Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-07-16
ON THE LABOR QUESTION.

have TO contend as community ~ Il"
obstacle placed by labor unions IN the
way OF work for our boys. The num-
Der of youths who cannot find prohtaDie
employment unless they 80 out ln'o
AGRICULTURAL districts. is increasing ana
forming a subject OF alarm. For sa-
tan finds some mischief still for id'e
hands to do Hoodlumism is likely
10 prevail when there are no trades
open for boys to learn and no factories
10 find work for them.
This evil Is to a great extent charge
able to those unions which forbid the
taking on OF apprentices in certain lines
Of handcraft. They arbitrarily TX
the number that may be permitted 10
learn the trade, and firms that VIII not
bow to that dictum are notified thar
union men viii not work FOR them
That is but one OF the rules by which
such organizations are bringing people
and labor into bondage, and endeavor-
ing to establish tyranny that ought
not to he borne but should be vigorous
" resisted.
BY the courtesy Of Mr. Oscar Gro
shell who represents In this city the
National Cash Register company, we
have been favored with a copy OF a
letter from John II. Patterson, presi-
dent of that company TO Its employees,
II Is published in the n c, Il. for July,
The country was startled some time
ago. when the announcement was made
OF trouble between the unions and the
company. because the institution had
acquired a splendid reputation through
It's admirable provisions for It's working
people. The difficulty was removed,
however, by the hands themselves who
saw that the demands made were un-
reasonable. Recently, II appears, the
union prevailed again upon It's mem
beers to make trouble, and ten hours
pay was demanded for nine hours
work. President Patterson, after ex-
pressing his establishment at this new
demand, says;
we cannot probably run this fac
tory II In addition to difficulties from
without we have TO meet this blind. I'M
reasoning opposition from within. The
unions must act less unJustly than they
have In the past When the assemblsrs
made their demands some weeks ago.
we had 10 turn nearly all our attention
10 the labor question, and We gave up
pushing for orders.
More than that. We had sent for two
hundred OF our agents TO come here 20
convention. The object OF that con-
Nention was 10 teach them how 10 get
more orders. Instead Of discussing
that subject. we were obliged 10 DIS
cuss labor troubles with the agents--
what they were TO do when the threat
ened strife should occur. There was
no use In laying extensive. plans TO get
orders II the factory was 20 close We
gave up these plans We gave up other
plans. We cut off advertising projects
which we had planned We stopped
manufacturing stock ahead. We cut or
purchases Of material, and we reduced
our working force by six hundred.
Must we always have trouble Of this
kindY Have we got to be forever meet
ing opposition from within? How can
we win and hold the market for the
company and for you n you are conttn-
" ly fighting us?
Il win not attempt 20 keep the fac
tory running under these conditions
any longer II you bring this result
upon yourselves. you win be responsible
for the fact that four thousand people
VIII be turned out OF employment. IN
the days when the results or the strike
0re being felt, want you 10 remember
That You brought the trouble upon
yourselves"
IN the previous difficulty, which was
over the question OF the employment OF
four men demanded by the union.
while the actual loss TO the company
was met by the advertising It gave the
concern ard the sympathy Of the pub.
llc which was universally In its favor.
the loss 10 labor. foolishly and unreal
eonably pitted against Il. was about a
quarter OF million of dollars without
any compensation, for the four men
were not taken on. The company pays
cut about 5000 a week to its employees.
On the subject OF the growing unrest
In labor circles aud the unreasoning
demands Of labor organizations, the
PHILADELPHIA North American has the
following words Of warning, which we
commend to our friends who are con-
nected with the unions as sound and
sage advice
"A crisis In the NE Of organized Ia
Dor In the United States a. Impending
II Is foreshadoVed in aimlcss strikrs.
IN irrational unrest. Ga the seeihing tur-
bulcnce Of masses Of men who can give
no lucid reason for tleir turmoil. In the
defensive drawing togo ther OF hnrassed
employers, In the growing hostility Of
public opinion 70 purpOseless disturbers
81 business. The need for sane counsel.
iharp rebuke and earnest rem0nstranoe
against foolish action Is great and the
man who supplies that need takes his
ourage in both hands II he values the
friendship Of those whom he would
ave from their own folly"
We are fully aware Of the conse-
suences limited at In the closing SEM
enoe Of the remarks last quoted. But
Sc think more OF the general welfare
han OF any personal difficulty We are
,ctng IN friendship to working people.
sheiher in or out Of the unions. In csIl-
ne attention to the oppressive meth
ses, wrongly resorted TO by organlsa-
Ions thar Interfere with human liberty
ana the legitimate transaction Of bust
iess What we say may be resented by
'ers3hs who profit by the folly OF their
lgges but genuine workers who are