The bee., 1902-06-19
STRIKES.
The Reason Why, Discussed by a
Man Who Has Been in
Them.
Colorado Man Writes TO the Editor Of
the New York Sun.

To the Editor of the Sun-Sir
Reading the article on trades union
methods as taken from the London
Times, in the late number of the
Boiler Maker, suggests few
thoughts on the subject. It has
been the experience of the world in
all ages, that good workman does
not have to combine with others in
order to get employment. So long
as there are good workmen enough
to supply the demand, the poor
workmen--whoa are in the majority
are at disadvantage and instead of
perfecting themselves in their trade,
they combine with others of their
class to demand the same consider
alton that is given to the good work
men; knowing full well that there
are not good men to supply the de-
mand and that the employer, choos-
ing the least of two evils, must give
them place by the side of the good
men to the humiliation of the latter.
1t is an axiom of law that any
transaction without consideration
is void. 1t ought to be equally true
that any transaction without suffi-
cient consideration is void. And
the poor workman whom the union
places on an equality with the good
one cannot give sufficient consider
alton, and to that extent he is de-
franding his employer. The whole
organization of which he is a men,
ber is aiding and abettlng him as
he is allowed to hold membership
in it.
AS the police powers of the State
take cognizance of and punish other
cases of fraud, they certainly ought
to punish such as these, where the
party defrauded has no voice in the
case. For the employer is constrain-
ed by one party to employ another
party whom he does not want, to
the exclusion of one that he does
want, thus eXtorting from him
his means and in this manner VOL
atlng the Fourteenth Article of the
Constitution. which forbids any per-
sons being "deprived of life, liberty
or property, without due process of
law" Surely there is nothing legal
in the method employed by trades
unions in enforcing their demands,
nor-at times, at least-in the de-
mands themselves.
There is a great cry against the
trusts for cornering or controlling
this or that commC dity, and by none
more than the workmen themselves,
and yet they constitute the greatest
trust in the world, cornering their
skill, which next to the necessaries
of life, is the greatest commodity of
the world.
When unions were first formed, it
was for the purpose of elevating the
craft and protecting both themselves
and their employers-just think of
1t, their employers-from the lmpo-
sition Of the incompetent. For this
purpose they were divided into Mas
ters, Fellows and Apprentices. A
member Of lower class was not
admitted to an upper class until he
had passed satisfactory examina-
tion and could show o specimen of
his skill, nor could q man become an
apprentice, except on like terms.
The union of today is something en-
tirely different and has different
motives, the principal one being that
of getting the highest rate of wages
for the least possible amount of
work, and in the case of the poorer
workmen, without any regard for
the interests of their employer.
There seemst0 be but one principle
that actuates them when dealing
with an employer, that of selfish
ness. And yet they go to their gro
Ger, butcher or baker, and uncon-
sciousiy changing their position ask
for the best he has, for the price of
the poorest. The unskilled workman
gets the best from both employer
and dealer for the poorest skill and
labor, IN one case, and the least cash
IN the other.
In my opinion, based on close OBJ
servation for forty years, there is
but one way in which the employer
and employed can work together in
harmony, and that is for the unions
to classify their goOds-skill-in the
same manner as grocer does his
sugar and tea, or the dry goods mer-
chant, his linen.
Then the would-be customer could
take his choice and know what he is
getting. In fact, the unions should
do their business on business prin-
ciples.
AS it is now, an unskilled man is
put at a piece of work which he