, making 1t q
penalty for corporations to discharge men
on account of their belongi to a union,
came MP as a special order at 2 o'clock. 1t
had been called up in the morning and de-
ferred. Senator Cranor spoke for the bill.
urging that the legislation was asked for by
a law abiding class of citizens. whose mus
cles were their capital. He then spoke of
ths labor and capital war that had been on
for years. urging that to labor such unions
were necessary, and that men had
It ought 10 be a crime for any
corporation 20 discriminate against O man
because he belonged to such an order
ganlZation. Senator McCutcheon seconded
the arguments of Senator CranOr. Labor
organizations were not instituted to make
war on capital, but, on the other hand. to
cooperate with It The bill simply pro-
tected the men and was q good one.
Senator laryan wanted to know how
any enforcement of the law could be effect
ed. so long as the corporations could dis
charge q man for no reason.
Senator McCutcheon: This bill is to
faborsrs: You can't work for me-
so long as You belong TO a labor union
i cite you TO the case of the Pennsylvania
Railway Company. who said to certain
men on one occasion: You cannot work
for us so long as you belong to labor or
gsnization.'D
senator Yaryan: 1.-THE Pennsylvania
Railway Company never did any thing of
the kind. at any time. The case you cite
was simply one of an over-officious clerk.
who took to himself, without being author
lied. such unprecedented authority"
Senator McCutcheon said such cases had
occurred. and the law was in the right d.
Senator Boord said the bill had been dis
cussed. He would not say one word were
It not for the fact that he had asked tho
Senator from Marion some question: He
doubted, when he picked up the bill.
Boyd said: Il thought 1t was useless legis-
latlon, because | was of the opinion that
no corporation or railway company in the
state discharged employees because they
belong To q labor organization. There may
be few isolated cases; and. for that rea-
son. i Will vote for the bill. The law pro-
tects mutual organizations and labor or
carnations. as we'll as corporations, and
the corporation made strong by the law
should not and must not become dicta-
tOrial. Men belong 10 these organizations
largely for lettering their condition
socialiy. 1t brings to their aid
help and assistance in distress
aud sickness. Why should men be de-
prived of the ccmpanlonship of those who
stand by them IN brotherly love through
lie, and stand over their graves in death.
and orphansf / have voted for many laws
protecting corporations in all the rights
that ought TO be guaranteed TO them, and
would certainly be false TO humanity, false
TO the humanity of my very nature if
would vote against one single proposition
that would detract or take from the toler
that which gives TO him protection and
kind associations. Ii Is the poor man that
needs the assistance of societies bound to-
geIher by tho most solemn vows that men
fhamSQlVQS IA in
strong organizations known as CORPORA
tons. and In many instances their only
ambition Is TO accumulate millions
The weak. the toiIer the man
who works amid the flaming iorges and un-
der the smoke Of our great manufactures
fights for wife, children, daily bread and
home. and l am for him as well AS the
corporation. L believe that capital and Ia
Dor should 60 hand in hand. ana that If
this country is ever again drencbed in
blood IL Will be on che account of capital
and labor being errayed against each other.
To avert any calamity like this let US legis-
late for the weak well as the strong.
am for this bill with all my heart and with
all my soul. l do, however. doubt that
corporations have TO any extent turned
men out OF their employ ment because they
belonged to a labor organization. If there
Is a single exception to this rule this bill
ought TO become a law"
senator Crumpacker spoke TO the credit
or the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
stating that that company had never on
earth discharged any man for such u res-
son. While be would. he said. support the
bill. II was ineffective and an idiotic
piece OF proposed legislation. If all the
Democratic majority was going TO do for
the laooring people was incorporated In the
ball proposed 10 was a good deal like the
story OF President Lincoln and the homeo-
pathIc treatment Senator Mcdonald
talked about the bill. said something n bout
oysters that needed salt and concluded
with the expressed belief that many cor
porations discharged men for the reasons
enumerated in the bill.
Senator Kern made a spread eagle speech
for protection 10 laborers. going back to
war times for inspiration, when the gov
eminent was forced to put its strong right
arm lat this juncture Mr.. Kern stretched
out his right arm protect the colored
man. lie denounced some statement. OIL