The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-10-31
lain a place higher than any yet
reached.
Blacklist and Boycott.

Blacklist and Boycott
The Cleveland street car strike has
given the boycott a promiaent place In
public discussion. And discussion oil
the boycott brings up the blacklist. TIL
relation between the two is forcefully
pointed out by Governor Thomas OF
Colorado in a recent message accom-
panying his veto of bill to repeal a
law forbidding boycotting. The law
in question forbids both the blacklist
and the boycott, but measure passed
the legislature repeating the prohibit
ton on boycotting Governor Thorn
as says, In part: 1.-THE boycott and
ferent means Of accomplishing the
same result Each is a method of CO.
| ercion and punishment. Both are based
on previous agreement and depend for
their success upon concert OF action
by those interested. The blacklist is
weapon which does it's work silently
and insidiously. 1t is employed by the
few and the powerful against the many
and the weak. The boycott is an agen-
cy which may be secret or open; gem
orally the latter. 1t Is usually en-
ployed by the many against the few
and attracts attention because Its oper-
alton is nearly always unconcealed. 1t
Is also utilized by the lovers of the
blacklist, and sometimes most effec-
tually. The blacklist is the safer prac.
fc he oix,ia
on, and operates as the poison does.
The boycott Is less attractive, because
1t is not hidden. 1t is akin to physi-
cal violence, and frequently becomes
that. Each Is obnoxious to sound
morality and to common law. They
are weapons which the interests Of So
ciety forbid the use of, and their ends
are identical-the punishment of com
panies and individuals by citizens, who
take the law into their own hands and
thereby interfere with the ordinary
course OF justice. The citizens should
resort to neither; but to the law. IT
that is disregarded or unfairly admin
lstered, the remedy is with the people.
at the ballot box. The most serious
fact urged In behalf of this bill is that
some OF the great companies in the
state disregard and violate the black
list section with impunity, while labor
organizations are held to strict &C.
countability under the law. This is
SAID to result from the difficulty of de-
tecting the one and concealing the on
Grafton of the other There is. unfor-
tunately, too much truth in this state
ment. Those who cry loudest against
iaWlessness and anarchy are frequently
unmindful of their civic duties and the
mandates of legislation. The power
iul syndicate, entrenched in power and
authority, oyerrides prohibitions and
pehaltles, snaps its fingers in the faces
OF the people and sets at naueht the
limitations of statutes and constitu-
lions. Labor is initiative. IT cannot
understand why obligations should be
unequal or retaliation should not he
fair. Its mistakes and it's offenses
nave been copied from the conduct of
those above 1t, and 1t is not surprising
that 1t sometimes seeks to better the
instruction. IT. therefore, the statute
against blacklisting is held in contempt
ana dlsregarded by those it was meant
TO restrain, why should that against
poycotting remain as an obstacle to
retaliation? Those who use the black
iist must answer, and unless they shall
comply with laws like these, the time
is coming when the answer must be
exacted. The sublimist maxim of iur-
isprudenee is that he who seeks equity
must do equity. The suppliant for re-
lief and protection is denied both when
he In turn denies them to his adversary
Burke long ago declared Justice to be
the great standing policy of society,
and any departure from it under anv
to be no policy at ALL