The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-30
AND UNFORTUNATE
MOVEMENT.

T, IL greatly to be regretted that inc
ro,reeen,aives OF the labor unions OF
Richmond have determined TO take meas
u-es for having ticket Of fve names run
in the coming primary election as 'he
ticket OF tie laboring men Of Richmoha
10 represent the city IF Richmond III inc
.,erinp Iegislatlre This ection pro-
Goods unon the nominal theory that labor
ing men are a part OF the community sep
arate and apart to themselves ana upon
the real theory that Democratic voters
who belong 70 labor unions are sep
arate part of the community. having
rights and interests peculiar to them
selves that are not common 10 the other
Democrats of the city. This is lalse
and mosi vicious theory that must cause
bad blood in the community. that VIII act
most iphriouslv upon all classes, ana
that must finally react upon the labor
unions themselves with crushing effect
There Is no Democratic laboring man in
Richmond whose true interests are dlier-
ent from the interests Of any other pela-
ocrat I'm Richmond. The true interest OF
every man is that the laws shall bear IN
exactly the same way upon all men. The
Democratic party seeks TO secure That
result. and no faction of Democrats has
any right to go off 10 themselves. and
say they will secure laws beneficial 10
themselves that fail to bring exactly the
same benefits to all other classes ana IN
dividuals This is. unfortunately. the spirit
that rules those who control the laoor
unions. Unfortunately for laborins men
and for the power OF labor unions to DO
good. those who control the unions aye
animated by a purpose TO cterce all
otlers into cCnceding what the unions de-
termine that they have a right 10 demand
Tbev look on all men who do not belong
10 the labor unions as enemies OF the
unions and of laboring men. and they so
out into a crusade against al mankind,
resolved 10 coerce the rest OF mankind
into concedng their demands and taking
the law as they may make IT, But all
men have the right OF free choice, ana
all laboring men have the right to De-
long to tie unions, and 20 sdopt their
aims or net as they please. II is for Ali
men TO consider the claims et up by
the uricns and to acoede TO them or reject
them as they may think they are sup
ported or condemned by reason. IL Is
not for the labor unions or FOR any other
agencies 10 coerce men into submitting
TO their demands. They must appeal 10
men'- reason and content Themselves
with the result which they may secure
by argument and persuasion. IL IL a part
OF the Mohamedan creed that all men
who are not Mohamcdans should be put
TO death. But the Madhists Of Upper
Egypt carry the doctrine further even
than that They think that all men-No-
hamedans. Jews, or Christians--who are
not Madhis,s should be put to death.
And such is the inevitable tendency OF
intolerance OF all sort. When the Hpor
union takes the ground that no working
man shall think or act save as the union
thinks and acts. it enters upon course
OF conduct that will lead il first 20 as
great extremes as the Mohamedans go
D.. 10. and after that 10 the extremes OF the
Madhists
IL would profit no man anything ~ tile
labor unions should. by casting thc-r
whole vote in the primary for five labor
union candidates. get more votes for
them than any other Ave candidates out
OF the whole number received. IL would
result in Richmond city being without
representation in the legislature The
labor unions would be represented. but
the city OF Richmond would not be. II
would be the triumph Of a faction instead
OF the average expression OF the Dem
ocratic voters OF the city. The delegation
would. OF course be utterly powerless In
the Legislature. because the Legislature
will be Overwhelmingly Democratic. and
he Democratic representatives would