The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-20

/ - 70 thtHtA II ~ IT III.
Judge Jackson, Of tho United States
| Court. in rendering a decision concerning
the street railway strike at Wheeling.
| W. Va. laid down q principle that is Of
vital interest 90 society. lie said that
he was not there for the purpose OF ad-
miuistering sympathy to either the street
| railway company. or TO those who have
been employed by that company known as
strikers who were insisting upon an in
crease of wages. In free country Ike
ours" he went on. competition in every
department OF life is open TO every citi-
zcn lie who by dDigent and continuous
effort acquires not only competency,
but fortune. has the right TO be pro-
tcctcd foo IT, on the other hand a laborer
of the country. who maintains and sup
ports himself and his family by his daily
Toll has an equal right TO be protected.
II that principle be not recognized. then
there can be DO organized society and
no man is sale in his property rights.
Every man has the right TO conduct his
own business ia his own way, 50 long
as he does not infringe upon the rights
of others But IL the employees are 10 dc
tate TO him, are 20 nX the scale of wages
and the hours Of labor are to force him
TO pay more wages or TO work upon
shorter hours than his business viii
justify. IL is only Il question of time be-
fore his property viii be destroyed. Judge
Jackson brought this question home TO
the strikers in a forcofGl manner. sup
pose" said DE. eve reverse the situation
upon This question. ami the employer de-
tcrmiucd TO reduce the VagesAof the en-
ploycs in the service Of the company
The employer cannot compel his employees
TO serve for reduced rate of wages. II
he cannot is fl right ana proper that the
employo should in seeking to have his
wages increased. take such steps as 10
coerce the employer 10 comply with his
request. without knowing whether or not
the employer can afford to do it,
10 is "a bad rule that does not work both
ways II ana cmploye can force his en-
ploycr TO increase the scale Of wages and
compel him TO keep his enterprise i'm
IIffl .I'iIl N4l'Nlil d. jay Ut lDAf iiN u ~
the same token The employer can force /
the employee 10 work for him at starya- /
tion wages.
We do not blame the workngman for {
doing the best that ne can for himself. /
We have no quarrel with labor organiza- /
lions per se Laborms men have the I
same right TO organize for their protec- /
ton and to form a labor trust that !
business men have TO organize for their /
protection and form manufacturing OF |
commercial crust" But when it comes /
90 coercion on either side. it is quite
different matter Coercion Will not do
aud win not succeed I'M the early days /
Of trusts an attempt was made 10 coerce
purchasers into paying exorbitant prices
for the product Of the trusts, but the /
people would not submit to il and tie
trusts soon learned that en- order make
their business successful, they must not
coerce the people, must not abuse their
power but must on the contrary. cater
TO the people by giving them the very
best article for their money. And so
labor organizations. as long as they are
conducted upon a liberal principle. VIII
always be respected and will be d benefit
TO the masses, but whenever n labor
organization assumes TO bee autocrauc
attempts TO- enforce rules that are unreas-
enable. or scale of wages thai is higher
than the market price of labor, such an
organization will almost surely come to
grief. Labor organizations, like all
other organizations. must work upon the
great American principle Of live and let
live