Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-30
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 80, 1901.
SYMPATHETIC STRIKES.

OlIlkSS udNC DSSii hNe>-''''- "a
the past and may be il the tu-
ture. 1t has frequently occurred
that body of workmen coa1!d
obtain their just rights III no 9th
er way than by a suspension OF
work. Naturally, this enables
all concerned to view existing
difficulties FROM all points and
harmonizc them. While the ne
cessity for such strikes is to be!
deplored, no one will deny the
right of any individual workman
to quit work whenever he is dis
satisfied with the conditions I'M
der which he is working, unless,
indeed, he is employed uHder a
specific contract 10 the conditions
of which l-e has voluntarily sub.
scribed.
What is true of Individuals is
equally true of bodies OF work
men. They have clear, indis-
putable right to refuse to work:
They also have the right to hold
meetings, to use moral suasion
with fsllow-craftsmer, in short,
to do anything that may be done
within the law by any other body
of citizens to carry their centen-
ton to successful termination.
Workmen, conducting their
strikes on these lines are always
accorded patient hearing, and
if they have any fair semblance
of right and justice on their side
they may be assured Of the sup
port of public sentiment, without
which they cannot hspe to win.
Unfortunately, labor unions do
not stop at this psint. Sympa-
thetic strikes must be organized.
Large bodies Of men, between
whom and their employers there
is no sort of difference. must, at
the behest of their unions, throw
down their implements and refuse
to work until their officials per.
NIT them.
Through the sympathetic strike
trade is obstructed, the wheels of
commerce stilled, and loss, de-
privation, and got infrequently
suffering, are inflicted upon the
helpless and ianocent, upon those
who are in no measure responsible
fer the causes of the strike and
who can have no interest what.
ever in its objects. It is intend
ed by these means to force a pub
lie sentiment in favor of the orig.
inal strikers.
Its co1d-blooded. selfish pur.
pose and the utter recklessnes:
with which labor leaders call {
general strike, are having de
cidedly reactionary. effect. Meth
ing short of violence so certainly
forfeits public sympathy aRd SC
surely creates determination OF
the part Of thoughtful men to III.
stltute such measures as may be
necessary to conhre strikes te
that body Of work1nen whe are
directly and Immediately III In
terest.
Already we see manifestations
of this purpose even in the ranks
of labor. The Brotherhood ot
Locomotive Engineers has a larg-
er degree of public confidence
and respect than atty other body
of organized labor, not alone be-
cause its members are intelligent,
courageous, manly men, but be-
cause they uniformly refuse &c
interfere in contentious which al
best only remotely concern them.
Labor should free itself from
the needless tyranny of its leaders
or the state will intervene. Bey.
cotting, picketing, intimidation,
have been declared infraetions OF
just law and so punished. The
courts have ample powsrs TO pro.
hibit and to punish any course Of
action SO hurtful to the people, 50
fraught with wide. reaching evil
to all classes as the sympathetic
strike.