Fergus County argus., 1903-09-16
STRIKE NOT
UNSUITABLE
Continued from Second Page).

NSOulluueu from second HaRe).
selves mechanics, but of whom the
real mechanics in the various unions
are ashamed; of the walking delegate,
Of the unprincipled sheet which dis
graces the name of newspaper and of
other like influences.
In the early history of unionism, in
America at least, only men of known
skill in any trade could be admitted
to the trades union. Then, it was
the effort to keep up the standard of
efficiency, and membership in a un-
ion was a guarantee of skill. Now,
conditions have been in a measure re-
versed. for, while many skilled men
are in the union, perhaps a majority
of them. there are many men connect
ed with the unions all over the coun-
try who are far from being in any
sense skilled mechanics, men with
whom the skilled mechanics are
ashamed TO be classed. and whom
they would not, under any circum-
stances. recommend; men who avail
themselves of the union for the pur-
pose of forcing their services into en-
ployment which their ability would
never command for them, and, in
many cases they are the agitators
who cause the troubles between the
mechanic and his employer.
If we are correctly informed, and
our information comes from union
men. there are many in some of the
unions in this city who could not get
employment at their alleged trades
from aay skilled mechanic in the un-
ion. because of their inefficiency. The
trouble is that now. instead of at
tempting to keep up the standard Of
efficiency of those belonging to the
various trades unions. the tendency is
rather toward making numbers, in
stead of ability, the standard of
strength, with the result Aat too
many men have been admitted to
membership simply upon their claim
ing to have a certain trade.
Very few men are opposed to trades
unions. aside from the unreasonable
strikes and boycotts which they de-
clare. Most men believe in organiz-
alton, ut very few, outside of the un-
ions, and comparatively few of them.
believe in most of the strikes anil
alton, but very few, outside of the un-
ions and the cause of unionism into
disrepute with a very large major
ity OF the reasonable men in the coun-
try; and the bitterest opponents of
unionsm in America today are men
who were formerly allied with the
cause. but who. because of the tyran-
ny and unreasonableness of agitators
and walking delegates, were driven
from the unions. and who have be-
come active workers against them.
The statement referred to says that
"at the advent of spring in order to
organize strong local of the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join
ers. it was deemed necessary to in
clude all competent carpenters in and
around Lewistown." So far their OBJ
ject was laudable, but they complain
that T. J. Tubb refused to cooper
ate 1t seems. therefore, that their
object was not ito perpetuate fair
wages or to better their conditions
as set out in their statement, and
which is a worthy motive, but, from
the fact that no higher wages are
paid anywhere than are paid here In
Lewistown, and there has never been
any complaint as to wages, hours or
work. or other conditions, some re-
pressiye measures must have been
contemplated, or they would not, II
they desired to be reasonable, have
attempted to coerce anyone to join.
And even now the only complaint OF
union men. as they express them
selves privately is that Tubb Bros.
refuse to surrender their right to hire
good men, regardless of the fact OF
their belonging to the union or other
wise. In fact large number of the
men called out would like to return
to their work, for their season is nee
essarily short. and already they have
lost at least three thousand dollars In
wages which they would have earned,
and many of them would return but
for the club held over their heads In
the shape of a fine (said to be $l50)
and expulsion from the union, and the
consequent inability to secure work
in any place where the unions have
control.
Another peculiar and unreasonable
feature of the strike. and which the
statement purports to justify, is that
it is purely sympathetic. In other
words. the mason's union has no com.
plant. the only complaint coming from
the carpenters union. At the same
time the carpenters are all at work
while the masons are pulling their
chestnuts out of the fire for them.
Again we commend the statement
to the candid, thoughtful citizen, not
with the thought that any such per-
son will be convinced Of the strike
being right. or in the interest of la
Dor. but as an authentic exposition,
in the nature of confession. OF the
oppression and tyranny practiced by
the unions in such matters.