The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-22

employees ITOfn their own Thnhb N uost
likely to produce satisfactory results and
harmonious relations, and at such con-
ference the employees shouts have the right
to call to their assistance such representa-
tives OF agents ~ they may choose and to
have them recognized "a such.
In order to be entitled to such recogni-
ton the labor organization or union must
give the same recognition to the rights OF
the employer and Of others which 1t de-
mands for itself and for its members. The
worker has the rttght, to quit or TO strike
NO doing he does not violate a contract made
by or Tor him. He has neither right nor
license TO destroy or to damage the property
OF the employer neither has he any right
or license to intimidate or to use violence
against the man who chooses TO exercise
his right to work, nor to interfere With
those who do not feel that the union offers
the best method for adjusting grievances.
The union must not undertake to as
sumo, or to interfere with, the management
Of the business Of the employer. II should
strive to make membership in II 90 valuable
as TO attract all who are eligible; but In Its
efforts to build itself up 1t must not lose
sight OF the fact that those who may think
differently have certain rights guaranteed
irritating II may be to see q man enjoy
benefits to the securing OF which he refuses
to contribute, either morally or physically
or financially, the fact that he has q right to
dispose OF his personal services as he
chooses cannot be ignored, The non
blity which results from his being such. but
his right and privilege Of being q non
union man are sanctioned In law and morals.
The rights and privileges OF non-union men
are as sacred to them as the rights and
privileges Of unionirts. The contention
that a majority Of the employees In an in
dustry. BY voluntarily associating them
selves In q union, acquire authority over
those who do not 30 associate themselves
Ia untenable.
Those who voluntarily associate them
selves believe that In their efforts TO i'm
prove conditions they are working as much
In the interest OF the unorganized as In their
own. and out OF this grows the contention
that when q non-union man works during
strike sn.s he vos,ss the rights and privileges ss
general condition and In aspirations to- a
higher standard Of living. The non-union
man who does not believe that the union
can accomplish these things insists with
equal sincerity that the union destroys his
efforts to secure better standard OF living
and interferes with his aspirations for i'm
provement. Tho fallacy Of such argu-
ment lies In the use Of the analogy OF State
government, under which the minority
acquiesoes In the rule Of the majority; but
government Is the result Of organic law,
within the scope OF which no other gov.
eminent can assume authority TO control
the minority. In all acts Of government
the minority takes part. and when 1t Is
defeated the government becomes the
agency Of all, not simply Of the majority.
union Is a voluntary social organization,
and, like any other orRani zation, Is sub
ordinate to the laws Of the land and cannot
make rules or regulations In contravention
up as a separate and distinct governing
agency and to control those who have re-
fused to join It's ranks and to consent to
It's government, and to deny to them the
personal liberties which are guaranteed
TO every citizen by the Constitution and
Is unsound and does not apply. Abraham
Lincoln said: mo man Is good enough to
govern another man without that others
consent" This Ii as true in trade unions
as elsewhere. and not until those which
fail to recognize this truth abandon their
attitude toward non-union men and follow
the suggestion made above-that IL. to
make their work and their membership so
valuable and attractive that all who are
eligible to membership will come under
constant sympathy Of the public which
their general purposes aeem to demand.
We believe u u unwise and impolitic to
permit boys OF immature age and judg-
and actions Of . labor union. We think
that no one should have such voice In the
Affairs Of . union until he has reached his
legal majority. Those Affairs are mo-
mcntous and are Of growing importance.
They should be directed by men who have
life, both as to family. as to associates and
as TO society. This does not mean, Of
course, that minors should not belong to
the union; but they should not act as. nor
vote for. delegates to conventions which
consider or determine strikes.
The DrQsRpt COnetItutlOn of the Init ed
Mine Workers Of America does not present
the most inviting Inducements TO the opera
tors to enter into contractual relations
with II. Minors are represented in con.
ventions called for the consideration OF
strikes; while boys do not go as delegates,
only one case having been noted, they send
delegates TO such conventions: and as the
boys In the union In the anthracite region
constitute about 20 per cent OF the mem
bership. IL IL easily seen that their repre-
sentatives. who may be obliged 20 act on
Instructions. may have the balance OF
power and thus carry a vote for a strike
when the more conservative and experienced
members might he opposed 10 II.
the Night 10 worI.
On the general subject ~ lavleernee.
boyoottins and blacklisting the commis-
sion ssys:
have ccassd To work. ar la enGase anew In
work which Others have abandoned. IL part
Of the personal liberty ~ a citizen that can
never iye surrendered. and every infringe
ment th~r.pf msrts, and should reoeive
the stern announcement ~ the law. All
government implies r-traint. and II IL not
le-s. but more ne,s--ary Ia self -soNrrn.d
communities, than In oth~rs, 90 cOnIs' re-
straint ~ the passions ~ men which make
for dl.order and lA~les-b.-s Our Ian.
suAse is the Language. ~ fr. Jsople. and
fails TO furnish any form ~ sI,ss.s'h by which
the right ~ q citizen to sofk ~l.n be
pl.a<.s. for whom b. plea.~s. aud o'l what
t~ruls hs please. csn l,~ successfully denied
Ii,s coinmon s~n-~ ~ our I->opl@. ~ well
~ tl,s comnon lac foriIlds that thi- night
should i- As.ailsd with nnpuniiy. u 10
yail Ia say that ths wan vho fesnains 81
sofk whlls Others e~s-~ Co vofs of takes
the place ~ oD~ si,o has Ai,.iidoi,sd bis
sofs h~lIss "a dsf.si the s-lslrstions ~
sasn sLo s~~k Ia obtain ls-ttsf T-s.sinIs-p-s
f.f thar l.isof aud i-ritsT oonshtissiis ~
Me Approval ~ the obles ~ . -iriks
az tzsfs1s~lon ti.si ~ Isuilss.s 10 hifh AID
ial,ls esilaoi ssssntloa ga siissnla ca ds-ifoy
ills nshi ~ 0ii,sfs ~ . aiesfehl oianlss,
w. tl,ls fsil-as 80 Ga Astsffsfs 9Th tisu
noatuau 40 saao.,-ins "a sofs nlsoi, shat
tsfils si,d ~ shai tia.s aid fof shosn ~
Itasg lilsassi tiara - a. al.
Il.f IlsiH tlls IA ssifk o.shai a. nassls
a. as,lsisJ ulsap iiss slslsio.sl ~ dl@sl5pfSss
- ii,s ls-fs.assi sississ'i's sisa ass,.dsss a
ils,s.- 80. fi-in a. sssfuss ilas f.6if "
llsls 500 ssilsssl-s ii.ss ii..s-r sLs o.
a.sls - ssfa iiAsia i'ssf sst. n, 40