The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-04-14
ORGANIZED LABOR.
It is Capitol Consisting OF brains ana
Muscle, md u Has the same Rights as
Organized Capital.

ORGANIZED SnptnIs
OMAHA, Ncb, April o. Organized la
Dor Thursday won its greatest victory
when, in the U. 5. circuit court, Judge
Henry c. Caldwell handed down his
decision in the Union Pacific wage
schedule contest. In the legal opinion
this declaration of the court stands out
most prominently: IA corporation is
organized capitals; it is capital consist
ing of money and property. Organ
lied labor is organized capital; 1t |
Is capital consisting of brains and
muscle. What it is lawful for one |
to do it is lawful for the other to do. 1t
is lawful for the stockholders and Of
ficers of n corporation to associate and
confer together for the purpose OF re-
ducing the wages of its employees, or OF
Lewiston of some other means of maxi
ing their investments profitable; 1t is
equally lawful for organized labor to as
sociate, consult and confer with view
to maintain or increase wages. Both act
for the promoting of enlightened sell
fishness and the action of both is law
full when no illegal or criminal means
are used or threatened.
1.-THE wages of the men must not be
reduced below reasonable and just
| compensation for their services They
must be paid fair wages, though no
| dividends are paid on the stock and no
interest paid on the bonds. 1t is a part
of the public history of the country. of
which the court will take judicial no
tice, that for the first $50, 600, 600 of
stock issued this company received less
than cents on the dollar and the profit
of construction represented by out
standing bonds was S43, 029, 32S34.
"There would seem to be no equity
in reducing the wages of the employees
below what is reasonable and just in
order to pay dividends on stock and in
terest on bonds of this character. The
recommendation of the receivers to
adopt their schedules can not be ac-
cepted by the court for another reason:
That schedule was adopted without af-
fording to the men or their representa-
tives any opportunity to be heard.
This was in violation of the agreement
existing between the company and the
men by the terms of which no change
of the schedule was to be made with
, out notice to the men and granting a
hearing. This was fundamental error
1.-THE receivers We're first to break the
contract between the court and its EN-
, ployes, but if the reverse had been the
case court could not have directed OIL
enjoned the men to continue in service
"Specific performance of contrac
to render personal service can not b'
enforced by injunction, by pain
and penalties, or by any othe
means. The period of compulsory per
, sonal service, save as punishment TO
4 crime, has passed in this county. II
this country it is not unlawful for e1n
ployes to associate, consult and ccnfe
together with a view to maintaining o
" increasing their wares by lawful an,
Il peaceful means. any more than it wa
y unlawful for the receivers to counse
: and confer together for the purpose O
: !, reducing their wages. A corporation
is organized capital; organized labor
U organized capital: what is lawful fo
one to do is lawful for the other"
Judge Caldwell then recites how tn
Z receivers went into court last Januar
to force reduction on the schedule C
y wages. The court then says that whe
a court of equity takes upon itself tn
conduct and operation of a great lin
of railroad, the men engaged in col
Quoting the business and operating th
r. road become the employees of the cour
sr and are subject to it's orders in a
matters relating to the discharge {
e, their duties, and entitled to its pr,
le lection.
An essential and indispensable II
a. quisite to the safe and succcssft
I'd operation of the road is the emplo,
Of ment of sober, intelligent, experience
so and capable men for that purpose
al When road comes under the maj
We agement of n court in which the en-
O. ployes are conceded topossess all the:
ic qualifications, and that concession
he made in the fullest manner here, IL
court will not, upon light or triv
TN grounds, dispense with their servic'
re or reduce their wages And whe
I'd the schedule of wages in for'
at the time the court assum
wv the management OF the rot
mt is the result of a natural agreement b
i'll tween the company and the employe
nd which has been in force for years, Il
"a. court will presume the schedule
w reasonable and just, and anyone dispu
ne ing that presumption will be require
'e to overthrow it by satisfactory proc
er This the court contends has not bee
e. done by the receivers, although tn:
in had all recommended that II cut
he made 1t is the courts belief that II
Sc receivers made the reques. ignorantl
rs only one of them is a practical ra
he road man. and their opinions upon t
w. subject of wages schedules is confe.
it. edly of little value"
IS Speaking of the brotherhood of
to comotive engineers. the brctherho
so of locomotive tiremen, the Jrder
railway conductors the ordc. of ra
. way telegraphers, the Union Paci
a. employees association. and the brotht
y. hood of railway trainmen, the decsi
Ut says: These labor organizations, Ii
RS the rules, regulations and schedule
nd had become established institutions
MS the system many years before the Il
its pointment of the receivers. Two of t
np ablest railway managers ever in /
nj system, and probably as able as Il
49, country has ever produced-Mr. 5.
% II. Clark and Mr. Edward Dickinso
Gu now general manager of the road
ot testify that these labor organizatio
rs on this system had improved the M
ais and efficiency of the men.
-, PEOPLE ACROSS THE SEA.
I n 2 4