The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-10
Two Strike Lessons.

The strikes now in progress in Chi
cago and ST. Louis only repeat with
emphasis the two lessons which the peo-
pie Of this country, or any other where
liberty and order are to be more than
empty names, must learn before differ
ences between employer and employed
can be settled with justice to the parties
and the public. The duty of the author
tiles lies in preserving the public peace
with a strong hand. The duty Of labor
lies in a REIMBURSEMENT Of the denial
to non union labor of the right to work.
If these two duties were performed, we
should have far fewer strikes in the
first place, and we should see them
composed without the disturbances
that now mark too often their
progress to close. 1t Is more
than strange that the principles so
fundamental, 80 necessary to the free
dom of labor as well as to any sort
of government. should be so slow to
find recognition and acceptance.
The right of q man to employ labor
on terms that 1t is willing to accept.
and the right OF every man to take such
work If It pleases him, are absolute.
The demand OF organized labor In some
places that the man outside of the or
ganization should be blacklisted. can
never be maintained in a free country.
II It could, tyranny would have usurped
the place of liberty. The amazing de-
mand of the St. Louis street railway
employees that all their fellows should
be compelled" to join the union Is on
a par with a demand by employers
that men should desert their unions I'M
der penalty of discharge. The right to
go in implies the right 10 stay out.
Unions, properly conducted. are most
helpful to organized labor. But when
the union workingman requires the dis
charge of his non-union fellow. or de-
nies to him the right to employment IL
he can get IL. he Injuries only his own
cause. He supports a principle which
is evil in itself and which can never
command the support or>the aoquies-
eenee Of the American people.
Public authorities everywhere are
dereiict in taking proper precautions TO
protect law and order when labor trou-
| bles arise IL is the universal testimony
that most or all OF the tendency to riot
Gus conduct IS exhibited by those who
have no share in the dispute whatever.
| Where disturbances occur. not one In a
| hundred Of the participants Is striker.
| There Is In every large city a heavy
! disorderiy element. held in check only
/ by fear OF the penalties Of the law The
| announcement OF strike stirs the
/ blood q these hoodlums, and they gath
/ err instantly in mobs, prepared to make
/ mischief lor the sake q mischief They
care nothing for the worNngman or
/ his cause, but they use his name as a
/ cover fer thar lawiessness. In nearly
| an cases where destruction OF property
or loss Of life accompanies strike. II
is found that the guilty parties are not
strikers. but outlaws and desperadoes
who have no connection with labor.
This is now SO we'll established that
the authorities everywhere should act
upon il. The declaration OF a strike
upon an extensive scale should be the
signal for torbidding the gathering Of
asSemblages Of people upon the public
highways. The nucleus Of a mob is
formed OF the idle. the curious and the
vicious Compel them to dispense and
so about their business. and there Will
! be no mob. Vigorous action at the be-