The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-19
CLARKE
DEFENDS
STRIKES
Member Of Coal Commission
Says Workmsn Have tho Same
Rights as Capitalists.

Boston, Feb. ia winter series OF lee
lures on economic questions under the
auspices of the Twentieth Century club,
was brought TO a close last night by an
address on Strikes" by K. T. Clarke OF
Cedar Rapids. Ia, a member Of the An
thracite Coal Strike Commission MT
Clarke Is the representative or organized
labor on the commission. In his address
he defended the union and the right TO
ssrlxA IN support of a demand for better
conditions, but all such conflicts, he sttte,
must be conducted with a proper respect
for the law, Mr. Clarke said in part:
"A strike as define It, is the refusal OF
a number of employees, acting In concert
to work until or unles certain requests as
TO conditions or terms OF employment are
conceded or agreed to by the employer
The EMPLOYER is thus given the choice Of
granting the terms asked, of arranging
compromise with his old employees, or or
seeking new employees, under terms ac-
ceptable TO him and 10 them.
'"The right Of men to organize cannot
be denied The workers have the same
right to organize that the capltahsts
have. The workers have just as much
right 20 be represented by committees OF
their choice and to negotiate for their
services through such committees, as the
stockholders OF the corporations have 10
be represented by directors, presidents
and managers.
"The right which capital and labor pos
sess to organize does not give either OF
them any right to invade the rights or
others. be they rival combinations or In
| diyiduals The laws presume and as
sumo 10 protect the rights OF the citizens.
| and the laws should be so apled and en-
! forced as TO effect that purpose whether
| their enforcement be against greedy
| CORPORATION or trust, or against brow
beating crowds OF riotous mobs acting In
| the name of organized labor.
II combined capital cannot perform It's
mission without resort TO dishonest and
| oppressive methods. II is ineXcusaole TO
/ permit the combinations. II organized
| labor cannot work out its salvation with
| out resorting 10 unlawful acts its eAls-
tence cannot be defended.
t--zff1r -er1rfoyer- ISL OWN -thiS-bpsl-
| ness and / propose TO manage 1t as l
please. The employe says: own my
| labor: I viii sell or Withhold as appears
| TO me best Each seems TO be WITHIN
his technical legal rights. The third par
| ty at interest, the public, says i am vit-
| ally interested in and affected by the
| stoppage of production or transportation
as a result OF your differences. demand
considerat ton OF my rights
How are we to determine which or th'
involved rights Is highest? The right Of
the state to take private properties FOL
public use or for public good makins
proper arrangements for compensation
| therefor. must be conceded and upheld
else the power Of the state to protect Inc
health, life and liberty OF its CtlzehS d
impaired.
But suppose the state does step In anc
condemn the property involved in ser
ious strike and assume charge OF 1t II
the name Of the people, would the stat'
| not be obliged to make arrangements Z
| operate 1t which were acceptable u
those employed for that purposef
1T appears, therefore. that the puohc
ths third party, must I'm order TO pro
tect its interests, If not for the highe
reasons. seek some meas OF HARMONIC
ing the conflicting interests, while at tn
same time protecting the vested right
| OF both"