Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-12-12
THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR

The news from the coal camps In
dlcates tht the striking miners are de-
sirous of returning to work, without
insisting upon the only real point OF
dispute--the recognition Of the union.
They wish now to give new inter-
probation to the term. They say II
signifies, not that the union shall be
recognized as an organization by the
employing company but that It's MEM
bers shall not be Disseminated against
and shall be permitted to keep UP their
organization like other societies. on
this consideration they announce their
willingness TO declare the strike off,
expressing their appreciation of the
company's concessions to other de-
mands,
The question now before the Utah
Fuel company Is, shall these strikers
be re-engaged as employees on the con-
dition proposed2 The company has the
right TO do that which appears proper
in view of all the conditions existing.
one thing should be kept In view in
arriving at conclusions that IL, the
public have an equitable interest In the
matter as fuel Is a necessity and a
deprivation of It would work great In
jury. The needful supply for this mar
ket, and the ability to meet 1t, should
cut some figure In the company's de-
termination. At the same time the right
Of employers to conduct their own
business and select their own employees
must not be ignored
There has been much talk about the
success Of the strikers in obtaining con-
cessons, and 1t has been repeatedly as
serted that they have gained all their
demands but one-the recognition Of the
union. Accuracy requires that this
story should be corrected 1t is clear,
from reliable reports and explanations,
that a number Of the most important
demands Of the strikers We're for con-
ditions already existing, ana therefore
were mere verbiage, used to give APP
pearance Of grievances that had 20 re-
atty. BE that as 1t may It is admit
ted now that only union membership
stands in the way of the usual indus
try at the coal camps.
At the first glance IT would seem that
the company should accept the compro-
mise offered Men have an'uudoubted
right to join society established for a
lawful purpose whether 1t be a union,
so-called or other association for mu-
al ho t,lr 20
into consideration that when such an
organization attempts to discriminate
against persons who do not fraternize
with II, and It's members viii not work
with ncn-members the individuals thus
attacked and the company that employs
them may, in self-defense and for self
protection, refuse to recognize that or
ganization or have anything to DO with
it's members.
This is what the violence and as
sumption and tyrannical course Of
many union people are driving the
country to, If a union man may refuse
TO work with non-union man, the 20.
Fitlon may be logically reversed. And
employers may take a determined stand
and reject all union members when
they seek employment DO we advo.
cate this2 Certainly not We arc for
the freedom of labor and the right OF
working people as well as capitalists to
combine in their own interest, But we
claim an equal right for employers to
reject union labor, as union labor claims
to demand special favors to the ex-
clusion Of non-union labor Two wrongs
do not make one right, Of course, but
one Is just as legitimate as the other.
and in fighting an evil force has often
to be used as the only available REM
edy
The Utah Fuel company, in consider
ing the present question, has an i'm
perative duty standing prominently in
view; that Is, protection for the men
who have come forward during the cri-
sis and worked IN the mines under as
surances Of safety and permanent work.
They must not be left to the mercles of
any clique or body Of persons who are
likely to combine against them, That
would be infamous The terms on which
miners shall be employed ought to in
clude assurances, beyond mere prom
Use. that non-union labor shall not be