New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-21
THE RIGHTS OF LABOR.

Labor has rights. but the pubic nave r'Sn's
also. This is the meaning, in lew words o,
the order by Judge Kicks which has startled
and excited the whole world Of organized LABOR
In a single sentence the coercIve power OF
labor organizations, their power to mantaih
monopoly of labor in a particular department. Il
swept away. 1t is nonsense TO say, as some
representatives Of organized labor do that the
n,inciples of this order turn labor into servl-
tude. The worker is free, but he is not free
to destroy the property OF others, or to deprive
tbc public of facilities necessary to its com
mercc. -,
BY the best lawyers it is admitted that this
order involves new principles. No precedent
is found for it. The right OF the worker 10
stop work when he plcascs has not been dis
putcd. Yet work in any capacity is a service
to the public for which payment Is made Oh
the mpicd condition that the service shall be
faithful and continuous Zach individual work
or has y rirht to stop work when he secs tit
hut tbc whole body of workers have 10 right
70 stop if. by so doing. they deprive the public
of necessary facilities for the transaction of IFS
business.
This springs from the universally admitted
orinciple that no man has the right to use his
own freedom against the interests OF civilized
society. lie is free, but not free to deprive
othc,s of their freedom lie can do what he
will with his own-with his own time Or labor
hut that does not give him the right 10 rob
Others of their property. or time. or labor 30
cause each individual obtains his employment
and the wages thereto attached by reason OF
The public necessity for such service as he can
render he binds himself when he enters INT"
such an employment 10 serve the public win
reasonable fidelity. There is ~ slavery IN this
doctrine. The wage-carncr can demand JUS
lCe, and can insist upon II t. tho utmtS' ana
he can transfer his time and labor TO any ether
corporation or any other kind OF occupation
whenever he chooses. BIT he has n right to
be iGlc for the express purpose OF coercing
civilized society to grant any demand he may
make. lie accepts responsible duty 70 tho
public when he applies for and gets position
a. brakeman or switchman. or engineer, and
he is bound first of all not t. conspirc against
the public interest in order t. force anybody
| to grant his demand
The order of Judge Kicks opens new chap
ter in the long history of conflicts between
| capital and labor. II puts upon the laborcr a
share of the responsibility for all losses which
society may suffer, if he conspircS with other
| TO deprive society of necessary facilities for It's
industry and its trade. At railroad station
in Ohio 300 men are employed in working mp
material which comes over Michigan railroad.
On their labor DEF ends the livelihood Of 300
families. II they are deprived OF opportunity
TO earn wages. suffering and possibly starvation
may Como 10 hundreds Of women and children
4 rairoad worker IN Michigan, if he conspircs
with others e. prevent the shipment Of the
necessary materials to these 300 workers in
Ohio. niiics upon them wrong which he ha,
no right to inlet for his personal gain. lie is
free TO quit work. But he is not free t. quit
under such circumstances that hundreds OF
wives and children will be deprived OF their
subsistence