The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-05-17


Morning News.
Why surprised? The discovery which
our contemporary affects to have only
recently made, is not the discovery of a
thing new to the people generally of
this city-is not new thing to the work
ing people of the city-and particularly
not new to members Of the labor organi-
cations hereabout. The News has not
only not been fair to organized labor,
but its policy Of opposition has been per-
sistent, and is wellknown. In the I
twenty years of the history of the News. |
there has been no open commendation of
labor's efforts in its own behalf but many
criticisms and censures of such efforts.
Whenever it was necessary to take sides
in the discussion of labor topics the News
has always been on the side of the en-
ployers- has excused and defended them
no matter what the question in dispute
or the circumstances under which II oc--
Cured.
1t will be recalled by some of the men
interested that after strike in the
News office some fifteen or more years
ago tnc News Office became n non-uni0n
office Of SO decided quality that no
union man could get employment tnere.
At the time of the strike all the union
mon went ont. and the Office was rat
tied" under the direction of Charles w.
Edwards, who was brought to this city
from New York, by the management of
the News, for that purpose. So far as
we know the News office is still n non
Innion office. In the local strikes here the
News has always opposed the demands
Of the men. notably in the strike of the
morocco workers some years ago. In
the general discussion Of labor move.
lments ii has taken the ground that such
movements are revolutionary and de
structlve Of the general welfare; and has
advocated the repression of them by
force. In its general policy it has ever
Opposed the application of the principle
lof arbitration in labor disputes. We re
lncmber an occasion when the printin,
i Iof an editorial in the News urged tn
: adoption of that policy in controversies
i between capital ard labor. because of 1t
: general application 10 the larger inter
c national disputes. raised storm in tn
Q News Office. The then management O
!. the News declaring that even that niue
i of concession to organized labor WA
: not within the limits of its policy: an
4 there was, and could he no question
) such Il controversy to arbitrate.
With this disposition. and in the a,
l. vocacy Of it, declared policy Of oppos
il tinn to labor organizations, and labor az
Is tatioil. it is not difficult to nnderstal
il why. not only the machnists but q
If other trades organization, should unde
Il stand and rightly appreciate the New
ol position. and count it in the oppositio
II This Judgment of it is so just so
in keeping with the known policy and tol
30 Of the News, that its affectation of si
iii prise Mt it suggests a cowardly descrti'
to Of its former position. an obtuseness tn
IS, prevents right appreciation Of its ov
b. position. or /; belief in the possibility
he deceivng the working people Of this 81
it. as to its real sentiments with regard
rs labor organizations ana labor disput,
~ 1t has not yet renourccd its old policy
r. opposition to these organizations. nor h
nj il given frank and sympathetic endor'
~ mcnt Of the shorter hour movement
rc. until II has done that its aifcctation
III surprise 1t the attitude Of the macllini
l. Of thus city. toward it, is lnaicrous-
III. Dictates an opinion about these men Il
is not complimentary.