New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-23
A GO0n EGAMPLE.


Ono If the most creditable things we nave
known for long time about the Central eue'
o+od Union is IFS evident disgust with the Pipe
Calkers and Tappers Union, whlch nas ue
cided to order strike on the subway If its de-
,,,,,7s for an advance of wages from 81 to 81 %
2 day is not granted by July l. week ago
this same union. acting through its president
signed an agreement with the subway con
tractors for the settlement of the question WITH
out n strike The contractors promised TO pa!
tho WAGES asked If IL could be shown ny july ~
that 81 10 was the prevailing rate OF wages Ior
this work Otherwise the present rate shouiu
no maid The men were 70 be content Wlll
whatever were the prevailing wages OF their
trade Apparently they found that they couiu
not proye their case and under the agreement
would have TO continue at So. So-actlng Oh the
nrincinle. What Is a little thing like contract
AMONG labor unjonists they determined TO
strike. and. IL possible, drag members of other
trades into struggle with them
Tho answer of the Central Federated Union
was honorable and TO the point. The CHAIRMAN
declared; This union will not go on record as
deliberately violating an agreement because
lone of its affiliated unions chooses TO DO SO. ne
also told the caIkers: Il warn you that there
will be no sympathetic strike in the SUBWAY
I'VE mean to keep our agreement Lahe"4se
they heard some plain truths from other persons
in the hall. One man said that nearly every
thing he heard about subway grievances was
lie and that the unions Were proftng greatly
bv their agreements with the contractors We
ca freouentIv have been compelled to criticlse
the reckless disregard Of their obligations and
the law bv some labor unions that we are par
ticuIarIv glad of this opportunity to commend
the honorable dealings of labor union. This Is
the sort Of conduct which makes organized
labor respectable makes it safe for employers
IN 1rlst unions and enter into contract relations
with them
Labor unions have suffered more from the
folly of their own leaders than from the opposl-
ton Of their enemies. Their violations OF con-
tracts, their unreasonable Sympathetic strikes
their sometimes i'll concealed participation IN
lawbreaking, have given excuse to their oppo-
nents for trying TO undermine their influence.
When respect for agreements and scrupulous
regard for the rights Of others and determl-
nation to give full value of honest work for
wages paid become the rule with the unionists,
no external influence can do them serious harm.
Employers, in the long run, viii be only too glad
to deal with organizations when they can deal
with them on a business basis and with that
confidence which is at the foundation OF ordi-
nary commercial transactions.
The Central Federated Union sets an example
TO organized labor in its regard for contracts.
Any other course in dealing with the subway
work would be more than commonly cen
surable The contractors have all along treated
organized labor with the greatest consideration
and are entitled to fair cooperation upon the
part of their employees in return. Moreover,
there is a great public interest involved Any
tying up of this work means loss and incon-
venienee. and even personal danger, to thou
sands Of New Yorkers-mostly wage carriers
who are suffering from the present traffic con-
gestion. Even if they had agreements,
workmen who wantonly preciptated a labor
war which delayed the completion Of the sub
way would be doing an mpatriotic act