The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-09-07

| WhCA do business IN many o,Aer SlaAeS
The question u the aayisablity " la
Dor unions Incorporating Is an open one
On wAich then, is a wide diversity OF
opinion. both within ana withou; RE
ranks % organized labor. Il may H
said with a fair degree u pl1uSlhNN
,ha, II she labor unions were incorporate
"a, there would De mere facilities tor N.
settlement; OF labor disputes, there
would b, a tendency {, mor, SoNserva,-
ism in ;he management, of ;he unions
and any settlement " a labor dispute
would De permanent, effective and bind
ing; which, unharp,ly, is no, the prcsen.
condition, As aa Illustration, &, viii he
remembered ;ha; during the earlier days
.os ;he s;t strike a ss.&emen. was reach
lea As,wesn ;he rspr, s'oajvss of ;A'
steel company ana ;as representatives
o. ,aa association TO which ;hs strikers
belong. TIE representative. u ,he co--
parai,n were completely empowered 20
ac: and bind the company The rep
ressnaaves Of .hs men could only al
wise an acceptance " III, terms. Their
advice was rejected and the strike was
prolonged.
Asa!n, the south Ch,cneo lodges and
those Of Joliet and Bayy.sw had entered
ln:o contracts with .helr employers, by
;he terms Of which all questions in dis
7u;e were se;tei satisfactorily. The
contract. bv Is terms was ,srminable
orly after soma months notice. Cnd II
orders from ;hs Officers ot the assoc.-
alton. the lodges a; Jolie: AMI Blyvlsw
reluctantly broke their contracts and
Wen; on strike while the South Chicago
lodges vera disciplined FOR refusing 10
do the same. Had The national asso-
citation or The individual lodges been
Incorporated. The contracts would have
been made in a corporate capacity. the
lodges would have been responsible in
law for ;hsir breach, ana Consequently
would have been under no temptation
TO violate them.
I; is also true from the s:andpo!n: Of
the labor unions ,ha; Incorporation /
would considerably strengthen the pow 1
ers Of ualons. in ;ha, 3: would give
them legal status. a power 20 enforce /
contracts made with them and the abn- /
ity to accumulate funds ana to acquire /
and hold property. It would also. how /
ever, give them rsp7nsibili;y 20 ne law. .
The use Of fore or coercion would be
practically impossible to a corporation,
and the boycott nigh; bring TO them
civil responsibility f5r damages.
The unorganized labor q the coun-
.ry which is not affiliated with any union
many more people than are
Included in the ranks Of organized labor.
That labor has rights. natural anl le-
gal which i. Is tn aim Of a certain
lzmsn; among the leaders Of o-ganlz-i .
abor 70 invade Many 5s those leaders
=ny in toto the fundamental ana inner
M right Of every man to sell his lloar
n any marks. which he may elect On +.
arms satisfactory to himself and 20 his
m7l7y-r. % pursue any ay7cat5n f5r
sa.ca h. may deem himself d"=I. Or
o acquire the mastery If any ,raI=
which h. may elect 20 learn. All Of
hes- rights are denied 6y some labor
-ade-s and s-m= of these rights are
s7.d by an labor organizations. Yet /.
very one Of them IS as sacrel as any ]
.ga, sar which any labor union ever ?
71tsated Il Incorporation would oper-
70 70 strengthen attacks upon the COM &