The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-12
The Rights of Labor.

The strike at the Worlds Fair was short
and sharp. 1t did not accomplish much
for the strikers. Such movements sell
dom do. 1t was fortunate for the work
men that the questions involved were set
tied so quickly. Strikes are nearly always
equivalent to loss to labor. Very
seldom are the gains made anything like
equal in the aggregate to the amount of
the wages which the men would have
earned if the strike had not occurred. In
this case they are only one days earnings
shorts though they have lost ground by
the strike.
1t is one more instance in which the
conflict was between leaders of labor
unions and employers. The masses OF the
workmen did not want to strike. They
were ordered out. Walking delegates
bid them leave work, and they left. That
is species of bondage. Of course, if
men voluntarily place themselves in that
condition, they must abide the conse-
quences. But is it conducive to the best
results, and is it consistent with the
spirit of liberty?
The conflict was new in one respects it
was between labor union leaders and the
government represented by the Worlds
fair commissioners. The government
won. 1t was the old attempt by union
men to prevent non-union men from
working, or rather to compel employers
to give work to none but members of
union. It failed, as it will fail and ought
to fail again. 1t is wrong in principle.
1t is against public policy. 1t is hostile
to personal rights. 1t is tyranny in one
of its worst forms.
AS THE HERALD has pointed out before,
every workman has the right to
join with others for mutual pro-
lection, to secure fair wages, to pre-
vent oppressive rules and hours OF
toll, to accomplish anything lawful for
the benefit of the association or its mem
bers. But they have not the right to
combine for the purpose of preventing
other men from laboring for a living.
They have not the right to do anything
to compel men to join their societies.
When they attempt to do SO they become
oppressors themselves.
Employers have rights as well as work
people. They have the right to employ
such persons as they choose to and who
choose to accept employment, and at
such wages and such times of labor as
may be mutually arranged. Union men
may decline to work under given rate
or longer than limited number of hours.
That is their right. Other people may
work just as long and for Just as low
wages as they choose, and no union on
earth has any legal or moral right to
interfere with them with view to
prevent them from exercising that right.
Labor unions are undermining their own
organizations and planning for their own
destruction when they go beyond their
legitimate bounds. When they try to
force employers to discharge non-union
workmen, when they attempt to prevent
such persons from laboring, when they
use any other means but moral suasion to
accomplish their desires in these direc-
tions, they become criminals before the
- oh l.
understand this distinctly and govern
themselves accordingly, or they will find
their power weakened and their influence
destroyed, both by force of additional
laws and the combinations of capital
which they provoke.
II union men may say that non-union
men shall not be employed at certain
establishments or trade, employers may say
they will not give work to member of
union. The right is equal on both sides,
if it has any existence.
1t would be much better for all parties
concerned if these conflicts were ended
| by mutual Cancellation. If they cannot
be, it is easy to predict the final result.
Capital may suffer, business interests
may be crippled, the general welfare may
be endangered, but the laboring classes
will bear the brunt of the battle. Those
who depend for a living upon wages
earned by toll will go down in the I'M
equaled fight, and the end will be wide
spread and terrible disaster. Let labor
unions be warned in time and keep with
in the lines of the law and OF the rights OF
man.
Merely in Fun.
Hdrpeq's Bazaar: Old Party in Cable Car
Conductor, what's the matter with this
car that it should jerk SO? Conductor-It's
got the grip.
HayDer's Bazaar: ssDear me,'' cried