Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-17
THE NONUNION MAN.
ROFESSOR GUNTON THINKS HE
:, SERVES A GOOD PURPOSE.

- SERVES GOOD PURPOS6.
zgBat There Is Every Reason Why
49, Honest Workingmen, Whether
j Hembers of Unions OF Not, Should
Despise the "Scab."
In recent address on trade unions
before the Economic club of Boston
-PreSident Eliot of Harvard university
asaid:
"sSome years ago l had the honor to
Ktate in a paper, on an educational
-Bnbiect to he sure, that l thought the
modern 'scab' was very good type
>-Aof hero, and remain of that opinion.
And, moreover, my belief is that that
E1s the opinion of nine-tenths of the
american people"
Nobody will doubt that this is Presi-
dent Eliots opinion, though it may
well be doubted that nine-tenths of the
american people agree with him. But
ut is true that very large number Of
Idea of trade unions as necessary, even
1T a necessary evil, do regard the non
sunion men as more clearly representing
.the American idea of personal liberty.
Las President Eliot further says:
~Every American instinct protests
aagainst the violent prevention of
man selling his labor where and when
and for what he chooses to sell it, and
somehow or other-I cannot tell how
that liberty needs to be preserved and
Protected in our country"
1t is not to be denied that trade un-
IONS are hostile to nonunion men; that
they show their hostility in various
ways, sometimes even carrying it to
the extent tf inaugurating strike to
Becure the discharge of nonunion men.
This is manifestly coercive and op-
Bressive, but it is one Of those objec-
s{ionable phases Of labor unions which
shave come as result Of certain other
objectionable conduct on the part of
semployers, who have constantly
sHOught to give the nonunion man the
preference over the union man, thus
uefeating the purposes Of the union
sand ultimately destroying it. Harsh
as it is, it is one Of those crude meth
ADDS which have been adopted in the
sense Of self defense.
This has tended to make the nonun-
don man seem like martyr in the eyes
*Df the public, and especially in the
eyes Of those who think the right to
sell their labor where and for what
ever they choose is the foundation of
personal liberty. Between those who
think him martyr and those who
think him an enemy to labor the non
union man has come to be regarded as
Synonymous with a "scab." This is a
great mistake. They are not neces-
-sarily alike. Indeed they fill quite
different functions in the economy of
industrial adjustment. The nonunion
man is one who simply does not join
the union. This is not always nor
even generally, because he is hostile to
the union. lie stands aloof for null
itude of reasons; sometimes because
he is reluctant to pay the dues and as
~sume the responsibilities of member
ship; sometimes because he has a per-
sSonal dislike for some of the officers.
But much the larger number stay out
side the unions from Il general indiffer-
vence. Theoretically they believe in
the unions. They are in general spirit
and action in accord with them, but
1ack that interest which materializes
In active service.
In this they are not different from
zthe great majority of people in all other
walks of life. Take the church, for
instance. Probably 80 per cent of the
people who do not attend church are
not restrained from going because they
: are hostile to Christianity or indeed
sseriously critical, nor because they
church is doing. But they have an in
difference to that specific call to duty.
The attractions in many other ways
are stronger than that of going to
Church. The same is true Of politics.
The leaders in both parties complain
that their adherents do not join the re-
aspective organizations and participate
in the actual duties of political propa-
zganda; hence the complaint that eau
'7cuses are neglected and many Of the
best people in the community, socially,
do not take the trouble to vote, much
less attend caucuses and conventions.
This is not because they do not believe
san the Republican or Democratic party,
but because of a general Indifference
or stronger attractions in other direc-
dions
The same is exactly the case with
the great majority Of Workingmen in
the different industries. This is shown
by the fact that nonunion workingmen
in the main act with the unions, Just
cthe same as the great mass of Repub-
licans vote the Republican ticket,
though they neglect the caucuses and
fail to attend even the campaign meet
ings. So when a strike comes on the
great mass of nonunion men go out
with the strikers and go in with the
strikers. They abide by the decision
that the union accepts, and, moreover,
the union men always share With them
ihe strike funds. In the recent coal
strike only 2 small fraction Of the min