The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-25
Labor Agitation--Labor
 Billc, Before Congress

Hillary A. Herbert. in The Manufactur-
 CTS Record.
 Responding to your request for short article on labor agitation l shall be, glad if can help in any degree to focalize public opinion on this question. The agi- tation now being carried on by labor or. ganizations, if not in its avowed purposes, is undoubtedly in it's tendencies, revolu- tionary. It seriously menaces not only our social and industrial life, but our present free institutions as we'll These are grave statements, and 1t behooves one making them to state with the ut- most frankness that the majority of the honest and industrious workers, and doubtless some of their foremost leaders as well. now engaged in this agitation do not as yet foresee the consequences like- ly to ensue If this movement shall con- tinue it's present drift towards lawless- ness. The denial to any individual of the right to labor as he may please or to learn as an apprentice any trade he may select is -a deprivation Of liberty. If such denial of right be enforced by the Ar- bitrary powers of majorities in defiance of any laws of the land, 1t is revolution ary.
 The chief reason prompting to a denial of these natural rights men, large major iues of whom are naturally disposed to
  No fair reasoning can explain away the fact that the remarkable betterment in the conditions of the laborer within a few decades past, while largely attributable to improved methods in manufacturing, and still more to the progress of ciViliza- tion is nevertheless due in some degree to the efforts of labor organizations. But those who for this reason have attached themselves to these organizations should
 AIxswA e.4ker to improve, the laboring mans conditions have achieved their most signal triumphs under the free institutions of America, where State and Federal constitutions, protecting alike the liberties of the poor and rich, have given the freest play to the energies of all.
 When our workers in mechanical indus tries, who constitute but relatively small proportion of our entire population, band themselves together for the purpose of controlling the whole country, there is danger in the movement Regulated by no law except the will of irresponsible mafortties and led by agitators, it's nat ural tendency is towards measures incOm pattble with the liberties Of others, and if not checked it is ultimately to revolution ize our institutions and to launch our country on experiments that have never yet been tried successfully. The sources from Wnlcn InlS odnBer dEo pO DS hppEe- hended are two:
 First, the ardor of the conflict now be- ing waged between organized labor and organized capital; passion often stiles the dictates of reason.
 Secondly, the counsels of leaders. In movements like this there is never for long any place at the front for the con- servative. He must soon give place to the extremist, and we can safely count that labor in the immediate future Is to be led entirely by those who have bidden good bye to manual labor, and whose bread and meat Is agitation-men who must agitate or go back to work, and who will count on winning and keeping place not by wise and moderate counsel, but by extreme zeal. So in such conflicts as that now going on it always is and always will be.
 This agitation has now assumed gigan- tict dimensions. It Is called a conflict be- tween capital and labor. and its results have been brought home to all our peo- pie. Everyone who Is studying today how to divide his little income so as to pur- chase coal enough to keep him warm and food enough to keep him from starving is beginning to understand that to the extent of his means he is a capitalist. Certainly it is time the public should take in the situation as it Is.