The sun., 1901-08-11
The American Workman and HIS
Sense of Honor.

In ono OF the great manufacturing
concerns involved in the present steel
strike the men had signed q contract
agreeing to continue to work, for the
stated wages, until July I. 1909. The
contract had run but week when they
repudiated It on SHAPFER's order and
tied up the plant.
Now, we venture the assertion that
not one Of those men would have vio-
lated his contract had he made IL in his
individual capacity. We believe that
the personal contract Of Q steel worker,
or Of any other skilled artisan, Ii just as
good as that Of any merchant, banker,
capitalist or employer In tho country.
We believe that the laborer's sense Of
honor and integrity 10, in his own per-
sonal and individual capacity, just -
high and just as dear to him as that Of
any man In any other walk OF life.
How il it. then, that collectively. that
is, acting as units in q union, the work.
men cast all moral obligations to the
winds? 1t is very serious question.
1t means a great deal to the working
men OF this country, and, at tho present
moment, it confronts tho employers
as tho most momentous and important
problem ofthe hour. We see that some
Of the workingmen realize it. or, at least,
some Of their leaders do, because during
the last few days there have been pub
lished accounts Of refusals here and
there to 60 on strike, on the ground
that existing contracts forbade 1t.
What are the employers to do il the
unions are to supesede the law Of the
land and upset the Constitution OF the
United States? Freedom OF contract
and sanctity of contract are among the
most precious Of the guarantees Of oar
form Of government. Are they to be
trampled under foot in the name OF
labor? Is the Constitution itself to be
set aside whenever SHAFFER raises
his hand to denounce it?
SHAFFER proclaims that the contract
OF five thousand men to work for year
for an employer who pays them the
wages they ask for Is not worth the
paper 1t is written on. The statement
seems incredible on the face OF it, but
SHAFFER proves its truth every day
when he orders men who have such
contracts to strike and they instantly
obey him. The contract, according to
SHAPPRR. is binding only upon the en-
ployer. That is q new law and we are
not yet, thank GoDl at the point where
the laws Of our country are to be made
by a SHAPFER.
The remedy for this grave condition
Of things lies, in our judgment, in an
appeal to the rank and file Of labor itself.
We believe that il the Steel companies
make contracts with their men indi-
vidually those men will live up to them.
The non-union men at Homestead have
been on that basis for nine years and
during that time have been the most
prosperous and contented men en-
ployed in any industry in the Who'll Q
world. Why should not the other
branches Of the steel industry enjoy
the same advsntages' Why should not
the mills that are now to be opened up
anew resume upon the basis Of individual
contracts guaranteeing stability to the
employer and satisfactory wages and
conditions to the workman?
A thousand SHAPFERs cannot over
throw the Constitution of the United
States, but It is infamous that the Amer
ican workingman should be robbed
Of millions Of his earnings and savings
that SHAFFER may try to overthrow it.