The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-20
The Ethics of Labor.

W n AN address delivered last week
before the pupils in Franklin
Il. and Marshall college at Lancas-
ter, President George T.. Baer,
of the Reading and Jersey Central
Railroad companies and Temple Iron
company. set forth clearly his views
on the labor question. His remarks
have interest in themselves as being
the carefully thought out conclusions
of u prominent and successful director
of labor; and they are also interesting
in so far as they may foreshadow the
attitude of the coal carrying corpora
tions toward the United Mine Workers
and the demands which the latter have
decided to present in the spring.
His subject was, Work Is worship"
and he developed it by laying down
and celebrating certain propositions
which he called fundamental truths, to
wit ".All men, as laborers, are not
equal; every man should receive his
own reward according to his own la
Dor; the owner of property has Il right
to control its lawful use; and the most
society can do is to give every man
an equal chance of developing and us
ing his powers, and to secure him in
his reward according to his work."
The first of these propositions is so
self-evident that it hardly seems nee
essary to consider it here. The sec
ond will be disputed only by socialists
and unwise leaders of labor who tcuch
that efficient workmen should be held
back in order to please the inefficient
1t is to what Mr.. Baer had to say con-
cerning the third and fourth of his
propositions that we will give atten-
ton.
Whatever changes the future may
bring forth, the great law that every
laborer shall be protected in his in
alienable right to labor must in all
time" said he, "be Il well-propor-
toned pillar of free government. To-
day there is no greater absolute des-
potism and tyranny on the earth than
the power which forbids IL man to
work because of some other mans
ouarrels. The nod of the despot, caus-
dom, represents no more arbitrary
power than the edict which issues in
the name of labor, whereby IL work.
man, without Il grievance, must stand
with folded arms and see his family
suffer for bread because he is in terror
violence, which follows an attempt to
be a free man.
rs liberty regulated by law an Illus
ion? Is liberty to work less desirable
than liberty to worship? Can the one
live without the other? Are we free
of Independence, whose liberties are
vouchsafed by the constitution, if
there be any power in this broad land
to control our choice OF labor? Shall
we be denied the right to work in the
lawful Vocatlons of man because we
gani2ation?
Let it be said once for all. that it is,
as it ought to be, lawful for lnborers
to organize; to use all lawful means
to obtain higher wages and better con-
ditions, and TO quit work singly, or in
n body. This is their liberty. But has
not every man similar liberty of ac-
tion? If he chooses to work at any
vocation, and on any terms, is not this
his liberty? And what moral or legal
right has a labor organization to de-
prive him of his inalienable liberty to
IL. at Sc lnN
Men are driven from work threatened
abused, called all manner OF harsh
names, their wives and children are
nsulted and ii social ostraGism is es-
tablished, which compels good, honest
workmen to bear the pangs of hunger
glbes of their fellow workmen. In
some trades, employers are not per-
mitted To employ workmen without
labor organization cards. Union men
will not work with non-union men.
Was ever greater tyranny practiced by
one set of men over their fellowmen?"
After showing the fallacy of the out
cry occasionally heard against govern
ment by injunction, form of govern
ment which had its origin, Mir. Baer
pointed out, when the Almighty en-
joined the children of Israel through
Moses and the Ten commandments;
ana praising the American judiciary
for the courage 1t has steadily shown,
in the face of mob outcry, i'm it's de-
fense Of liberty regulated BY law, he
continued
Work will not be worship in this
country until II is universally conced-
ed that no man shall be deprived of
his right 10 work, by law. by force. by
threats, by social ostracism, by boy
colt, or by insult; no man shall be
denied the right 10 select his own Yo-
cation no man shall be denied the
right to work as many hours as he
pleases, and no man shall be boycotted
or injured in his business because he
employs non-union labor. Labor may
organize, but 1t may not tyrannize."
These sentiments. it win be per-
ceiyed. differ little from those set
forth in the recent manifesto OF the