The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-10-29
TRADES GNIoNIsM.
A Bright Bamhers Boy Defends thu
Labor Trust.

EDITOR THE BAMBERG HERALD.
DEAR SIR: I notice in your sheet an
editorial squib to the effect that Labor
unions are blind and unreasonlng and
that mo trust can compare with them for
lawlessness and reckless disregard OF
the rights of others" and that "Columbla
business men should stand together ana
put down unionism in that city,
Allow me as member Of labor union
to offer few words in defense Of the
cause as am of the opinion that you
have not given the matter careful consld-
Grafton, as you state you have had no
personal experience, but have doubtless
| formed your opinion from prejudlced
newspaper editorials. In the first place,
YOU err when you place unions in the
same category as trusts. In speaking OF
| trusts we generally mean several parties
who have entered into an agreement to
keep prices Of a certain commodity TO
certain point. This certain point has
generally been several degrees higher
than was necessary to properly conauct
their business and allow a legitimate
profit, and the public was taxed to Keep
up watered stock, etc. In word, taxed
because they could be and could not help
themselves-up to ithe present time: In
! this way large amounts OF money have
been gathered up from the public with
reckless disregard for. the rights OF
Others"
In Washington it is we'll known that
no laws are made that regulate anything
that materially benefits the toiling mass
es. In spite of Teddy's strenuosity, the
trusts still live and the eight hour day
law, designed to benefit the laborer and
to relieve the unions from the necessity
of striking for it,: was declared unconstl-
tutional. Nothing is done in Washings
ton to equalize matters in this world OF
strife. 1t seems that our statesmen, sena-
tors, etc, sent there to run and regulate
things and make the government equally
lust for the rich and poor alike, do moth
| ing save to retard those who are trylngto TO
| make the world better.
Out of this conglomeration OF incom-
prehensible nonsense was born LABOR
! unions, and they are necessary to protect
labor against the encroachments OF agN
erandized wealth and to take the place OF
| laws that should have been made in Wash
ington.
Most of the wealthy have slight regard
for the people-they are looking out for
themselves. They insist on CHASING nu-
man beings as commodity, like any.raw
material that is necessary to conduct their
business-to be purchased as cheap as
possible. :,
Labor unions say to the capitalist, "hu-
man beings are deserving of being class
ed as human and not mules" !
We have had no drought in ths coun-
try, the land is yielding large aranthies
of those commodities that are necessary
for the wants of man, and the wbie oun-
try is seeing great wave of pioSerlty
| WHY, then, should the toilers net pave
more equal division OF il Kt5ut the
necessity of strikes, etc Dis t. ollnd
and unreasoning mar hlatior t Re
capitalists that is respd lkbie fy| many I
strikes. Strikes are thseffectf 1.-The pre-
sent system and not tn causeA
Shall labor unions tisbanGS No, not
until the powers in Washington admins
ter better laws for laor andguarantee to
eyery toiler an incow base on the re-
ouirements of civHd ala intelligent
being, and not an !. 3me based on the
generosity of thel<joying class.
have worked 'rte South, where Or
ganization is in infancy, and am now
! working in the { West, where labor is
solidlJ J@sgs"nize and the result of this
organization is .ghy gratifying to all
concerned. Thesaaries paid railroad
employees, for istsice, are double and
in some branches narly triple what they
are in the South. Bter wages, treatment,
and shorter hoy rs, nd the railroads still
pay enormous 1;yinds. We have never
demanded any yfhiu,nreasonable. What
better evidence L isleded to convince you
that conservat ;onades unions are no
"snide" propa lsitS? 1t will be happy |
day for the s SSyhen its people awake
to the realizA,E:46f the fact that poor |
wages never baoit anybody but few
large emploe 'bf labor.
TO show ot' the generosity (?) of the
employing ass, call your attention to
the stockholders of several large railway
systems vi lave instructed their officials
to lay off eA and prune every ex'
to the veE4west in order to clear
diVidends xgo into the Golfers oft
ready rita&nd you may rest assure
the salar &of all unorganized emT
of theseYds will be cut, notwitl
ing the that living increases
Let thesllons of money now
hands oftt capitalists stand as te
that they i've been cruelty .wrc
by the toars who created tit
that theEare honorable (?) men,
they ar right (D in fighting O -..
labor, fe their meanness in tryi
a moreSs.st proportion of the wealth. 'n..-
labor paduces. There isn't enough of it
to goabund, and besides, Miss Unamer-
ican INST have thirty millions in order
that sh may buy herself foreign title.
Whats rare flower consistency is with
soma feople!
M9Editor, hate to see you approve
Q: acendition that means poverty anc
hardship for the masses and wealth and
leisu'e for the classes. 1t grieves me to
see lou turn your guns on the weak and
Iy6 weaken organization, which is the
Onf hope the laboring man has under the
fpreent social system.
n regard to your statement that "iaoor
ulons are responsible for more lawless-
MSS than any other organization on
e;rth," | dare say this is overdrawn: 1t
itrue that members of unions have done
SINE lawless acts while on strike, but
Lore often in time of strike the toughs
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