Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
Wages INCREASED

WhdtO tnGhfA0tU
(contnued from Tenth Page.)
q trades union the more busineSslike and
responsible 1t becomes. Through dealing
with business men in business matters, Its
more intelligent. conservative and respon-
sibie members come to the front and gain
general control and direction OF it's affairs
II the energy Of the employer Is directed
to encouragement and repression OF the
union. he need not be surprised IL the more
radically inclined members are the ones
most frequently heard.
A Satisfactory Plan Of Conference De-
sirable.
1.-THE commission agrees that plan, un-
der which all questions Of difference be-
tween the employer and his employees shall
first be considered in conference between
the employer or his official representative
and a committee chosen by his employees
from their own ranks, Is most likely to pro-
duce satisfactory results and harmonious
relations, and at such conference the en-
ployes should have the right to call to their
assistance such representatives or agents
as they may choose, and to have them rec
ognized as such.
''In order to be entitled to such recogni-
ton, the labor organization or union must
give the same recognition to the rights OF
the employer and Of others. which 1t de-
mands for itself and for It's members. The
worker has the right to quit or to strike IN
conjunction with his fellows, when by so
doing he does not violate contract made
by or for him. He has neither right nor
license to destroy or to damage the prop
erty Of the employer; neither has he any
right or license to intimidate or to use vto-
fence against the man who chooses to exer-
else his right to work, nor to interfere with
H. L. 81 ~ fhok thn fNvr If
the best method for adjusting grievances.
Union Should Not Interfere.
'The union must not undertake to assume
or to interfere with the management of the
business of the employer. 1t should strive
to make membership in 1t SO valuable as
to attract all who are eligible, but in its ef
forts to build itself up 1t must not lose sight
of the fact that those who may think DIFF
ferently have certain rights guaranteed
them by our free government. However
irritating 1t may be to see man enjoy
benefits to the securing OF which he refuses
to contribute. either morally. or physically.
or financially. the fact that he has q right
to dispose Of his personal services as he
chooses cannot be ignored. The. non-union
man assumes the whole responsibility which
results from his being such, but his right
and privilege of being a non-union man are
sanctioned in law and morals. The rights
and privileges of non-union men are as sa-
unfonists. The contention that majority
of the employees in an industry, by volun-
tar1ly associating themselves. in a union, &C
quire authority over those who do not SO
associate themselves Is untenable.
The Non Unionist.
''Those who voluntarily associate them
selves. believe that In their efforts to i'm
prove conditions they are working as much
In the interest Of the unorganized as in their
own, and out of this grows the contention
that when a non-union man works during
a strike he violates the rights and privi-
leges Of those associated, in efforts to better
the general condition, and in aspirations to
higher standard Of living. The non-union
man. who does not believe that the union
can accomplish these things, insists with
equal sincerity that the union destroys his
efforts to secure better standard Of living.
and interferes with his aspirations for i'm
provement. The fallacy Of such argument
lies In the use Of the analogy Of state gov
eminent. under which the minority acQut-
esces in the rule Of the majority; but gov
eminent Is the result OF organic law, within
the scope of which no other government can
assume authority to control the minority.
In all acts OF government the minority takes
part and when 1t Is defeated the govern
ment becomes the agency of ALL not simply
Of the majority.
A Voluntary Social Organization.
'It should be remembered that the trade
union Is a voluntary social organization.
and. like any other organization. Is subor-
dtnate to the laws Of the land and cannot
make rules or regulations in contravention
thereof Yet 1t at times seeks to set itself
up as a separate and distinct governing
agency and to control those who have
refused to Join It's ranks and to consent to
It's government, and to deny to them the
personal liberties which are guaranteed to
every citizen by the Constitution and laws
of the land. The analogy. therefore, is I'M
sound and does not apply. Abraham Lin
coin said. No man Is good enough to gov
ern another man without that others con-
sent This Is as true In trade unions as
elsewhere. and not until those which fail
to recognize this truth abandon their atti-
tude toward non-union men, and follow the
suggestion made above-that Is, to make
their work and their membership so valu-
able and attractive that all who are eligi-
BILE to membership wild come under their
slant sympathy of the public, which their
general purposes seem to demand.
Boys Should Not Vote on Strike Issues.
I'VE believe 1t is unwise and impolitic to
permit boys Of immature age and judgment
to participate in deciding the policy and ac-
lions Of a labor union. We think that no
one should have such voice in the affairs OF
union. We think that no one should have
has reached his legal majority. Those af-
fairs are momentous and are Of growing
Importance. They should be directed by
men who have a realizing sense Of the re-
sponsibilities of life. both as to family, as
to associates and as to society. This does
not mean, OF course, that minors should not
belong to the union. but they should not act
as, nor vote for. delegates to conventions
which consider or determine strikes.
Constitution Of United Mine Workers.
THE present constitution Of the United
Mine Workers Of America does not present
the most inviting inducements to the oper-
ators to enter into contraetual relations
with 1t. Minors are represented in conven-
lions called for the consideration of strikes:
while boys do not go as delegates. only one
case having been noted. they send delegates
to such conventions; and as the boys in the
union In the anthracite region constitute
about 20 per cent Of the membership. 1t is
easily seen that their representatives. who
may be obliged to act on instructions may
have the balance OF power. and thus carry
a vote for strike when the more conserva-
tive and experienced members might be OPP
posed to 1t.
Under the recently amended constitution
Of the United Mine Workers of America,
strikes must originate with the locals or