The record-union., 1894-08-24

1t is not question of Old Crank's dol
lars and desires. but Of civilization. If
he wants in his American fellows the
civilization of the bare-eXistence-wag
his plan VIII secure it. If be prefers
few rooms less in his mansion ana
neighbor who will honor his own civiliza-
ton, he will get ii only by paying wage
requisite.
Now, which is best for all the COM
munity, Crank's plan of some grand
mansion, with mechanics in novels and
peasant conditions, or less grandeur III
mansion and mechanics in cottages, rais-
ing men and women to the State TO adorn
and defend it?
Suppose Old Crank's neighbor, seeing
how he saved money by taking OF the
mechanics cloth, follows his example
and builds house and fixes a wage and
forces men TO accept it, because OF the cry
OF their children for bread and shelter
and care; then suppose the next fellow,
seeing what these two have done does the
same; that then the chaps down town ana
up town hear of it and do the same
won't that have a tendency to cut the
wages down of all mechanics who build
houses, and along the whole line, TO the
level of bare necessity? If so. what is
the use of the combination of labor?
Why, it seems to me one of them is to
peacabIy and decently, and that's how IL
looks 10 me.
Now, then, as to Old Crank's brother.
His "suayity," like his eider's is simply
the ley cruelty of cold business; the
policy that declares: 81 want and |
Will have, no matter at what cost OF
human suffering." If the union builders
talked to him as he says they did. they
were l-bred fellows, and he ought to
a
betterment of their manners. But when
the distressed workers came to him as TO
his elder brother, like him he Speculated
upon their necessity. and taking Oft their
garment uncovered their nakedness also.
When the union workers, however, at
tempted 10y any violence or rudeness TO
prevent these poor wretches from work
ing for the rich wretch they were in the
wrong and ought to have been punished.
Whoever beat and waylaid the workers
and called them scabs. were criminals
and ought to have been brought to the
punishment of the law.
/, not a union man, see no wrong in a
trade union rightly conducted. Their
original conception was wise; their
announced ends are good; their
aims are for the betterment of work
ers, and the better of such are
the better for our country. If i'll their
methods unions act unwiseiy, and
tramp over the rights of others to
be free to do lawfully with their own
as they please, then they deserve re-
proach, as do other human institutions
that are made weapons instead OF helps.
Trade unions, rightly used, are good
things; badly used, they are bad things.
So are other associations OF men. Who
ever beats, kills or boycots another COM
mits crime, and he is not entitled to go
free.
Now. that is the way I, not union
man, not mechanic, but a worker; not
mansion dweller, but cottager; not a
crank, bat a man Of human sympathy,
who wants the best possible civilization
for his loved country, look upon these
matters. The old cranks and the brutal
workmen l would chain together, and let
them figh it out in some cool retreat far
distant from men who believe in the
motto: LIVE AND LET LIVE"