Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-12
IhE LABOR

Ali the p~rating and preaching IN the
world against labor organizations and
trade unionism won't avail a particle.
The sovereign American people
have recognized the right Of laboring
men to organize and furthermore have
realized the good that has resulted
therefrom. not only 10 the workman
but 10 the country at large. Also, the
more intelligent employers have real
lied that the organization Of the work.
man has boen 81 benefit To them.
The iron law Of competition has z
tendency 10 force wages down 70 the
lowest possible notch. The ~Organiza.
tion which leads d raise IN the wage
scale is the friend 70 the employer BY
being the enemy 20 rulnous compeii.
ton.
The workingman il yearly becoming
better educated more intelligent, bet
ter equipped TO think out the prob
lens that concern him Iii the relation
10 his employer.
Naturally, some mistakes are made
as the cause Of the great mass Of the
people ID pushed slowly forward into
light. The great danger 10 The union
man IL that By making demands re.
voting 20 the sense Of liberty and fair
play. SO deeply craven upon the heart
or the American people, the cause Will
contribute % It's own weakening.
Organized labor II right, cay the
people, but when unreasonable de-
mands are made not only are they
likely to fail IN the specific instance,
but enemies to trade unionism take up
the cry md the whole beautifully
builded structure Ii shaken.
The sense OF the American people
has revoltcd against t1le lyncher, even
though his act be 10 ayenge the foulest
Of crimes How much less likely then
are the people to approve Of acts Of
violence and Moodshed over matters
OF wages and labor.
It is well not to be deceived. The
sovereign American people will never
consent 10 having the courts deprived
of their legitimate function, whether
the object OF vengeance Of the mob be
the ravisher or the "scab..
The attitude Of the people OF Colo.
RADIO was largely In favor Of the strlk-
Ing miners, but there is unanimors up.
prevail of the steps taken To preserve
order. lives and property. II is unfor-
tunate that acts Of violence not only
defeat their immediate object, but
work injury TO all unlonism.
Strikes undertaken upon the advice
or with the consent and support Of the
highest authority 81 the American
Federation Of Labor and conducted In
the manner advised by the head OH
GERS have usually resulted In much
good. II Ia where the law has been
taken into the hands Of some minor
organization without Wise leaders,
that injury has been done.
There Is d case In point In Albuqusr.
que ut present. The Transfers union
without waiting TO advise the Wash,
ington headquarters Or even the Cen
trail labor union OF their intention
struck for higher wages and the re.
moval Of grievances. The teamsters
seem to have a good cause. The emol'
uments are a pittancc and In n in.
stance. at least. they were compelled
to sleep IN the barn and to subsist on
scanty fare furnished by their employ.
cr. In asking for n removal Of this
grievance. they should have won the
support Of every citizen Of Albuquer-
que. but they asked an Albuquerque
alderman who Is u coal dealer and by
the way a outspoken union man, and
another coal dealer ~ the city MS well,
10 sien the schedule Of wages for the
hauling OF all kinds Of things that was
asked OF the general transfer men