Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-06-03

A correspondent, 10 discussing the
question Of labor troubles Ia general
With q prominent citizen, had bis at
tention directed 10 the following ex-
tract from . decision arrived At by the
able Commission, composed OF the
following gentlemen; Judge Gray Of
Delaware, Labor Commissioner, Car
roll d. Wright, Brigadler General,
John B. Wilson, Bishop John L. spald.
ing, OF Illinois, Thomas II. Wilson, OF
Pennsylvania, Edgar E. Clarke Of
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Edward w.
Parker, Of Washington, appointed by
President Roosevelt to Investigate the
anthracite coal strike, which in deal
ing with the subject Of boycotting,
etc, said:
WWhat Is popularity known as the
bovcott(a word OF evil omen and I'M
happy origin il q form OF coercion by
which a combination-o OF many persons
seek to work their viii upon a single
persons, by compelling others to alb
stain from social or beneficial business
intercourse with such person or per-
sons. Carried to the extent some
time practiced In connection with the
late anthracite strike, II is q cruel
weapon OF aggression and lts use i'm
moral aud ~anti-sOcial, and the con
certed attempt to accomplish Il is q
conspiracy ct common law, and merits
and should receive the punishment
due to such q crime"
There is great deal more in this
short extract than is at first gathered
at a glance, and yet the so-called boy
colt is the most common weapon in
use by the laboring classes in this
country. While the South is far more
free from its effects, as 1t iS also free
from It's kindred c~o-sdjunct, the
strike, yet since we are beginning to
take on the ways and methods Of the
great congested labor centers and
large commercial districts, It is we'll
that we reflect upon the dangers
which may any day confront ne. To
analyze that system which lie known
as the boycott will lead us into every
form and every class Of life. It APP
plies to the social as we'll as the com-
mercial, and its deadly influence does
not only bring down Goals upon the
heads at first intended to be reached,
but like the Bushman's boomerang, re-
bounds and ultimately wreaks it's
vengeance upon all connected with it's
adoption.
That community which int social
way finds itself in the hands Of a few
vicious individuals who would boycott
an individual among their associates
ocially, is either strong enough to
ride over all such attempts, or 1t in
time begins to show evidence OF decay
and whitening, and sinks to a common
level so undesirable and so loathsome
to the higher minded, that the better
portion Of its citizenship will find
more congenial abodes elsewhere,
even at a pecuniary lose. This they
must do, or permit themselves to sink
into the same mire and gradually slide,
to the lowest plane possible for them
to inhabit.
In the smaller commercial boycott,
when a few persons, usually influence
ed by n of the number whose pur-
pose cannot be enobling, attempt to
run a boycott on some n individual
or some enterprise or business, while
they may for q time succeed, and feel
gratihed with the progress made, it is
only q question of time until the seed
thus planted, springs forth and de-
In the community q d%lscordant
element, which as certainly rebounds
and In time destroys all who have
been parties to the contemplate work
as It is certain that death will follow
lndiscretion, and the violation Of
every law Of nature.
The larger the nee or the
stronger the individual that becomes
the victim Of q boycott, the more GER
tain is the rebound and the o des.
tructive the effects.
Nor can q boycott be designated as
an individual AFFAIR, for like the
poison virus Of the eating cancer, or
The loathsome seed Of some contage-
Ous disease, when once injected into
the public veins, It spreads like the
dame tanned by the winds when
bouched to dry prairie grass, or to
buildings combustible as q pine knot.
seems to be forgotten often that
one side Of a difference in vantage
naturally has as much capabili-
" in wreaking vengence, or in resist
ing, as can possibly be possessed by
the attacking party.
One striking illustration to this
position Is witnessed in various sec
lions of the country, when differences
arise between some community and
the great commercial bodies ~interes'-
ed in and operating in conjunction