The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-05

to buy labor and by bidding against
each other bid up wages. But they are
combined. and thus make unit of
their bid for labor-thus practically
doing away with competition between
e1nployeFs-While the laborers unor-
ganized, bid against each other and
ganized. bid against each other and
employers have means.
Generally they go into bushes not from
vi sale neeo OF 1ood from day to day, but to
s ma nio[s money They can stand still
terms with no danger of going hungry.
BUT the laborer can not wait, he must go
ployer Gets ct op bi or De IN hugy SO the en-
~. pxes. the laborer having nothing
UNION Projects THE LABoRER.
by means OF his union the laboring man
n meets the employer and demands voice
IN liking his wages-saying: Either you
shall pay what we consider a proper wage
or we will not work
How else can the laborer obtain more
lnan the employer might see fit to give
him? And who does not know that on the
wnoie the employer will give just what he
quired BY his business? -e'p
objections are made to the labor unions
s snat they , not only refuse TO work them
want to work and who are not members
Of their unions, and it is a sound objec-
whole body of laborers is at stake. NAV
| it not be best for the ten who do not be-
long to the union to suffer a hardship in
and what is the difference between fhej1s,
action and that of the trust which goes
TO a small manufacturer and tells him
| you must sell to US at our price or we
Will put you out of business. AS between
the two is not the trust the greater sin
ner?
The unions limit the number of appren-
tlces, and this is held against them. But
of workmen and thus keep wages at fair
rate? There seems to be no other way of
keeping wages above the point at which
starving and and 6nfe6h1ad
children reduce population and by so do
ing reduce the number of workmen and
tied artihcially. by the union and it being
''s srR RfsaEs Due RE rs feSn GVX NsEf
The general loss and inconvenience to
society brought about by the strikes is
Unions. But ought not this criticism
rather to be argued against the avarice
OF the employers who compel their work
men to strike in order to get fair wages
True, laborers are often unruly and de-
sifFrSoy property Prop This IS wholly indefen-
the 1awlessness of the great corporations
who employ them. That there has been
great wrongs committed by the labor I'M
IONS. Incompetence, ENCOURAGEMENT and
corruption is not contradicted, but greater
done in the name famed of the o trust Take the
worst case you can think of, that of
Parks holding up the employers for 500
the management of the shipbuilding trust
for accepting money from subscribers
with no intention or prospect of return.
Now you may say that unions and union
methods are right only by comparison
that both are wholly wrong. do not think
So believe that labor unions can be
conducted on honest business principles,
that the rights of all can be preserved
and when so conducted will be an agency
for good and will command the confidence
and respect of the public and thereby DE
more successful.
There is but one right way of settling
this question. It is by all parties learning
to regard the rights of all. When en-
ployersel. come to consider the rights of
their labOrers and to recognize that the
welfare of all, not the greed of a few,
is the tFue standard Of conduct, the Ques-
ton will be settled.
But until that time and as means of
reaching that time the labor union Ger
tainly has place, a place which in the
main it is now filling.
DR.. Gordon of Boston said in an inter
view the other day: Il do not feel alarm
ed over the situation because different
classes are learning that they can not
get along without each other. The coal
barons of Pennsylvania said they would
not consult their men, but they had to
consult them, and more and more en-
they can not do without each other.'' The
winning master will be he that comes
nearest to his men, It will not be the
authority of power any more, but author
ity of natural leadership. Capital is
strong, but labor can paralyZe it. Tho
capitalist who can not confer with his
workmen terms of equality and SYM
pathy is not man enough for the situation,
for the space he fills"