Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-07
WHY STRIKE AT ALL?

And why have lOckOutS or bOycottS?
These questions confront civilization at
this late day and the American people
ought to solve them.
The theory of the common law is that
engaGements to perform service create
an obligation on each side which should
not be violated. If it is for fixed time
and either party breaks the contract, the
other may recover damages from him.
And if not for definite time, the law
implies that reasonable notice shall be
given of an intention to end the service.
In practice the length of notice is the
time between pay days. In many cases,
labOreTs who have been turned off have
sued their employers and recovered, but
seldom if ever in recent years have en-
plOyers tried to recover from workmen
who have quit without notice. This is
partly because many workmen are with
out property, and partly because labor
organizations have it in their power to
prejudice an employer who should thus
try to maintain his rights.
Now justice should hold an even bal
ance. If labor organizations have means
for maintaining strikes, their funds
ought to be held liable for damage proved
by employers, arising from either
Slllhb VI a. DONtOIJ anu IL tbl CilDlONbl
unjustly locks out his help, or blacklists
them, he should be compelled to pay
them damages. 1t is, however, against
public policy to have a multiplicity of
suits. Therefore the services of pub
lie board-call it of arbitration, or con-
ciliatiOn, or justice, what you will
might be of value to both parties.
But since in modern times there are
Of ooYifol on1 10 hOr
these private employments transcend
private interests. Already it is recog-
nized in law that railroad companies are
quasi-public corporations, not because
they employ so many men but because
they sustain such close relations to the
business and convenience of the whole
people, Should not this now become
the rule in regard to other large corpora
tions2 The strike at Pullman was
against manufacturing company, but it
was Immediately extended, through
sympathy or otherwise, until it con-
vulsed several States. Many other
strikes or lockouts in manufacturing
towns have practically paralyzed the
whole local community, and, by affect
ing prices, have extended hardship to
many distant places. One of the bad eff
in New Bedford, that not only do the
merchants suffer falling off in trade,
but the strikers pass the hat among
them for contributions to sustain the
strike, and with unmistakable hints that
those who do not give will be boycotted.
without going further into the details
of public inconvenience from such labor
disturbances, everybody knows that
they have become of such magnitude
that they ought to be classed as public
wrongs. 1t is time, therefore, for public
prevention. The remark commonly
made, even by judges, that every man
has right to quit work, is not good law
or good morals, unless it is accompanied
with the proviso that he gives reasonable
notice and enters into no, conspiracy to
iuduce others to quit at the same time.
Strikes, lockouts and boycotts should be
made penal offenses, and the law should
be enforced. Such law will be of
greater benefit to honest labor than to
any other interest, but it will be an i'm
mense gain to the whole public and the
public has suffered long enough without
it.-Home MAJ iket Bulletin.