The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-08-01
RESPONSIBILITIES OF POWER.
Will the Labor Unions Initiate the
DespOtic Trusts?

so strong, the great question is: HOW
will they use their power? Will they
act in such wise and self-restrained
way that the general public will be won
over to their side, or will they initiate
the despotic trusts and call down upon
themselves the opposition of the rest of
the nation? This is question asked by
Herbert w. Casson, in Boyce's Weekly.
This question is troubling the thought
full labor leader more than any one else.
No one knows better than he does how
difficult it is to guide large body OF
men, and how hard it is to prevent
them from doing something which
they have the power to do, but which
would be in the long run an injury
both to society and to themselves.
Henry White, one of the most cour-
ageous and statesmanlike of the East
ern labor leaders, dares to discuss the
question frankly in the Garment Work
er. He says: at cannot be held that a
union, like a king, can do no wrong.
No one can expect the labor movement
to be the only perfect human institu-
tion. The unionist is liable to seize his
opportunity, just as his employer has
done, to exact all he can without re-
gard to ultimate consequences.
"The vital question now arises: Will
the unions show a consciousness of the
responsibility that goes with power,
develop the ability to restrain them
selves, and keep in the path of least
resistance, or will they plunge ahead.
drawn on by the clamor of the unrefect-
ing among their membership p"
Employers are in many cases, says
Mr.. White, having no reason to fear
that unionism will become "an ire
sponsible and Unsuitable power" and
the only way to allay this fear is for
the unions to use their strength wisely
considering always the right of the
employer aud the interest of the public.
At the present time, New York City
presents several instances of this abuse
of power by labor unions. The carpen-
ters have two rival unions and the
stronger body has gone on strike to
crush the other out of existence. Wages
are satisfactory. Hours are satisfactory.
No grievance of any kind is alleged
against employers, yet the whole city
is being made to suffer for weeks be-
cause the carpenters lack the common
sense to agree among themselves. The
strikers are trying to win public sympa-
thy by marching up and down Fifth
avenue with flags and brass bands, but
every wage-worker in the city knows
that they ought to be at work.
The marine engineers are also giving
an example. They made several de-
mands upon their employers. The en-
ployers received them courteously and
offered to arbitrate. They refused and
declared a strike, putting stop to the
business of New York harbor. No mat
ter what their grievances were, step
of this arbitrary nature cannot be de-
Tended by any far-seeing friend of
unionism.
Every institution in this country de-
pends in the end upon public sentiment.
If the majority of the people are against
it, numbers nor wealth will not save it.
The law means only what the people
thought yesterday. That is the mean
ing of self. government, and it is the
only safe foundation upon which civili-
zation can be built.
Therefore, labor union can never
afford to disregard what the public
thinks of its actions. The moment it be-
comes intolerable, some ancient law
can be resurrected and its power can
be broken with blow that Injuries all
other unions as well.
The trust or the trade union that will
fully ignores the public welfare ought
be to brought to terms or put out OF busi-
ness. This is the plain truth and every
man except demagogue must admit
and proclaim it.
There never has been time when
the problems of unionism were so CON-
plex and difficult and when such large
men were needed to solve them. When
the unions were small and weak, any
ordinary member of the rank and file OF
the trade made good enough labor
leader; but to-day there are questions
coming up that puzzle the wisest heads.
An uncompromising or conceited
leader can to-day wreck union i'll
very short time. He is as dangerous as
a ten-year-old boy in dynamite fac
tory. Every day it is becoming clearer
that only those unions that elect wise
leaders can hope to survive without a
series of disastrous defeats.
Unionism is no longer a frail hot
house plant. 1t has become big enough
to think of the rights of others as well
as of its own rights. If it does not do