The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-11-29
THE MILITIA AND LABOR UNIONS.

T~IIN astonishing statement is
going the rounds of the Press,
4 that twelve members of tn"
Pennsylvania Militia, known
locally as the National Guard were dis
charged 10y their employers in Fhladrl-
phia. because they served the State rs
members of the Guard during the recent
Coal Strike. and had to look for an
other job" hccau*r they did their sworn
duty when called upon hy the State in
uphoIdng its power ANA dignity.
Now every intelligent citizen whether
he be Il representative of capital or of
labor knows. that our Government. in
the absence of Il large standing Army,
must depend upon an efficient Statr Mill
tia. whenever an emergency arises. and
the public security is involved.
The man So protected in his person
and property. must indeed he Il faithlcsS
citizen. and strangely lacking in public
spirit. who would punish an employee for
rendering such essential service to his
State
What would be thought in Ellton of Il
merchant. who upon the return Of Com
pany T. of I'll" MARYLAND National
Guard from Stat" Srrvic" at FroSthur-
had told his clerk or other employee.
member of that company. that his ser
vices were no longer required, and that
he must hunt another job ?
The wonder is. that Il city by rcputa-
tion us patriotic and public spirited rs
Philadclphia. contained onr employer
who would condeSrrnd 10 such act.
The recent action says Il contemporary
of y trades union in Schenectady. New
York. which expelled on" OF its members
on account of his connection with the
militia, has been the subject of Il great
deal of indignant comment and has CON
trihrtcd pcrccptihly 10 the discrrdting
of labor organizations generally. That it
has not awakened more intense public
feeling against il i due, no doubt. to the
circumstance that every one has always
known that labor unions were not very
fond OF the militia organizations. They
look UPON these hulir+. NOT rs agencies
for preserving the peace Of the State.
but as the means employed by the capt
tnlst class to break strikes. or course
this is tlntomouur to a confession that
great strikes Frequently depend fol. their
chance Of success upon resort to in
timidaIiou; and ais .Arrn is no telling
when any particular union may find it
self involved in a strike Of this churac-
ter. ii is natural enough for members Of
labor unions To feel disposed to keep out
of the militia Ii would. however. he the
part Of wisdom for labor unions to be
content with the amount of ahStcntion
from militia membership which comes
naturally from this state Of things. When
they 20 50 far rs to prescribe Il member
who Joins the militia, they place them
selves in overt hostility 20 one of the
necessary agencies of government. and
arouse the resentment of sound-mipdcd
citizens generally. The folly of such
conduct rs that of the Schenectady union
ought to be apparent to every one. not
10 speak Of its want Of patriotism. The
community cannot afford to tolerate n
distinct attack on the organization TO
which it must look for protection in time
of trouble. And. unlike the case of the
employers whose narrownoss and illiber
ality reflect discredit simply on certain
individuals, the prescription of militia
men by any one labor organization can
not fail to attach Il certain amount of
odium to labor organizations generally.