Fergus County argus., 1903-09-02
A FORCED STRIKE.

On Friday morning of last week the
people OF Lewistown witnessed the
first strike to take place in our midst
If the word strike is not a misnomer.
So far as we are able to learn the
men in the employ of Tubbs Bros. had
no grievance whatever. He was em-
ploying both union and non-union men
as they offered and he needed their
services and no questions asked.
But the local union proposes tC
force Mr.. Tubbs to employ union Ia
Dor exclusively in his building oper-
atoms. No better evidence of this is
needed than the presence of the union
in a body at the high school building
last Friday morning. wnen the stone
masons were ordered, not asked, TO
quit work
Furthermore. it is stated and af-
fidavits have been made and sworn
10 by two employees, that threats OF
violence were made against them,
that one of them would be killed il he
did not quit his job.
In taking this position the union
does not stand on tenable ground.
We must grant that any union or
any body of men have a right to or
ganize, and right to strengthen their
numbers by all fair means. but in do
ing so they must concede to Others
the same privileges and rights that
they enjoy. What they can accom-
plish by argument and moral suasior
is their undisputed privilege. But
when they resort to threats or intim
idation to win point or gain 9
strike they become law-breakers ant
should lose the sympathy and respect
of all law-abiding American citizens.
II is fundamental principle of thi'
government that every man should b'
protected in life, liberty and the pur
suit of happiness" and when our law
and courts fail to do that 1t win b,
time to declare that IA government
for and by the people" is failure ant
that mob law is supreme.
Until very recent date Lewistowl
has been free from labor troubles, con
tractors and others employing laho
have been eminently fair, The seal
of prices has been good, hours reason
able and payments prompt In fact
nowhere in America were men bette
paid and better treated under lik
conditions. Every thing went alon
smoothly until the agitators and tn
walking delegates put In an appear
ance. Recently these fomenters c
strife have been very active and hav
done a great deal to antagonize on
> people against the union. Throughou
the east. the laboring men-the me
who really toil-are opening the
eyes 10 the injury done them by th
professional CRATER" called til
walking delegate" or business al
cnt.' II is a part of this fellows bus
ness. or at least he so regards ii,
stir up trouble He thinks he has &c
J to earn his salary and If he fine
, nothing to do what is the necessit
: OF a union employing him. Some
, them care but little for the welfare
the men most concerned. only so the
graft flows on regularly.
To every man is conceded the rigl
F. to join n union IL he wishes but \
) man should be compelled to do
. against his will and threats and man
/ festatIons of superior strength whet
er eNertcd by the individual or b
numbers cannot be tolerated in a fre
) country
The union and the non-union ma
are alike in the eyes of the law an
so long as they obey the laws of IN
country are entitled to and should r
, ceiyr equal protection.
Whatever the outcome of this labc
trouble a resort to violence and II
. timila,ion should not be tolerated iC
a moment. Every man has legi