The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-18
Whom The Boycott
HdrtS The MoSI


| '''" l 'Pci heau heSehtly IN DaytOnI u.
" 7 HEN strikes, riots, assaults, destruction
| AEJ OF property, pcketing and intimidation
| w 1all OF accomplishment of the desired
| purpose, the boycott is resorted TO- The
law, and the decisions of the courts of all grades
throughout the country, including the Supreme
Court OF the United States, declare boycott to
a conspiracy of persons organizations to
| restrain ones business relations with others by
| threats, intimidation, compulsion or force In
every instance an injunction has been granted
when petitioned for and severe penalty imposed
wien the order Of the court has been disobeyed
Under the constitution and the laws, boycott
| ihg Is as much crime as are any Of the hun
dreds for which men are arrested. tried, convict
ed and punished, the only difference being, that
| Tile law does not provide penalty Tor its
| violation by boycott. This absence OF penalty
| explains why the violators of this law can not
be punished until an injunction has been OBJ
| tanned and restraining order issued, for the
| violation OF which the perpetrator is arres sed
and punished. His otfense then becomes one for
which the law provides penalty, viz; con.
tempt OF court.
very careful investigation of the results OF
boycotts, in hundreds OF instances, demonstrates
that almost without exception they are promo
tive OF the interests of those against whom they
are declared.
When organized labor contended for lust and
""e Pi''.'Pi'9 anu us ul'"hs were NahdScd
by men OF character capacity and integrity, it
had the sympathy and approval OF that public
sentiment which is essential to success in all
such enterprises or undertakings. Then, boycotts
'esoFtea TO LOT lhe purpose OF Correcting some
palpabie wrong, some glarins abuse, were made
ehectNc by puDhc opinion. But during recent
years the mistakes oil Judgment melting to
VOCATION OF law, rlols' assaults, UNJUST and IN
tolerable demands; the long category OF tress-
81
departments OF business ana labor, have alenated
Pubic sentiment until organized labor is CON
deinhed by u large majority of its own members,
ana SIN larger majority OF the public in gem
eral. The correctness of this statement viii be
coneeued ny intelligent men, and is evidenced
by the lack oil attendance, compulsory payments
OF dues, the desire to obtain employment in
hee shops and also, by the general attitude Of
all classes OF business men.
IL Is lamehtaDle TACT that in very many in
stances poycottS are declared against establish
ments which pay the highest wages and in which
the welfare OF the worker is the highest con
slderatIon influencing the management. An un'
worthy business agent or leader finds or manu-
factures some trivial excuse for a complaint or
Misunderstanding, and, suddenly becomes possess
ed OF an intense ambition to show his personal
authority and demonstrate the power of orglulz-
ed labor to bring the biggest and best Of 'cm TO
their knees Demands are made which are SO
outrageous IN character that no selfreliant man
can even consent 10 arbitratc them. Then reason,
justice, the welfare OF fellow workmen, give
place TO mad passion to 'do the boss" and a
strike and boycott is declared without shadow
OF justification.
In view OF all these facts, there is now no
responsive public sentiment 10 the demand for Il
boycott. When the demand is made ON an honor |
able, intelligent man and good citizen, to adopt
this unlawful and unjust policy, his sense Of
right asserts ITSELF his Amelicanisn comes to
his rescue and makes him friend rather than
an enemy of the boyeotted, This is human |
nature-at least OF our American kind--and you !
can't change IT,
To be placed ON the "Unfair List is the hest |
possible advertisement u guaranty of material |