The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26
STRIKES AND INJUNcTIONS.
From the Chicago Record.

From the Chicago Record.
So long as society accepts and toler-
ates the strike as a method Of settling
Industrial disputes society should insist
| on fair and equal treatment for both
| parties to the contest. One combatant
should not be allowed to take unfair ad-
vantage of the other. nor should the
power of the government be exercised to
the benefit of one party and the detriment
of the other 1t Is the duty of the govern
ment to see that law is preserved and
| that rights are not infringed. But it's
attitude toward the contending parties
should be one of strict neutrality.
Time was when the workingman who
| did not like the terms of employment
| stipulated by one employer could leave
and seek employment with any number
| of other persons engaged In similar
| line of business, and thus better his lot.
| But conditions are different today. The
| employer in most cases represents a vast
| aggregation of capital, with which the
| individual workman cannot cope success
| fully. Whether he likes IL or not, the
| fact remains that under present condi-
| tions the laborer has little hope of bet
! tering himself, so far as wages and hours
are concerned except through comblna-
| ton with his fellow-workmen. One in
| dividual by Withholding his labor from
| the market-that is, refusing to work.
| could accomplish nothing A union of
workingmen, by Withholding their COL
| lective labor from the market may force
| the employer to grant the concessions
asked for. OF course the success of
| these efforts depends on the ability to
| control to a considerable degree all the
| labor In particular line that is put on
| the market. The only way this labor
can be controlled is by it's being organ
| lied into a union. If the laborers con-
tiner cd, Co.. 1t,
| can, by peaceable means, induce other
| laborers in the same line to associate
with them, clearly they should have the
| right to do so. The government in no
| way should. hinder them in so doing, so
| long as they try only peaceable means
of persuasion else it seriously handicaps
one of the parties to the strike.
O.
The employer of course has the right
| to hire men where he can. 1t is not fair
| that these men, when hired should be
| driven away by violence on the part of
the strikers or anybody else. The gov
| ernment should punish the perpetrators
or such violence as 1t would punish per-
| sons committing any other like offense
against the law. 1t is entirely within the
| right of the employer, too, for him to
| forbid entrance upon his premises by
| strikers who would persuade his work.
| ingmen to quit. But It also ought to be
| recognized as entirely competent for
strikers to attempt to induce the laborers
at work to cease work and associate with
the union. If the strikers can accomplish
| this object by peaceable persuasion and
| appeals to reason they should be al
| lowed to do so without any interference
| whatever from the government. In Eng
land, where labor organizations have
| passed beyond the stage of violence,
| this right Is recognized by the govern
ment, and "picketing," as it is called,
| Is sanctioned. This Is, the union, when
| hghting an employer, is allowed to sta
| ton "pickets" just outside his prem
| ises and try to induce the workmen as
they go to and from work to Join the
| strikers.
The attempt of employers to harass the
| strikers with injunctons from the courts
| in carrying on such a campaign is an
| attempt to use the government in the in
Ierest or one side as against the other.
| Ihe injunction ought not to be brought
into the matter at ALL It's tendency is 10
! take the administration of law from the
| executive branch of government where
| 1t belongs, and lodge 1t with the iudic-
| iary. If striker has committed an Of
| 1ense he should be arrested and punished
| III there Is danger that an offense will
| De committed it is the duty of the adj
| mlnlstrators of the law to be on hand
TO stop the perpetrator and arrest him
| on the spot. But to enjoin a striker who
| mas committed no offense from commit
| tlng oftense is to put the brand of Grim
| lnahty upon him without warrant, and
| tnus place him at a disadvantage with
| ms opponent, when the government
should remain entirely neutral.