The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-02
THE LABOR USION> AND iHE
MILITARY.

.
The news comes out to the country
from New YORK that the labor unions
there propose TO boycott all members OF
the state volunteer militia who will not
pledge themselves TO get out OF the mill
tary service OF the state at the earliest
opportunity. This is OF "a piece with the
announcement we had here six months or
so back that the labor unions Of Rich
mond had forbidden any OF their mem
beers TO Join the military organizations
here.
Now II is 10 be borne in nina that the
entire part which the military has at any
time taken In cases of strikes is to pre-
vent turbulent strikers from destroying
property. blocking the byways and beat
ing non-union men. Whcn, therefore.
the labor unions set their faces against
military organizations on account OF the
part they have played IN the various
strikes. 1t is the same thing as if they
declared that they consider IT their right
when thcir members so into a strike 10
destroy property. block the highways and
beat DOn-union men who may tane the
places that they have vacated. Action
OF this sort means this, and cannot mean
anything else.
or course. there is not one man in a
Thousand outside OF the labor unions who
Will tolerate any such suggestion as this
II is undoubtedly true. as experience
demonstrates more and more clearly each
day. That the members OF the labor
unions OF this country whatever may
be the proiessed principles Of the unions,
understand their combinations into or
GaniZations TO be a system which will
enable striking Workmen 10 apply over
whelming physical force TO persons who
differ in opinion from them, until the
latter surrender their views and accept
the views OF the union men. This idea.
though not expressed IN the constitutions
and rules OF the unions. is plainly IN most
union mems mind. II is in the nature
OF the faith and common law of the mem
bers OF the labor unions, and they there
fore consider military ORGANIZATIONS that
restrain strikers and prevent them from
applying coercive physical force to those
VINO differ with them regarding their
rights. as tyrannca! meddlers with the
rights and privileges OF the citizen.
Fortunately for the peace ana order
OF society, there are no persons. or very
few. except members OF labor unions. who
hold this opinion, or we should have muir
der, arson and bloodshed always prevail.
Ing in the large cities.
The peaceful strike L. q weapon which
all men concede 10 the Iaboring man. and
II laborers would strike In an orderly
and lawful way, the strike IS capable Of
being converted into a powerful engine
for securing justice to them. II fixes
public attention upon the unjust conduct
OF an employer. ana no man ever yet
was able 10 stand up and defy the moral
opinion OF mankind, when the case is
LETT without the embarrassments that dis
order and violence cloud 1t with. But
It's enteire power Tor good 20 the work
man is destroyed as soon as he brings
violence into the strike. He Immediately
turns against himself all men who do
not belong to his unions When the
laborer learns mat the public viii sup
port him in a peaceful strike but Will
always almost unanimously condemn him
in a strike accompanied with violence. he
can make the strike OF great avail 10
himself, but never as he uses II now.