The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-05-21

him by the corporations. A shut out Is
no worse IN It's effects than an enforced
strike. 1t is no worse to be black-llsted
than to be denied the privilege OF going
TO work, When the laborer by means OF
organization assists in running the busl-
ness of people against whom he has no
real or fancIed grievance, he is going TO
a greater extreme than do corporations
when they black list, because he inflIcts
a wrong upon those who have given him
no cause for enmlty. What mercy | to
others show, that mercy show to me-
should be plea which all honest men
striving for their rights might cCnsclentI-
usly urge. 1t is not those who express
approval of indefenslble acts who are the
safest counselors Nor are those to be
trusted who have interested motive in
the advice they give.
We may speak with forbearance Of
Indefensible acts committed by those who
are suffering some deprivation from what
ever cause. Men will do things under
stress of sense of Injury which they would
not think or under normal conditions.
The striking street car men have deported
themselves wonderfully we'll under the
| circumstances, and no grievous blame
should attach to them If they employed
the boycott as a means of forcing a re-
storation OF their old places. But the
| boycott is rarely successful and is too
much in the brigand style of seeking re-
| dress to win public approval. II hurts
the cause IN whose behalf it is invoked.
| When one considers the boycott as
managed in Milwaukee by businessmen,
| politicians and that class which will
| always shout with the largest mob, the
| seriousness Of the situation becomes lost
| Ii contempt for the parties engaged N 1t,
and surprise at the fOOlIshness of ac-
| quiescence and even active participation,
| gives way to wonder at the cOwardlce or
petty hopes of advantage which induced
such ready acceptance of the edict. 1t is
difficult to conceive Of that degree Of
servllity of spirit which will prompt a
man TO apologize for or deny through the
| puUlc press, that which he has perfect
right to do which is legal and proper. A
man has a right to demand that another
f, refrain from the exercise of an undOubted
| privilege, but compliance is cOWardIy.
Morally, it is criminal because it encOura-
ges coercion If later compliance be re-
! fused. Parties who refused TO sell sup
| plies TO the railway company appear pitt
FIJI in their cringIng attitude of fear. 1t
was no moral consideration which in
| duced the refusal. There is not brothel
in Milwaukee which would be refused if
payment was assured. 1t was not to
work injury to the company because the
company's field of purchase is not cIrcum-
scribed. 1t was cowardIce and of kind
that units the parties yielding to it to
properly exercise the duties of citizen
ship.
The boycott Is weapon so dangerous
To private interests that laws are enacted
against it, as against other evil practices
which endanger individual rights. But
| Milwaukee buTies the weapon in her own
bosom and gloats over the deed us de-
| serving commentator. Such faulty is
without parallel. 1t can not find It's
| fellow IN any other city in the world.
| A professional labor agltator from out
| n baa fol har
citizens what to do. They tumble over
one another in their haste to obey his
| behests. What a confession of helpless
| ness What a spectacle for the metropolis
of the great state of Wisconsin to present!
What a guaranty of the futurei Whom
the gods would destroy they first make
| mad"
When 1t became evident the railway
company could supply the places of the
| men who walked out, genuine sympathy
| for the men would have Counseled re
turn of all those for whom places we're
left. a half loaf is better than no bread
| But no; the violence Of mobs was relied
upon to force Il settlement. Milwaukee
approved of train wrecklng and made
war upon the police. Violence failed and
the boycott was resOrted to andMllwaukee
| clapped her hands in delight. 1t was
history repeating itself! Nero fiddling
while Rome was burning. The boycott
will fail as violence did, and as both
should, and as it is to be hoped always
will, if law Is to live and government
survive. While the boycott is on the
chances of the men are growing less. Ii
the people of Milwaukee could be lnocu-
men would be advised to Ieturn to work
But no; while they suffer, another expert
ment Is to be tried and horses are
matched against electricity Shade of
Don Qulxote, why was not your field of
operations In behalf of distressed hu-
mainly in Milwaukee? Horses against
electricity! Milwaukee will soon be look
ing for an Indian trail over which to send
its mail by courier to Green Bay. Presi-
dent Mahon tells them that buses are
coming in large numbers and the people
prostrate themselves before him and
shout Great art thou. oh, Mahon, our
deliverer."
There is no sane man who believes
that the bus business can exist in any
live city. A persistence in the policy
Milwaukee, has been pursuing the last
few year, will make 'busses very appro-
pirate vehicle of conveyance for its peo-
pie.
II The Pilot could reach the street car
employees of Milwaukee, it would offer
them this advice, and it Is that of a man
who has been labOrer himself: Give the
walking delegate his passport and deal
yourselves with your employers. Beware
of the Greeks when they come bearing