Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-05-27
HANNA,s HOPEFUL VIEW.

II Wall street is down on Roosevelt
for being too oficious in urging trust
legislation and pushing litigation
against the combines IL also has a
grievance against Senator Hanna be-
cause as chairman OF the Civic Fed
Grafton he is trying TO bring about a
peaceful settlement OF strikes and a
better understanding between the en-
ployer and the employed. In doing
this he proposes 10 be eminently fair
10 both parties concerned, and il is
fortunate that the Federation has at
its head a man of such influence, in
telligence and courage as the Ohio
senator. He has had a wide exper-
fence in the business world and being
a large employer of labor, wealthy
and powerful, he is in a position TO
ignore Wall street or meet any con
~tention that may eminate from that
source. A number of strikes have
been on in New York City during the
past two weeks and Mr.. Hanna has
been there in his official capacity, try
ing to bring about a settlement, along
with the other members of the Civic
Federation.
During his stay there Mr.. Hanna
heard a good deal of adverse criticism
of his position by business men. both
to his face and in a roundabout way,
but he was quite competent to meet
them. In answer to the statement
that business men were a good deal
alarmed, he said:
Yes. | know they are. | have just
come from down town, and every one
! met was talking about the menace
of labor and the exorbitant demands
of unions. To hear some of these
New York business men talk you
would think labor troubles are new
things and that the country is going
front. But | say this is not true. | not
talked with held the opinion that the
unions were becoming more and more
reckless, that lney are falling under
the control of desperate and unprin-
cipled men; that the solid, industri-
Gus worknen in the unions are forced
to take a back seat, while the pro-
fessional .rouble-maker is at the
front. Bur I say this is not true. I
only think IL is not true. but | know
it is not rue. The truth is directly
to the contrary. Taking the average
OF labor unions throughout the coun-
try they are becoming more conserv-
alive every day"
In ~contrDyerting this contention
further Mr. Hanna goes on to say:
The most distinctive and signifi-
cant tendency in organized labor in
the United States today is toward the
making of only reasonable demands.
There are exceptions to the rule of
course, as here are exceptions to all
rules. but We must take the average,
not any isolated cases. The strong
est and most influential men in the
labor movement are constantly saying
TO their followers: You must not
strike without good cause. You must
not make unreasonable demand: you
must not exact harsh or exorbitant
conditions Why, | know of cases
where national officers have threaten.
ed to take the charters away from 10
cal unions If they persisted in max
ing demands which seemed unjust
Here in New York. within the last
seyenty-two hours, some of the big
gest men in the national labor move
ment-John Mitchell of the coal min
ers and d. j. Keefe of Chicago. CHIEF
of the longshoremen-laid down the
law in plain. blunt fashion to some Of
their brethren who they thought were
overstepping the bounds.
The public does not hear of these
things. II only reads of strikes and
strikes and demands and demands
and il jumps to the conclusion that
labor has lost its head and is deter
mined TO rule or ruin. Why, down IL
Wall street there are men who thinl
We are going to have a revolution
in the country. who think the laborinl
men have taken the bit In their teeth
and are running amuck: that organic
ed labor is determined to go on til
II Is strong enough to aim a weapon
, at the head OF the capital and compe
1t to disgorge, and that In The enc
productions will be made SC cost,
! that industry will have to shut vi
shop. All Of which is nonsense.
Business men and the people In
general should remember that there
are Two sides TO this question. No one
need be surprised If labor asks foI
Elgher wages for its share OF the gen
eral prosperity. The cost Of living hai
, increased. as every head Of a family
In the country knows. Prices arr
high. These advances hit the work
man more in proportion than people
with larger incomes or independent
means, and the only way he a breal
even is in receiving an advance II
. hls wages. In some cases the mel
asa Tor more than they should, and