The San Francisco call., 1903-09-05
THE MAYORS PLATFORM.


November two years ago
The exclusive class of labor called union labor
is now fairly embarked in politics and locally has
crystazed into political party, to be discussed, ex-
amned attacked, perhaps misrepresented and surely
criticized the same as any other political party we
take occasion to commend the leaders OF this new
party for its organization 1t brings all the purposes
and practices of union labor into position for ex-
animation and comparison, and sends them to judg-
ment on their merits.
The Mayors platform is lengthy and is specific IN
parts and general in parts, as suits the purpose OF
those who drew it and after the fashion OF political
declarations 1t declares the motto of the party to
be Equal rights for all and special privileges to
none" Does this party mean ths2 1t is principle
Of our equal laws that the property which man
has in his own labor it is the original founda-
ton OF all other property, is the most sacred and
invioable. The property Of laboring man lies in
the strength and dexterity of his hands To
hinder him from employing this strength and dex-
terity in what lawful manner he thinks proper is
plain violation of this most sacred property being
an encroachment upon the liberty of both the work
man and OF those disposed to employ him. 1t him
ders the one from working at what he thinks proper
and the others from employing whom they think
proper. 1t is among the first principles and foun-
dation OF the common law that civil liberty the great
end of all human society and government is that
which each individual has the power to pursue
his own happiness according to his views OF his
interests and the dictates of his conscience,
strained except by equal, just and impartial laws.
! Does the Mayors platform conform to these prn-
ciples? Does his party concede to non-union labor
the rights claimed by its members for themselves?
Does it apply its declaration of equal rights to the
state of the non-union aborer who claims the right
of private contract and the right to work and sup
port his family without the license permission Of
any labor union? If the Mayors party so interpret
its motto then it is well chosen II not it is sound
ing brass and tinklng cymbal. The platform is its
own Interpretation in that respect, for it demands
that the taxpayers of the city be restricted in the
purchase OF public supplies for which they pay to
goods bearing the union label. This is direct de-
NAL OF equal rights to the non-union laborer, who
though taxpayer himself is denied the right sell
the work OF his hands to the city. The public sup
plies then declared to belong to union labor only
as special privilege and equal rights in furnishing
them are denied to non-union labor.
This is fundamental question 1t involves the
right OF contract which the courts hold to be a
property right and therefore involabe Cardinal
Gibbons says that the right OF a non-union aborer
to make his own and perform it by his labor
is the essence OF liberty and should be defended by
the whole power of society That is a genuine
declaration of equal rights. Does the Mayor sub
scribe to it. and will his party indorse it? When
the labor union claim Of the power to license Amer
can labor and to enforce its license by denying
TO the non-unon laborer the common rights Of man
was merely the policy OF confederated organizations
which had the physical power to enforce it and used
that power the matter was dealt with as each case
of denial of private rights arose When the same
ma intO suf
Iject to discussion the same any other political
proposition by any party
One of the strange and almost weird statements
OF the platform is this in compliment the Mayor:
During his term of office all. differences between
labor and capital employer and employe, have been
adjusted satisfactorily both sides and without vio-
lence and bloodshed".
Does this mean that if the labor union party is
kept in power it will give bonds that non-union
labor, though denied the right to work at ALL shall
be permitted to wish to work without being muir
dered or MANNED? Does it mean that the myriad
felonies against property that are being committed
by the striking nemen on the property Of the tele-
phone company are not considered to be the use o
violence? Does it that, having control of all
the means OF enforcing the law which protects the
equal rights of man. the labor union party will sat
isy non-union labor and employers and contractors
that wisdom lies in conceding all demands made upor
them?
Passing TO another question, the platform demand,
municipal ownership and administration of all pub
lie utilities and of communication and espe
cially of a complete telephone system. The acqui
ston Of the Geary street railroad is especially de-
manded without regard to the equal rights of tht
taxpayers remote from the line who will be com
PEELED to pay for convenience they cannot use, BY
making the bonds debt OF the whole city instead
Of the plant il creates.
So, analysis Of the platform nulifes the motto
of the party every turn and labor union friends
show how human they by proposing that they
shall have monopoly of rights and that the privi
leges claimed for themselves but denied to all others
shall not be called special"
A gang of thieves, deliberately and formidably or
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