The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-11
THE RIGHT TO LABOR.

WASHINGTON, Sept. i0.-Recent occur
renoes here and elsewhere make possible q
definite alignment Of interests upon q point
Of almost vital importance in the issues pc
tween employers and organized labor. Inc
right Of employers to tAke on or to discharge
employees as individuals, regardless OF their
affilation or generalization with labor or
CARNATIONS, is a matter Of supreme impor-
tance in the present industrial agitation.
Upon that issue. one Of the special aims OF
labor unionism must stand or fall.
Unionism claims the right to dictate to
the employer in the matter Of his employees.
1t declares, in effect II not in definite terms,
that non -unionism shall have no place in
the field of labor. 1t asserts that the nom
unionist secures the benefit Of all that Ii &C
complished by organization and that he
pays nothing and contributes nothing for
the welfare and the protection OF the rights
and interests Of wage earners. Therefore
he is -scab" and should be deprived OF
even the right to earn his living. The en-
ploycr believes in his right to make his own
selection-in other words. to control his own
business.
The findings Of the Anthracite Coal Strike
Commission asserted clearly recognition
and Endorsement Of the contention Of the en-
ployer The commission declared that mo
person shall be refused employment or In any
way Disseminated against on account Of
membership or non membership In any labor
organization To this enunciation OF .
sound economic principle the President OF
the United States has given his unqualified
Involvement in published letter over
his own signature. A second Endorsement,
with specific Illustrations, now appears in
the decisions Of Umpire Carroll D. Wright
in cases submitted for his determination.
The issue is clearly defined and concisely
stated in the foregoing words OF the com
mission. But the decision has no binding
force in law even with the support given to
1t by the President. 1t remains a phrase
a precedent which may be quoted. but it is
not law which can be enforced. nom
union man who may be discharged as a re-
suit Of the influence Of open or covert threats
made by unionists has no redress The
club OF unionism is still over the head Of the
non-unionst and will remain menace to
our industrial peace and to individual right
to labor until the declared principle is form
uA"'SN INV q law uIoh oui sootuto oNOhb
which will place legal responsibility, specif-
cally defined, upon both employers and the
unions as organized or associated bodies OF
individual workmen.
To labor organization as such. to organ
ization for the purpose of improving the
condition and the status Of wage earners,
to organization which has for its object the
due conservation of the best interests Of our
millions Of workingmen. there can be and
there is no valid objection. The right to
organize for legitimate purposes is fully
conceded. The value OF some OF the achieve
ments Of organized labor is also conceded.
The right to violate the fundamental prin-
ciples Of our Government as expressed in
the Declaration Of Independence, is denied
alike to the employer and to the labor union
If the position Of the employer is right, IL
the decision OF the coal commission Is right,
if the declaration of President Roosevelt is
right, it is quite time that the principle be
established in Ntatutory law as we'll as in
morals