The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-12
SOUND ADVICE.
ence.

We have time and again expressed the
orinion in these columns that the best
thing that labor organizations could do
for their advancement would be to make
themselves thoroughly responsible in law
as we'll as in fact for the fulflllment OF
contracts and agreements, and for all
their acts. We are interested to see that
Mr.. Carroll D. Wright, United States
Commissioner Of Labor, takes the same
view and Celebrates 1t in an article prlht-
ed in the January number OF the North
American Review. 1t must be conced-
ed saws he. that the long contest be-
twee1, laborers and capitalists, for there
is no contest between labor and capital,
in seeking specific legislation, has proved
inadequate; so the lessons of this period
which is peculiarly a period OF leglsla-
ton, need to be well remembered by en-
ployers and employees. Hostile, reVens-
full, retaliatory legislation, Injuries every
interest, benefits nobody, and cannot long
be enforced"
That is true saying, and well may
EMPLOYERS and employees take it to heart
Ttoso who advocate compulsory arbi-
t1ation and kindred measures fer the
settlement of difficulties between en-
blowers and employees are dreamers, and
arc not to be taken seriously. That
SORT Of thing may do for New Zealand. al
| though it has not been any too successful
there. but it will not dc for this fair
land of freedom. In this country employ
ers and employees must settle their dill
dculties in their own way.
But Mr.. Wright proceeds, lis 1t not
| wise to fully recognize labor organlza-
TORS by law, to ADMIT their necessity as
| labor guides and protectors. to conserve
their usefulness, to increase their re-
sponsibility and to prevent their follies
and aggressiops by comforting upon then.
privileges enjoyed by corporations, with
like restrictions ana regulations?"
We have no doubt that such a course
would prove to be of great benefit to the
labor organizations anc there is nothing
| to prevent all such organizations from
| having themselves incorporated. with the
power to sue and be sued, and to put
| themselves practically on the same foot
| ing with all other corporations of what
ever character. When labor organiza-
tons take this step they will find less
| difficulty in making agreements and
terms with corporations which employ
! labor It is a one-sided business when
the legal obligations of a contract are
| on one party to the contract only When
a corporation makes an agreement with
! a labor organization it is compelled I'M
| der law to discharge all the obligations
thereof, and can very property De sued
! for any breach of contract. But there
| is no such obligation in law upon labor
organizations When the contest was
| on last summer between the Amalsa-
mated Association of Steel and Iron
| Workers and the United States Steel Cor
poration, President Shaffcr took the
| ground that the bylaws of his organtza-
| ton OVERRIDE any agreement that any
! constituent organization had made with
| any company embraced in the United
| States Steel Corporation, and III some
| instances local labor organizations We're
compelled TO fly their agreement and
! strike. In that view of the case it is
not surprising that the United States
Steel Corporation was indisposed to en-
ter into another agreement with Presl-
dent shaffer.
But. If labor CARNATIONS would in
corporate themselves and make them
selves as responsible in law as other cor
porations for the fulhlment of their
agreements, other corporations would be
very much moro disposed to deal with
labor organizations as a body.
Mr.. Wright is the true friend of labor
organizations and he has given the lead
ers something to think about.
THE LYNoHBURG HORROR.