The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-15
SEATTLE. MONDAY. JUNE Is.
EMrLoYEg AND EMPLoYE.

EMPLOYER AND EMPLoYE.
II IN so rarely that corporation goes
on. of It's way TO 60 Justice 10 discharged
employees that the recent action OF Pres
,dent Huntington deserves notice and
communication Hs sas ordered that those
employes Of the Southern Pacific and CEN
trail Pacific railroads who were discharged
on account of participation In the strike
OF 1894 shall be re-enployed as rapidly az
opportunity offers
The reasoning upon which President
Huntington bases his action L. not new.
but /, Ia decidedly novel as coming from
a high authority In railroad matters and
II may be accepted as laying down code
OF ethics which II will be well IL other
railroad men. employers and employees.
adopt lie makes. distinction between
the discharge OF men for incompeteney
and that OF men led into an error or jadg-
ment The FIRST IS clearly right and the
latter must be subject to circumstances
II that error OF judgment be only In ieav-
ing a company's employ because of dis
satisfaction with his wages or treatment,
any man has the right even 20 commit
that error OF judgment. provided that In
doing IL he does not infiict injury to prop
erty by way OF revenge.
The rixht OF an employe TO blacklist an
other employee or 20 blacklist company
II utterly untenable. and no less unjust
and indefensible Ia the blackllsting OF dis
charged employees. The effect Is the same
In both cases. In one the employer IL not
content to discharge the employe. but
seeks to prevent his obtaining employ
ment elsewhere. In the other the dis
charged employe IL not content to leave
his employer but seeks TO prevent him
securing other help In his place.
When each recognizes the right OF the
other to voluntarily discharge himself
from the relation OF either employer or
omploye. a better spirit VIII prevail. It
In infamous that an employer, whether
corporation or individual, shall seek to
prevent his discharged employe obtaining
work from another employer. But does
not the same objection arise az to the
employs who discharges his employer and
"blackiists'' him SO that he cannot OBJ
tain the services of another employer
Mr.. Huntington claims the right. which
cannot be denied him. to employ those
whom he prefers by reason of their ex-
perisnee. reliability. good character and
general availability. and TO refuse to en-
ploy those In whom he has no confidence
But having done that. he says. Il Is nJna
Of his business TO follow those he does not
Ike or approve OF and prevent them set
ting work elsewhere. IL Is not always a
question of competency. it Is often enc OF
availability. A man may sometimes he
very efficient. yet through Incompatible
ity of disposition or temper fail 20 work
agreeahly With those around him. al
though In another employment and sar-
rounded by different conditions he might
be perfectly satisfactory
The rght 10 seek higher wages or diff
fercnt terms OF any kind Is inalienably
that OF every man. The rlght TO "strlks."
when thar means the voluntary reln-
anishment Of employment. Is no less abso-
late. Bat when men not only refuse 20
work themselves. but seek by foree 20
prcsen, others taking their places. they
are "hlacklisting" just as much as doe.
the employer who not only discharges a
man but seeks 20 prevent othsfs giving
him employment
We know. and deeply regret. mat som.
employers attempt 10 take advantage az
the necessities - employees. 20 Impose
harsh terms upon them. and to rreveat
this trades uuianixsn has been found ths
most effective weapon, Rat tAe freedom
of mea IS teopsrttsea when q is ss,sEht
to force them io do that which they nav
b unwilling 20 30. II al employers an
aaoa, in seod tal,s the peiisy laid down
by NJ Huntingdon. a new era IN .he So
iaslons between employer ana eae,s,a4
would be 'naaSurs'ed. ar3 there voala -
no provecation Ter dtsaAtlsaea rss7 "a va.
late al law aud order aa8 seek hv xta-
ienee. Intimidation aaA aes,russi,n =,
property to enfores their ciai-us -aers :.
a. 'as1lncs o. iastiee ia sAe breast ef man
bar % has Seen awarssa ana warned ~
desperation against iagasssce.
II employers wculi but rssoent~s "a.
their s'npleyes caa 20 made ,he,r h.~.
friends by fair treatment aas assss~s-e.
fran sreeay eTosts 20 wrsst srara thrr
an unfair proportion q me r-,assa,s,,,.
q their tcia; efreyss ghsrs uosss p. $40,
Few s,rlSos ara never sHy rlotous ea-tl,..
Between espitai ana LATER tae-s can -
70 eonaici; they are atysreat for-ns -
the same eeosoaie feree. oa, hst~sen
earierer ara en9'oys fSsre IS eften /.
ocaniet, ana SIS IRIS ,atssoss cense4ssn,s.
to0EsFslxe a. rsseral -rrs,s-ltv