The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-05-10

pathetic incident occurred, which has
been used by some Eastern papers to
illustrate what they call "the injustice
of trade unions" The incident was
! thus related by the Boston Post of JAM
uary %:
"The dramatic incident of the day oc-
CURED near Central wharf. One of the
Brine four-horse drays came along At
lantic avenue on the morning trip. It
was just in the midst of the excitement
and jam of teams filled the street.
Following the team and lined about the
street were fully 1,5O0 people. Near
Central wharf the driver got into
serious jam-truck after truck blocked
the way, team after team turned in
front of him, cut off his horses and he
was helpless.
with shouts and yells the mob sur
rounded him. The police patrol was not
sufficient to keep them off. The driver
loosened his hold on the reins and
waited. Suddenly one venturesome
youth leaped on the truck and with one
swoop tore the drivers coat up the
back. This was signal. Stones, mud,
and ice began to fly through the air.
Ten and fifteen deep around the team,
the mob Kissed and swore at the driver,
calling him every name that could arise
to the tongue;
"'Why don't you be man?'
"'Ain't the union good enough for
your.
"'Shame on you.'
"The driver dropped his reins He got
up from the seat and looked at the sea
of faces around him.
"'Why don't I join the union?' he
yelled.
"I'll tell you why not his voice rang
out ~ 'cely. I'll tell you why not. BY
God, this is the first job I've had for
four months.'
''Howls of derision broke from the
mob.
"'Ive got to work, d. you
"I've got a wife in the hospital.
She's dying. I've got two babies at
home. How am I going to feed them?
Good God, do you want them to starve?
I've tramped Boston over for a job and
now I've got it, and by God I'm going
to keep it,
"As he spoke the tears formed stain
down the side OF this cheeks.
''Smash---a slushball flattened; against
his cheek and strtekIed dow, his face. !,
peal.
'"some one unhitched the traces. 8. 81
'Then the police, REINFORCED, made
a wild rush on the mob and beat them
back. Silently the driver climbed down,
fastened the traces, and with policemen
in front and rear, he made his way to
the wharf"
The story is probably true, and any
great strike will yield many more of
the same sort. It does not follow, how
ever, that the unions are to be blamed
for the plight of all the unfortunate
disemployed. The unions find it neces-
sary to discriminate against the men
who would underbid in the wage mar
ket If they did not, America would
soon be forced by this undertaking to
the Chinese level. But who is to blame
for the fact that men in country so
rich as ours find themselves in such
want that they are compelled to take
any employment that offers, even at
the cost of defeating the efforts of their
fellows to raise wages and shorten
hours? Certainly not the unions, and
certainly not any man who is honestly
trying to secure equal rights to natural
resources for all men.
If those who, in strike time, mourn
over the woes of the man without a
Job will honestly investigate to see why
any man is without opportunity to
work in land so broad as ours, they
will find their way to great light.