New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-28
INCORPORATING TRADES UNIONS.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Your correspondent Mr.. Hopkins says there
is need of cur5ing the monstrous. Illegal. tyran-
meal power welded by the labor unions exercised
in restraint of trade In utter disregard OF the
public" The point is well taken. as has been al
ready proved by certain events that have hap
pencd I'm the present coal strike; but whether.
Mr. Hopkins suggests. the national government
can apply the remedy at the same time it apple
the curb the trusts is not so clear I myss
believe the States should act in this matter
compelling all trades unions incorporate thes1-
selves just as capitalistc enterprises do. and 50
make themselves amenable In the courts and able
to sue and be sued Responsibility goes hand N
hand with privilege and these labor unions should
be made 20 feel that they cannot break the con
tracts made with employers by their members n
dividually or collectively without mourning the
usual just penalty such action through regular
proceedings at law.
My sympzthIes have always been the side OF
the toing hard pressed coal miner. and also
have believed that the one million wage earrers
who are srrayed under the trades union banner
were members Of important and useful asso-
Citations which aided in keeping up fair standard
Of wages. But in these days of serious conflict
between labor and capital the former. hold has
made certain grtevous mistakes. and generally
under the guidance Of irresponsible men SO II is
time 70 cali a halt. before obliged to 30
through the serious experience England has slresdy
suffered from the influence OF organizations IN the
restraint of labor and the msnacIing OF capital
Enxsnd's once famous trade guilds were COM
binstons OF masters and workmen lahorias to-
gether for the promotion OF their trades as
whole and the advancement OF the interests OF
both capital and labor. In those old days the
craftsman prospered according to his skin are
Industry: but now alas! both these factors
reduced common denominator called the
trades union rate Of wage. This system makes n
the first duty Of the employee to obey not his en-
ployer. but the union he is memOsr OF. and the
at MIA rraz shO In in SteA
where certain vase ssrnsTS rePe s i1e ssFse
England. the brickiayer who could easily Jay MS
only 1--WE hundred. AID the machinist who c0ui5
run several machines at time was allowed &c
run only one and II found running more
reprimsnded and aned, and second cffsncs
the insurance benefits toward wniSn ne ha3 been
contributing for years.
be In the eyes OF freeborn American! Probably
none OF this could occur or even strikes be in
Sofporated. Anyway, Belgium w9UId not have got
possession of the market for table glass in Eng
vented from the unwse and impo1tis restraints
Look at the restrictions Of the unions as 10 the
number OF apprentices employed. and note what
no o5' Wage earnars The efforts some o. VS. are
now making 10 have trade schools established in
all the more diffioaIt Of success NV tEss Kind OF
antasonsm on The par; OF me Unions Ii I resiss get
OF what would on this subject On closing. let
true friend OF organized labor, ask the
labor unions take fair warning while they may
and seek at state legislatures that legislation
which shall be helpful 10 them and just to the
great public at large. TurEOt-feclared by Matthew
Arnold France's wisest statesman--once said:
The right TO work Is she divinest. most unpre-
scriptibIe Of human rights" This being So what
are we 10 say to any trades union which snail
take any means iirsct indirect to prevent any
man belonging TO union. or not member OF
one doing what he can bv every legitimate method
TO obtain employment for himself and his famiiyF
The unions have much to say that is true about
the overmastering power of capitalists to force
markets
struggling wage Carners; but these same unions
must see to il that their hands are clean or
N ustice before they go further IN this struggle
OF the giants out OF whlch. so far so much loss
has come both 90 them and 20 every one OF Ihs
homes OF their poo-Sr brsthraa IN our land.
JOSIAH =. PUMPElI.Y.
FlIenville n Y July Il lsG.