Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-09

We must see to it that in our zeal for orr
own rights, we do not ignore the rights
of others and in no way are we more
liable TO do this than in political action.
1t is not enough to be honest With
honesty must go farsightedness and
political sense. 1t is not enough to love
ones country. With love of country must
go ability 10 see through the schemes of
the would-be friend and patriot. Above
all else. go into political action unbought,
unpurchasable. Go unpledged to caucus
and voting place. Keep clear. absolutely
clear of political trickery. and then with
clear head, clean hands and honest pur-
pose. place in nomination and vote for
men who will not do your bidding but
except as you follow right and justice.
The Nom Union Man.
| Tie attitude of the union toward tn,
non-union man is much discussed an.
generally misunderstood. At first til,
union tolerated non-union men becaus
i they had to. Like some corporations
many of the unions have learned nov
that monopoly is impossible and unneceS
sary. The railroad brotherh0ods. anon
the oldest and most ccaserHt tive of the
labor organizations, reprey ut in then
methods the broadcast tradts-unionsm
They do not raise any question either
the recognition Of the union or of exclu-
sive employment. Chief Arthur, of tn,
locomotive Engineers, says: ut i.
optional with a man whether he becom,
member of our organization or not
we o!ttI no ICCtlUNe we pldce no OD
stacles in his way. If our record as al
organization is not sufficient 10 convinc,
Inn that it is TO his interest to become
| member thereof, he remains out"
NCn-uniOn men should not be forced in
| to labor organization more than a ma
| into a certain church. Converts by fore
are of no value. In the past there ha
been too much coercion and too little in
Struction and education along thes
| lines
The ncn-union man is one who simpl
Goes not join the union. This is not al
ways. nor even generally, because he
hostile to the union. He stands aloof 70
a multitude Of TcasCas.-sometime be
cause he is reluctant to lay the due
! and assume the responsibilities of mem
| bership; sometimes because he has 4 pc.
sonai dislike for some of the officers; bL
much the larger number stay outside til
| unions from a general Indifference
| Theoretically, they believe in the unions
they are in general spirit and action i
accord with them, but lack that interes
which matettalizes in active service"
| This whole question gathers about one
right to work. No man has the right, til
moral right-whatever his legal rigf
| may be-no man has the moral right eve
to work where that work interferes will
| the social, the moral, the living relation
of rs fellowmen, and do not speak tn
words Of drcamers. | speak the words (
| Jaw. We have for years excluded tn
Chinese from this Country because v
believe that to bring. them here at Il
| wages lOf winch inc y Work VIII 1euut
our American workingmen to the stanC
ard Of the Chinese ard we say No, yC
may rot work" We have regulated Il
hours Of children, the hours of womei
| the pay of melI-eVen the hours in whiC
mon may toll in certain calings, an
| even generally the hours of men.
The right Of protest is inherent in Il
Ictizen, in the individual trade-unions.
| But we 90 not justify the citizen, whe
the majority has pronounced its verde
| in deserving to the enemy. Yet this
just what the strike-breaker does
Zines of industrial war. The keener IL
perception and the wider the eXperienC
Of the urlcn ma1, the greater his abho.
renee of the policy Of the strike-breaker
because the clearer his realization of i,
| uetriment to the waee-Carner class.
| The hope Of labor for better condition
lies in solidarity, in unity Of purpose, i
he spirit of the body II is a slow ar
2sinful process TO develop this. &c
! talonSits Of race end creed as well Z
Individual schsilness have cofispired i
keep labor sellers divided. 1t is easier I
ear down than build up, in moral as we
| - material things ...-. . .- e
| To say that the non-unionist has II
| rorai right to work Row, when or wher
ne pleases. is of course the Same thif
| u saving that he has the moral RICH
he pleases entirely apart from extern
| lting circumstances. TO become strif
breaker. am active agent working aSainS
lis fellow craftsmen, traitor to h
| lass and kind.
when and where he pleases why hay
| not 100 men the same right? Further.
| mere be a sound prlncip!e N democrac
| II government by majority. if "A majorit
| # 4 craft decide that it is Tor their II
| crest. to refuse. to work under cert4i
o1Idilions, why does not the preSumptio
, old good that the majority is right Their
| * elsewhere,
Too often the nel-l.nion man and, II
| 'Sc2b" is considered as in the same ella
| " the public. i is not the non unic
ran that the ul.onist fears, bit t
| 'scab," the strike-treaker by trade. WI
| YES by getting odd jobs at high wage
| nd Ioafs between whites. on the thcor
| hat ii is better to have loAfed and 10
han never to have loafed at al. 1t i
he renegade to the interests of his clas
| Who will take the better hours and higl
| II wages. ard shrks the contest neces
| Try to secure the same The scab is
| ian who takes the place of his fellow
| nan who is fighting for better condition,
| Sometimes he is a good man, often /
| cts from necessity. but he is 4 man VIII
5 used by the capitalist to destroy IT,
| 'ights and the aspirations and the hope
# the workingman He represents
| type of man universally condemned i
| my other sphere of human activity.
| In the great social traVdilS that Drn
ne elevation of the working classes tn
| MON has ever been the most potter
| 'ower and the greatest influence. TIL
| ,ab is not the man who refuses to joi'
| &c uGiGn. The alOn-union man may hav.
| eve in if as some men believe IN tn
| hurch without absolutely joining i
| ut the scah II the man who. in. IN
| .idst Of one Of these great conflicts
| ends his aid and encouragement an.
| CLIP against his class And it canllot b
| ut that he will h" mistrusted. by al
| 9t'n who love liberty and who love thei
| ,elloWmeH.
The Future of Unionsn1.
! The future of the trade unions depend
| realty on the attitude Of the rank an
| lie Of the membership of the organ
| atirns. Throughout the great system .
| "aGcs unionism there is a scntlmen
| 'oking to the broadening cat Of the use
| illness of the labor union.