The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-07-09
Iiu. Capital the Public

The essential principles governing
labor and capital are being gradually
pulled out 81 the ditch OF humbug de-
fusion and false sentiment into which they
have hecn sinking deeper and deeper.
The subjotned rational observations hy
the Official organ of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor. the American FoisTd'toH-
is,, should help along greatly
IN connection Nth even strike o. any uan-ni
= certain portion ~ the press taxes w the cry %
pub.o rights what. II is Assed. becomes % the
rshtS and interests % nc third party TO a labor
capital controversy. the great, helpless pubIc'
The Worsmen have the uslt TO s,uss fut any
reason whatever. rood " bad. wise or foolish
PM loyer, have The nsh' 20 dIs-hSrSr men e. viii
Hsv- the by,tAndsf,. me -on,umets. nc rights hat
the clas,e, named A., bound To- tespect'
-rhu, runs the arsunent and II Il plausihie, As
= rue. ,ho,c who MAKE Il wind up by advancing
some torn Of compulsory arbitration " STATE req
u.stor OF wage. hours. and coud tlons o'labor
Taey have a rsE' io their opinions ou' they
must ~, confuse issues arising under ,ii'ias laws
with Implications and deductions from principles
that at peculiar to the PHILOSOPHY % indus't'a
relation principle, thst have not heen accepted
or Recognized
when 'hey talk about pIhlir nights. they must
conhr- tlem,-l.e, 10 rrh'. under she present
poltico economic system. no, under = cohceivAtls
,y,',n wh.l Aa' not b.en adopted
Prom this los.c. and proper standpoint. II u
9lA.n hat ta- ,hIri parry ANs 40 stsni.ng In
ne forum Of law -qgity and rsasoa. IN any ga'e
vh-r. neither capital nor i.hor oveSteps - consi''
tliionA bounds A great stuae ehtAss incohNen'
!cnr- and hardship llt what - ~ j the public
emitted to inN',, that a man snail work on terms
that ., unsatisfactory 10 him simply because u
needs hi, product
Men work OF ngsse N business to earn q l'vrli-
hood. no, from motives 81 A'trIism They may
stop when they pl-ase. ius, a. a farmer may refuse
90 raise erop, without regard to the needs % he
consumers
IN. public doe, not proy'd. for the wage
q. bes, they may. and all ,h,y ovett' public, iesay
s~po~l'ns. Il respect Tor the i-w
In this statement, except as II applies
10 requirements based on public iran
chises. with which the mining Of anthra-
cite coal. for example has no conncctlo"
there IS no fault either of logic OF of fact.
The demand that the operators produo"
coal. "a though under a legal or moral
obligation 50 - do. - merely an effort
20 curry favor with the strikers 10y find
ing some ground for d%cnoun'lng their
opponents. The operators are no more
bound 20 produce coal than are the strIk-
ers 20 mine It: and demands upon IN"
lattcr To that effect we haven't heard
CONFUSION, or compulsory arbitration,
which would lay the states lash on the
laborers' backs, is not in force. and until
il comes in force the rights II the owner
TO close his mine or the Iaborer to cease
from working IN II are equal, and NJ COM
plete as that Of a business man to retire
in other words, unqualified.
These facts being scen and appre-
ciated. the public will be in a better state
Of mind 10 consider the almost uniall-
ing Characteristic Of every great strike,
namely. the effort If organized labor. or
Of laborers associated under organized
labor's banner. 20 carry their point by
causing injury - their employers prop
ertv or by aSsauIung or Intimidating
other men willing { work for them.
The public has a right to be protected
from lawlessness, and hence from H.
consequences: and when the public gets
ready To- see that II j. protected from
all injuries arising indirectly from thus
cause. conflicts between capital ant
labor will be- cleared of confusion that
now spreads incalculable trouble, and
the welfare IL both capital and labor viii
be lmmcasurably increased.