The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-04
Buncombe, Pure and Simple.

An instructive example of the inSin-
cerity and clap trap which characterize
too much state legislation in this coun-
try is afforded by the favor shown at
Harrisburg to the bill which seeks to
prohibit every Pennsylvania corpora
tion, under penalty of $1,000 to $1,000
fine, from discharging a workman for
belonging to a labor organization. On
its face this bill looks like measure in
the interest of labor, but under the sur
face it is a gross deception, as the
slightest analysis will show.
In the first place. the right of con-
tract is something which the legisla-
ture of Pennsylvania cannot abridge
or annul, try as hard as it may. The
constitutions Of the state and of the
United States both forbid it and the
courts in innumerable instances have
killed bills which undertook to accom-
plish this purpose. An employer of la
Dor, whether physical man or an ar
tificial entity called corporation, can
hire whom he pleases for as long as he
pleases and at such wages as he pleases
so long as the other party to the con-
tract consents, the legislature of Penn
sylvania Notwithstanding, An en-
ployer of labor in Pennsylvania can dis
charge a man or an employe can quit
working for an employer whenever he
sowills, unless there is a contract to the
contrary; and this right the legislature
cannot alter. This Is the fact and 1t is
also a wise and salutary fact, other
wise freedom would soon disappear.
But in the second place, even If such
bill could stand the test as to it's con-
stitutionality, it's enactment would
work injury instead of good to labor.
Upon this point Rufus Il. Shapley, of
Philadelphia, well says: aside from
the fact that any attempt to thus place
capital practically at the mercy of la
Dor organizations must necessarily
tend to deter capital from taking the
risks of such servitude, and thus to de-
prive laboring men Of the opportuni-
ties for employment which they now
enjoy, such law would practically de-
prive every laboring man of his natural
and constitutional right to work upon
such terms and for such wages as may
be obtainable and satisfactory to HIM
self, and would make IT practically i'm
possible for any man to hope to obtain
employment except by joining a labor
organization, or to hold such employ
ment except for such times and upon
such conditions as may be satisfactory.
not to himself, but to those who, from
time to time, control such labor organ
ization." 1t would, in other words,
make employment dependent to a GER
tain extent on the inside politics of la
Dor organizations and thus offer a con-
tinual incentive to restless spirits to
capture control of such organizations
for what they could find in 1t.
Why, then, is such a bill favored by
any number Of intelligent lawmakers ?
Simply because 1t gives them a chance
to pose before the unthinking as great
friends of the workingman, although
they know full well that the bill, If en-
acted, would not be worth the white
paper it is printed on, and would only
represent waste of public energy and
money. Is it any wonder that in view
Of such imposture as this there Is 6
growing popular dissatisfaction with
legislatures?