The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-04
Pickin' Cotton an Sayin' Nuthin'.

in the extreme, and believe If it was
 properly tested judcially that it would
 be declared on parity with the
 Closed Shop" which is criminal. l
 think it is inconceivable for any gov
 ernment to recognize that which Tn
 practice would tend to its downfall
 An organized strike is an effort to
 supplant the reign of law and authori-
 ty by the reign of mob It IS
 crime against organized society, ana
 any government that permits the in
 culcation of such right among any
 class of its citizens only invites It's own
 destruction.
 Government Is that power and au-
 thority which has been organized to protect and defend the general welfare
 of its citizens. I want to ask if there Is any way possible to reconcile the claims of the striking butchers of Chicago with the general welfare? That
 strike was deliberately and wantonly called with the full knowledge of It's possible effect upon the public, whose supposed necessities formed the chief
 hope of compelling the packers 10 enter into an objectionable contract.
 the lives of whole communities and cities, by bringing these to the point of starvation and through that means their cause was to be won. Was there
 ever more infamous proposition? Ana yet every general strike affects the public injuriously, and it was to pro- | teet the public that governments were | instituted among men.
 The theory Is advanced in defense of strikes that what one man may do | legitirfately any number can do legiti- mately, but nothing was ever more | erroneous or fallacious. One man may cease work of his own volition | and little harm to any one result, but | let a large number through whom the l transportation or food supplies of l city may be controlled or supplied, stop | at the dictation of a labor body and the public are effected and great suffer | ing results, labor of all kind included. And so 1t is with any general strike.
 the rights of the public are invaded
 and ruthlessly disregarded.
 l I hold that whenever and wherever the rights of the public are involved l that it Is the province and duty Of the | government to interpose for their pro | lection. hold further that few | strikes have ever been inaugurated In | this country that were free In their | final analyses from the taint of crimi- | nal conspiracy, since they were intend- | ed to force an unwilling agreement,
 which is unlawful, or to punish an em- | ployer by inJuring or destroying his business whichis criminal.
 In view of all these facts and ten dencies Is not organized labor as we | find it today a menace to government? None can truthfully deny 1t. Is 1t not time. therefore. for us to return to a
 government "of and for" the people, | instead of tolerating one which is
 sought to be "of and for" labor' unions only? Shall we have reign of law. | by and through which governments can | alone exist. or permit continuance Of | strikes and disturbances which will
 bring utter ruin to our country if much 1 longer permitted?
 Now where is the place and mission | of the press? Clearly to aid in cor
 recting these dangerous and destruc- : | tive tendencies that are so patent | among us. Before we make any l further claim towards being a world | power let us prove our power to | govern ourselves. Before we endeavor | to pose as the champion of the down.
 trodden and oppressed in other lands
 let us show the world that we can
 protect our own people from wrong and
 oppression. for these after all are the
 final tests of government of any kind | or character. N. F. thompson. Birmingham. Ala, Sept. 2. 1904.