The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-23
Hon. Clarence S. barrow
Discusses This Subject.
AS THERE. so HERE he: J, ALSO s;
{ First Of Series Of European industrial
Letters blythe Distinguished Lawyer
Who Represented the An
4. 3, thracite Miners.
4 By CLARENCE S. DARROW.
Copyright, 1oos.) III
Especial Correspondence Of Tho Times
3 Dispatch) E

y DID 4
Especial Correspondents Of Tho Times
Dispatch.) F y
LONDON. August 15.-1n spite Of nl
that the American finds now and strange
In England. still tho traveller soon dis-
covers that the two countries are won
4 derfully alike. or course, with tho ex-
aggeratcd egotism OF all men and peoples.
we are at first surprised to gee how many
OF our customs institutions and laws
have been adopted hero; on second
thoughts we marvel to find how closely
we really follow the footsteps and OK
perienccs Of tho English people. I
In no way do VIC find conditions more
faithfully reproduced than In what IS
known US the labor movement" OF both
nations TO determine what America
will be tomorrow 1t Is d good plan
to see what England Is to-day. Both IN
England and America the labor dues-
tion In some form ovcrshadows all other
topics. 1t does this because fundantn-
tally the labor question Is the question
OF democracy OF the rights OF the many
against the long usurped privileges OF
the few.
FOLLOWS ENGLISH LEAD.
The whole trades unions movement OF
America has followed in tho wake OF the
English lead. The history OF labor or
CARNATIONS in the United States. with al
Of their trials and tribulations, their
victories and defeats, Is but faithful
copy Of the .empestuous struggles OF the.
{ English +Workingmen.F To be sure we
Americana have written our history
much fNster exactly as We do everything
else with greater speed. but we do them
more rapidly because the way ~ no
longer strange and untricd.
The American trades unionist IN the
presence OF what seems TO be his almost
& inrincible power Is becoming strangely
apprehensIve OF serious dangers to my
cause. In spite OF the unprecedented
growth OF trades unionism In the unlted
States It's strongest supporters and us
best friends are looking to Its future with
perplexing doubts and fears behind Tive
English trades unionst. Tho Englisnnlan
Ia already In the presence OF deadly peril
and Is seeking the best he can to lind
a defense against the dangers that eur
round him.
AN ANCIENT INSTITUTION.
Trades unlonism Is almost an ancient
institution In Great Britain. Its ever!
step has been in keeping with the spirit
Of democracy. which II after all tho most
constant aspiration OF the human race
That trades unionism has greatly irli-
proved the condition OF the English work
men. and through them OF all the com.
mon people, would not be publicly denied
syen BY It's enemies. Still through all
its progress It has met the opposition
OF the privileged Class, OF those powerful
families who long ago parceled out the
land OF Great Britain and decrecd that
1t should belong to them and their
forever. Just the same. too has been
opposed by class still moro powerful
and aggressive, the commercial class,
whose wealth and influence really come
from their control OF the industrial inAt.-
tutions OF the land. Both of these classeS
instInctively feel that any substantial I'M
provenent III tho condition OF the COM
mon people must be at their expense, arg
Mt the peril OF their precious tights
It Is we'll enough for politicians and
.slpcrfficlals'' to talk OF the real ha.-
nony between the capitalists and the
workingmcn. but the plain fact remains
that their interests are conflicting. AND
will be always SO until the capitalist rs
the worklngman and the worklngman the
capitalist. Both classes feel this even
when they do not understand exactly
what It means or why y Is the case. SO
It Is that even though trades unlonisnl
has constantly grown In England until y
seemed to be almost as firmly established
as Parliament itself it has ever met the
conscious and unconscious opposition at
all the favored class. This opposition has
once more been made effective In tho
English courts. To-day trades unlonisn
in Great Britain stands almost stunned
by the bloody blows that have been re-
Gently given 1t by the courts True, IT
is so strong In England that It Is cropping
about for means to defend itself against
these deadly onslaushts. but that It has
been seriously, II not Vltally, Wounoeo
is beyond dispute.
THE TAFT-vALE DECISION.
The Taft-vale decision and other simi'
lar decisions in Great Britain. IKE the
In he
nre striking at the very life of trades
unionism and no one realizes this more
than the Workingmen themselves. BY
this decision the legal responsibility o.
unions in cases of strikes has been estao
1ished In Great Britain and almost sloo,
count, to say nothing Of the great ex'
nense incurred in its defense. Similar
suits and others which tho Ingenuity O.
skilled lawyers can readily devise haYe
brought the unions face TO face with
crisis which threatens their very nves
Trades union!srn IS, TO say me leas'
stagnant in Great Britain, 1t Is no
growing, It has not grown for two years
nast: Il has doubtless materially de-
clined In power While It has manage
to keep its numbers almost intact. st!l
It has been shorn of Its strength
It has been a long time since the un'on'
have conducted sacc ,,,.h tha su ~ ~ a.
now declared and administered It is DIFF
ncult to see how they can ever agar
win such strike. OF course, trace ae
unions cannot be kept together unless
they can do something, or at least PROM on.
iso something, for their members, III
ordinary workingman will not pay due
and support oficlals unless he sees thu
his union can help him in his struggls
tor llfe And while It would pc TOO
much to say that this good can only CONS
through strikes, still, better wages ca
not be obtained through negotiation