The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1903-06-04

" general census were taken, The
sympa,hics Of the public at large would
probably be found with the lnborine
man. "hc general public believes the
labor union 10 be an instrument for
gaining the rights that should have
been granted without II struggle. This
| sympathy !, among the chiof assets Of
the labor movement. II L. not the proc.
uct of any love for socialism. Public
ownership Of certain quasi.na iural mo
nopolics, 1t i- true, IL growing moro
popular. but the idea Of socinlizinc
cni,al has ~ yet not entered the minds
Of people who have capital to socinlizc.
The small propcr,y.holdcr /. the un.
willing protector Of the trust. The fear
OF iniuring the man who owns fnrm
checks nll legislation or agitation look.
ing to the coniiscntion of huge fortunes
sympathy with the labor union and
hostility To the trust do not argue dc.
sire Of economic revolutions: they are
nothing clse thnn the expression Of
sense Of justice.
II l. time that the labor unions rccog-
nilcd this fact IN the public mind,
the working.mcn have been the under
dog In the tight, and the public has sub.
mitlcd patiently to Inconvenience after
Inconvenience In order that strikes
might win Legitimate advantage. Tor
undergrad and oyerworkcd men. But
organized labor is no longer weak. II
Is strong. And jus, because ii IL strong
IL IL In danger Of abusing iis strength,
aud II thus losing TINT public sympathy
which has lccn it, most important
asset.
\ labor union cannot afford Ia 'cpudi-
ale the finding of nm arbitration board
IL does not like, and il cannot afford to
rcpudiu,c its contracts. Tho great pub
lie, which has no interest IN the issues
NJ stake cXccp, II general desire Ia see
justice done The weaker party, will not
excuse arrognnr. in II union amy more
rcndil, than arrogance In n corporation.
Within the past two weeks there has
vbeen pronounced retrogrcssion within
the labor unions NJ this vital point
Repeatedly n decision Of n board Of
arbitration has been rejected. md even
more frequently union has deliberate.
ly broken II, agreement. The effect of
| this upon their cause will be- serious.
No person will make contracts with
parties who have no regard for their
word. who legally ara irrcsponsiblcand
who make cXtrsyagan, demnnds. We
are tempted to say that the best thing
that could happen TO the labor move
ncut just ut present would bo series
of suits brought To recover damages
for broken contracts.
| The issue here lies not ~ much with
he leaders, perhaps, r. " h
the rank and file of the unions There
may he leaders that arc corrupt, md
who ARE using their positions for grow
ing rich, hut their dishonesty, even II
proved. would not weaken tho oblign-
tiuns Of the unions I hey represent,
These mus, stand by the agreements of
their leaders. The history OF labor un-
ions within the past few weeks raises
the serious question as to whether some
Of them have amy sense of moral re-
sponsibiity whatsoever. Let us grant
their cause il right, aud le, u, further
decide unfairly against them. That
does moi end the matter. There 10
something more Mt stake than the i'm
mediate advantage 10 no gained by
some one union. II IL The responsibility
Of the labor movement n. a whole,
There IL nothing moro heroic than the
seif.sncriiice endured by poor men and
women in the cnu-c II organized labor
during the times oi strikes and lock.
outs The same devotion should h.
shown in standing by decisions and con.
tracts. The worst enemy to the cause
Of organized labor today is The contract.
breaking union.
Industrial peace Is nj bottom founded
on mutual confidence. Honesty L. the
best policy for the labor union ns we'll
as for other men. Any disregard of the
terms Of ngrcemcn, on the employer 5
par, has been held gain and again 10
Justify II strike Turn about is fnir
plny. Let the union demand the same
inhcxiblc honesty Of itself. Playing
fas, and loose with the decisions Of ar.
bitrailon boards is II very short.sighted
policy. A union cannot expect To gain
everything It demands. but the labor.