The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-04
A Little Common Sense.

IL plainly that the success OF
the labor union movement
is wholly a matter Of management.
II wise and judlcious leaders are main
tained In the positions OF power, labor
unions live, grow and contribute their
quota to the prosperity of the country.
Those organizations OF labor which
endure are conservatively directed, at
all times prefer conciliation to threats
and never sacrifice essentials for non
essentials. Those which disintegrate
are offlcered by incompetent men, Of
ten hot-heads. who act upon impulse
or prejudice, and lack a settled and
consistent policy.
The danger in labor unions is the
same danger which confronts men in
other combinations for mutual bet
terment--in corporations, in govern
ment. 1t is the tendency of the ag-
gressive, talky type, who may be ut
terly deficient in character and judg-
ment, to capture control through the
slowness of the conservative element
to impress its character and enforce
and to guard against 1t is a duty
which labor owes not only to the COM
munity, but also to itself. II 1t is not
met, radical counsel will prevail, arti-
fetal grievances will be made the pre-
text for turmoil and agitation, until
finally either trouble, eliminating in
riot and bloodshed, will come, or capi-
tai will lock itself UP in its strong box
and labor will go hungry for bread.
Denial will not remove the fact that
in our city, by reason of the restless
ness and haste of labor to exhibit it's
newly-found strength, capital has been
IN some measure alarmed. We con-
cur in the belief that this alarm Is
unwarranted; and that it is temporary
and will soon pass away. We predicate
this belief upon the premise that the
majority of the working people of our
city and valley at heart are fair
minded, order-loving and anxious to
deal justly with their fellow men, be
they co-workers or employers. We
confidently assume that they have no
wish to precipitate trouble or by i'll
advised action to interfere with the
prosperous development of Scranton
and its environing territory. But
where there are possibilities of mis-
chief, there should be increase of pre-
caution. The conservative, judicious
and experienced men and women in
our labor unions must not let the reck-
less younger element, the girls in short
dresses and the boys in youths
hlouses, run away with them. Clear
heads and cool Judgment are called
for. Wild talk of swift strikes on in
tangible provocation. should be effect
ually discouraged. The disposition to
electioreer for trouble should be re-
pressed. Weighty issues involving the
good or i'll fortune of this vast COM
nunity at one of the critical periods
in it's history should not be committee
to fiighty or capricious heads, hut
should be taken hold of by the giants
OF labor and wrought out prudently
and fairly.
our city IS at turning point 1t
can scare capital away and become q
drcary object lesson of vacant shops
and empty homes, or it can welcome
both labor and capital in friendly en-
brace and with reinvigorated enter
prise so on in its marvellous growth
Blit 1t cannot go forward if labor is
TO be armed to fight capital or capital
compelled to view in labor something
hostile and uncertain. Where there is
suspicion and ill-will, there is no real
progress. These two necessary fac.
tors In local development, capital and
lahor each helpless without the other
must be Brought into harmony and he
who, on either side, spreads the doe.
trine of discord is, consciously or un.
consciously public enemy.