The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-14

constitution of the United States. which
declares that no state shall attempt to
abridge the privileges or right of life
liberty and property OF any citizen.
1T has not hesitated to resort to vio-
lence and the destruction of property to
compel the acceptance of its demands.
It's history is strained with blood and
ruin. Many a man whose only fault
was that he stood upon his rights has
been made to suffer outrage, and even
death, and many an employer has been
brought face to face with financial ruin.
These wrongs cry unto heaven, and yet
an unaroused public sentiment too often
permits them to go unheeded and I'M
punished.
1T now demands of the public and CT
congress the privilege to violate the
laws forbidding violence and property
destruction that it may continue TO
maintain its power through terrorism.
TT extends its tactics of coercion and
intimidation over all classes debating
to the press and to the politicians. ana
strangling independence Of thought and
American manhood.
1T denies to those outside its ranks
the individual right to dispose of their
labor as they see nt-a right that is one
of the most sacred and fundamental OIL
American liberty. It holds a bIudgeon
over the head of the employer. laying
down the terms upon which he shall be
permitted to do business 1t says to
him that he must deal direct with the
union; that. while he shall pay the men
who work in his factory, they shall be
beholden more to the union than to him
for their positions; that he cannot en-
ploy or discharge men without the en-
dorsement and consent of the union.
and that he must pay them the wage
fixed by the union, without regard to
their individual worth or the economic
ability of the employer to pay.
ftYf denies f0 the individual the FI1ni
of being his own judge as to the length
of time he shall work, and as to how
much he shall do within the time pre-
scribed. 1t takes no account Of the
varying degree of natural aptitude and
powers of endurance displayed by iudi-
Viduais and seeks to place all men IN
each particular trade on the same dead
level. as respects his daily output and
his daily wage Thus premium is
placed upon Incidence and incompetency
and there Is a restriction of human
effort, reducing the aggregate prOdue-
ton and increasing the cost of things
produced. This policy amounts to not
only tax upon the consumer. the ma
iority Of whom do not belong to organ
lied labor, but it reduces the demand
or the trade at home and lessons tn~
chances of successful competition by our
manufacturers in foreign markets The
.elght-hour law, which it demands i
merely the extension to a wider field of
the principles it enforces in trades I'M
der its domination
1t drives unwillingly men into ranks
by its policy of intimidation Thousands
of its members are such today. not he
cause they sympathize with its pur-
poses, but because they fear the conse-
quences of not yielding to its tyranny.
These men are, as a class. the more
thrifty and capable of its members.
They are men who secretly rebel
against the system which places them
upon the level with the incompetenf
ar y IL
conditions established, that might prove
their superior worth, and thus gain adj
vancement in life. But they dare not
openly express their views. for they feel
that their employment and peace de-
pend upon their submissive acquiesc-
ence to the principles of the union.
While it seeks to compel men al
ready employed in the trades to enlist
under its banner. it at the same time
seeks to prevent outsiders from enter
ing the trades. 1t foists upon employ
ers rules limiting the number of ap-
prentices, some unions going so far as
to say there shall be no apprentices
The boys from the farm now come to
the cities and find the doors of the
trades shut against them While law
yers, doctors and men in other unor-
ganized vocations are glad to teach
young men their knowledge the trades
uniOnist refuses to do so, and employers
are now forced to endow technical
schools, in the hope of obtaining that
supply of new blood for their work
shops which is essential to the preven-
ton of dry rot.
organized labor is an organization
of manual labor. trained and untrain-
ed, of men who do as they are told and
who depend upon the brains of others
for guidance. That wide field of labor
in which mental capacity is a greater
or less requisite on the part of the
workers is not represented by it. and
cannot be for the obvious impossibilfty
of organizing brains. The rule that or
ganized labor seeks to establish is,
therefore, the rule of the least intelli-
gent portion of labor. A comprehen-
sion of this fact explains why its lead
ers are found to be agitators and dem
agogues men who appeal to prejudice
and envy, who are constantly instill-
ing a hatred of wealth and ability, and
who. in fncendiary speeches. attempt
to stir up men to seize by physical force
that which their merit cannot obtain
for them.
Composed as it is of men of muscle.
rather than the men of intelligence, and
commanded by leaders who are at
heart disciples of revolution. it is not