The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-08-30
GATES And UNIONS
GATES SAYS THAT UNION LABOR
-, INJURIES W0RTkINGMEN.~ - -':~-
His Opinion ON Labor Unions In, Not
~ Sound a. 1t IL ON the Value OF
Poker Had, or the Best Way
to Get Someone Else's Money.
Strong Array.

Mr.. John W, Gates, the big specu-
lator, poker, player, Wall street manip-
ulator and all-around product of the
trust system, has kindly expressed his
opinions of the unions and of union
labor.
1t would be very easy to reply to Mr..
Gates definite statements about I'M
ions. But it is; not worth whole.
There is negro preacher in the
United States who denies that the
earth is round. He says he knows posi-
lively that the sun goes around the
earth.
Mr.. Gates knows positively that la
Dor unions have not promoted the
workingman's benefit. He knows posi-
lively that the workingman would be
better off if there were no unions.
Mr.. Gates opinions on labor unions
are not quite as sound as his opin-
ions on the value, of a poker hand, or
the best way to get somebody else's
money in Wall street.
We shall not waste Mr.. Gates time
by replying to his opinions on labor
unions.
But we shall do Mr.. Gates a good
turn by letting him know some of the
things that union men believe in. Mr..
Gates may perhaps find it useful some
time to know little about the
thoughts of the workingmen who make
up and own this country.
Mr.. Gates, the union men, Of whom
there are a great many able-bodied
and persistent in this country, have
definite ideas ON certain things.
For instance, they believe that the
man who speculates in corn, who tries
to put up the price of q necessity or
enriches himself at the cost Of many
others, ought to be in Sing Sing prison,
and not at the Waldorf hotel.
They believe that the man who man
ages great industries like the Steel
Wire plants, has certain moral respon-
siAbilities.
They believe that such a man, con-
trolling great industries, and suddenly
closing them for the sake Of injuring
the stock and making money in Wall
street is a vile criminal.
Honest men in this country, Mr..
Gates-and union men are included
among the honest men-believe that
any gambler who would throw thous-
ands of men out of work and deliber-
ately inflict misery upon thousands of
families, for the sake Of rObbing his
fellow gamblers on the Stock Exchange,
is vile creature and disgrace to his
country.
Union men, Mr.. Gates, think that the
only way to get fair wages from a.
reckless gambling pirate is to brighten
that pirate and. force him to pay the
wages.
They believe that it is not safe to re-
" upon promises or protestations.
They do not believe that there is
very much honor among thieves Of the
specializing world. ,4,.>
When they deal with these. thieves -
men VINO are OF the class that gamble
in human necessities-they believe in
using the force of combination-and
they mean to use it..
Union men believe, Mr.. Gates, that
they will render a great service to this
country because their organizations,
combined in political, action, will even
tually insure honest pay for an honest
workman and very disagreeable fate
for the dishonest gambler.
We feel sure that Mr.. Gates, having
given union men the benefit Of his
opinions, will be glad in return to
know what they think of certain mat
ters that interest him.