Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-21
PEOPLES PULPIT.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Trade Unions Must Respect laws.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Trade Unions Must Respect Laws.
Editor Courier:-My experience as
union man has made it apparent to
me that a union must not undertake
to assume or interfere with the man.
agement of the business of his en-
ployer. To live, it should try to make
membership in it so valuable that it
Will attract all who are eligible How
ever, the men should always remem-
Der in their effort to build up their or
ganization that they must not lose
sight of the fact that those who hold
different opinions from themselves
have certain rights guaranteed them
by our free government. However.
Itching an organization may be to see
man enjoy its benefits as member,
to the securing of which he refuses to
contribute either morally, physically
or financially, the fact that he has the
right to dispose of his personal SER
vices cannot be ignored. The non
union man assumes the entire respon-
sibility which results from his being
such, but his right and privilege of
being non-union man is sanctioned
by law and morals.
The rights and privileges of the
non-un1on man are as sacred to him
as are those of the union man. The
contention that majority of the en-
ployes in any line of industry by vol
untary associating themselves togeth-
er acquire authority over those who do
not SO associate themselves is unten-
able.
Those who voluntarily associate
themselves together, believe that in
their efforts to improve conditions,
they are working as much in the in
terest of unorganized labor as to their
own advantage. Out of this condition
grows the contention that the non
union man who works during a strike
violates the rights and privileges of
those associated together to better
their condition. The non-union man,
| however, who believes that the union
cannot accomplish these ends, insists
with equal sincerity that the union de-
stroys his efforts to secure better
standard of living and interferes with
his aspiration for improvement.
The fallacy of this argument is at
tempted to be shown by the analogy
of the principle that governs the ques-
tiono of labor with that of the govern
ment of the state, that of the majority
to rule, Government is the result of
organized law Within its scope no
other government can assume to con-
troll the minority. In all the acts OF
| government the minority takes part,
and when it is defeated the government
becomes the agent Of all, not merely
of the majority.
1t must be remembered that trades
unions are voluntary social organiza-
tons subordinate to the laws of the
land, and cannot make laws in contra
vention thereof. Yet at times they
ing agencies for the control of those
who refuse to join it's ranks and de
MES him the rights that are guaranteed
of the country. The analogy, therefore
is unsound and does not apply.
In this matter the words of Abraham
Lincoln should be impressed upon ev
cry laboring man. when he said. "Nl
man is good enough to govern another
man without that other mans con
sent"
The writer, after several years ex
perience in trade unions, has come t.
believe that it is unwise to permit boys
OIL immature years anu Judgment u
participate in deciding the policy O.
the labor organization. | believe tina
no one should be allowed to have {
voice in the affairs of the union unit
he has reached legal age. The af
fairs of these organizations are mo
mentous and are growing in impor
lance and should be governed oy mel
who have realized in a practical wa.
the responsibilities of life. This doe
not necessarily mean that minors
should not belong to union, but tina
they should not be sent as delegates
nor vote for delegates to be sent from
local unions to labor conventions, tina
are called upon to consider the ques
tons of strikes, for in this matter tn,
public as well as the organized inter
est is at stake.
R. Williams.