The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-12
CAPITAL AND L1BoRs TRUSTS.
Knight of Labor Looks on tho Great
Combinations with Approval.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In an
article entitled Trust Truths in Thursday
mornings Issue OF THE Sun Mr.. n. Yelwor Of
Meriden. Conn. informs. or tries to inform, an
interested public that labor unions are trusts
Just as much 30 as those great industrial COM
binatons which are at present receiving the
kind attentions Of the Legislatures OF most Of
the States. not to mention political parties and
conventions OF reformers, and that the said
labor unions should therefore refrain from at
lacking their all-too- powerful industrial coun-
terparts.
agree with your correspondent that labor
unions are trustlike In recognizing. as the
more generally execrated industrial combna-
tons. better known as trusts. have long ago
recognized. the fact that competition instead OF
being the life is really the death OF trade. and
they have evidenced that recognition by
abolishIng competition among their members.
member OF labor union is taught that he
must not deprive his more fortunate fellow
member OF employment by Offering his SER
vices for less than the wage scale adopted at
meeting by u majority OF the Nom bers in
other words. the organization will not tolerate
competition among the members. We're this
not the case workmen would be continually
in danger Of being deprived OF work by other
men Offering to do the same work for less
wages than those who are fortunate enough
to be employed. as Is now done by the unor-
ganized toilers The above mentioned aboli-
tton OF competition among organized workmen
IS to my mind the only excuse the enemies OF
labor organizations have for calling the organi-
cations trusts.
While labor unions do not approve OF the
methods used in the business transactions Of
ne large Industrial .cornorations, neither do
trusts as such, They realize that the urinci-
pies embodied IN the trusts OF the present day
are but the crude and unaeyeloped PRINCIPLES
members q society LUCKY enough, to possess
the views expressed In a certain evening news
paper not long ago. that society Is in itS teeth
latter may hurt for While: they come high,
butw must have them they, will be OF incaCu-
liable benefit when We shall have learned how
properly to use them. No better example for
universal cooperation can be found than that
system OF cooperation in vogue at present in
the great exclusive corporations. which have
30 few defenders.
As l have pointed out, Mr., Yelwor Is mis-
y5eny to the p sdn eSf e
the trusts; It would be rather moons istent for
them 70 be SO opposed, especially SO in view Of
| their utmost to bring about the very system OF
| cooperation for universal application that the
| trusts are at present maintaining tor their own
exclusive benefit. The following extract will
| bear me out in the above statement an extract
| taken from the preamble and declaration o.
| principles Of one OF the powerful labor organ
| No. 2l.-To establish cooperative institu-
tons, such as will tend to supersede the wage
| system by the introduction OF cooperative in
I dustrial system"
1t will readily be seen that that labor organ
| I2ation at any rate, does not indulge in. the
| violent OPPOSITION" which tbs. gentleman from
| Connecticut likens unto the pot calling the
| E"ttle black" But don't think because labor
| organizations do not as a rule violently at
tack trusts they are. therefore. afraid Of max.
| ing themselves liab bic 70 he charged with call.
| ing the kettle black Their only hope Of real.
| ling their desired universal cooperation is ir
| the event OF tho present industrial comb ina.
tions growing so vast and powerful that the
| Government. in selt-protecton. will absort
| them. F. W.. O X. OF l..
! New YORK. July9.