The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-16

of a days work while falling to recog-
nize the complaint of the men against
the 'rusher' being allowed TO set the
pace for fair days wage; in avowed-
ly waging their warfare for-industrial
liberty and free labor while curtailing
the small contractors freedom to COM
pete, If they refused to join the asso-
citation, by cutting off their supply of
material and labor.
Public opinion on the other hand
claims the right to criticise frankly and
fearlessly the policy of the Building
Trades council. 1t criticises the policy
that tolerates the acceptance of ap-
pointive political offices as the most
disastrous policy that has. ever par
alyzed the power or menaced the fu-
ture Of organized labor in Chicago.
These offices are offered as subsidies.
Their incumbents are really held as
hostages for the delivery of the labor
vote. This policy keeps even the best
and most incorruptible union officers
under cloud of suspicion; tempts the
worse and weaker leaders to pervert
both their labor leadership and their
political office from the public service
to their personal advantage; destroys
the confidence not only of the public
but of the rank and file of the unions
in the integrity of the movement and
breeds the foul fear that mercenary
motives and even blackmailing meth
DDS characterize the fairest and most
sacrificial struggles for economic JUS
tice and industrial rights.
THE resort to violence is in the pub
lie mind not only indefensible but sui
cidal to the best interests of union
labor. 1t costs the cause of organized
| labor not only the deeper alienation of
non-union labor, which is its only
source of growth and power, but also
the support and even the fair hearing
| of the public, which is the only hope
| of the ascendency of it's principles. II
| organized labor would win it's case be-
| fore the jury of public opinion it must
abandon it's partisan political affiia-
tions. 1t must abjure and to the ut
most of it's ability prevent violence. 1t
must purge itself from any just sus-
picion of being bought and sold for
| blackmaiing. The one hope of a per-
manent solution of the present intoler-
able situation lies in a fair and effect
i've effort by impartial men, who have
the confidence of the people, to inform
and arouse the public to take the set
tlement of this issue into it's own hands.
The findings of such an independent
| investigating commission would at this
| point of the struggle arouse an ire
sistible public opinion that would see
justice done and overwhelm any selfish
class interests that dared to Withstand
its verdict From the damage to the
industrial reputation of Chicago, due
| to the wide advertisement of the in
security of labor and capital, of person
and property here, it will take the peo-
pie of the whole city years to recover
If both contestants in this fateful
struggle value what either of them may
save out of its wreckage they will make
haste to recognize the public to be a
party to their controversy and make
way for its right to be heard"
straightforward shoulder talk like
this from men known to be honest and
unprejudiced is what is needed in every
center of dssaffection between men
who sell their labor and men who buy
it. Above all is the right of the public
to selfprotection, a right too often ne,
elected.