The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-08-17

Strikes trusts -injunctions militia.
That's a cheerful quartet upon which
to preach hot-weather sermon.
isn't it? -..%.
Yet not alone the labor world, but all
classes are giving special attention to
the topics just enumerated.
The strike Of the Amalgamated Steel
Workers to force recognition from the
billion dollar trust pulls down the whole
question of trusts and their relation to-
labor. .---z-.~s H. ->- ..,s @-.,z. -s'.--s-
If the men are thoroughly organized
there need be no fear of the outcome,
Tn trust will be forced to recognize
the union" otherwise it will be minus
the human machinery of production.
This, being highly skilled and not
to be replaced, must be dealt with SO
that the immensely watered stock of
the new trust will pay the promised
dividends.
For few weeks the trust can afford
to talk airily about closing down for
the annual housekeeping, but after that
the mills have got to be operated or the
trust will go to pieces, because 1t has
knocked from under it one Of its most
important foundation pillars. $3.50,
Without doubt the outcome of this
struggle will have a great effect on
other trusts and their workmen. II
the steel men get recognition of their
union they will have fought the battle
for many other trades. If defeated
other trades will have to take the warm
ing and organize more thoroughly to
fight the battle with an enemy flushed
with success in one contest.
Labor need not fear. however, II 1t is
properly organized.
Injunctions are thicker and more vim
dtctive than Jersey mosquitoes.
When strikers are peaceable then
foolish employers try to have them en-
Joined from. the right Of free speech.
It's very dangerous thing to do. A
safety valve should always be left when
the tension Of feeling runs high, as it
usually does during Industrial disturb
ances.
Wage workers are not particularly
frightened. It was right amusing In
Cleveland the other day to see about
one hundred machinists walk into court
to be enjoined and thus save the depu-
ties the trouble of hunting them up.
The action on the face Of it dtsproved
everything that the Injunction sought
to prove.
About the latest use Of the Injunction
is against some retail clerks in Canaan
daigua who boycotted merchant who
| refused to close early when all his BUSH
ness competitors did so.
Nine injunctions out OF ten are ille-
gally issued, and it isn't worth while
to worry over them Mt all !. but 1T In
easy to see that certain sorts Of em-
ployers think that they can blum their
men into submission be resorting to tho
abuse and illegal use of the injunction.
| It is worthy of note. that very few
| injunctions are enforced. ..:
There are plenty Of good decisions in
favor of picketing and boycotting-only
| some Judges think that the union men
do not know that.
| Then there's the militia. It may just
ly be called a burning topic. The labor
unions Of New York City and more
than one national trade convention has
| discussed the problem of joining the
state militia with great earnestness.
OF course, certain highly respectable
journals tell TRAITOR" and that ought
to settle the matter-but it doesn't
When it comes to defending our
country against foreign invasion, 1T is
the wage worker who is always ready
to leave his employment and sacrifice
his life. - Pc:
But the ordinary use Of state militia
l 10 IN hoo ly IN
employees whom they have treated I'M
justly and protecting the same employ
ers in use Of cheap non-union labor UNI
til their old employees have been starved
and shot and cowed into submission.
There is no use trying to dodge the
issue. ....
| The state militia-and even regular
! troops for that matter-can practically
! be obtained for the asking by a big
| employer, and there is plenty Of proof
! where employers have not hesttated to
have their own agents destroy property
| and start riots in order to give some
plausible excuse for the use Of troops.
| Labor unions are entirely Justified in
their protest against this fragrant mis-
| use of the troops. They are really put
ting it pretty mildly when advising
their members not to join troops used
for such purposes.
1t is pretty near time to characterize
the misuse of the military in unmis-
taxable terms.
If protest is not made we may soon
expect to see the, trust equipped with
full military force to persuade" the
workers to accept the terms offered
with due humility. ~
We are accustomed to pity our
European brethren, but unless a halt
il soon called we may have plenty Of
use for the charity which begins 1T
home Il II a. r.
With all these perplexing questions
confronting them it il well to remember
that never In the history Of the country
was organization of labor going for
ward so rapidly or upon such sensible
and practical, and utilitarian lines.-
Eva Mcdonald Valesh. %
ATTENTION, INVENTORS!
r. G. auggers, Patent Lawyer. Wash
! ington. n, c., whose ad. appears In our
columns, is an attorney Of twenty-one
years artive practice and is we'll rec