West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-01-28

j \N~ltlt "Do you think
~ labor union has any
- right TO prevent n
INC No'one' man who does not
belong TO the union from obtaining
work at any wages he may be willing
70 work forr'
''No"
II never heard you say 80 before
said Jenkins rather rucfully. Il bet
the cigars with Judge Sawyer that you
would say yes. and Il looks az IL l
have lost"
on certainly have lost" declared
IL colonel. III there Is any one opin-
los fixed in my mind, Il II TO the effect
that no man or combination of mon
have right TO interfere IN any way
In preventing another man from doing
any honest work for such wages as hc
chooses 90 accept"
Il was confident that such was your
belief aud so Informed our friend Jen.
klns," smiled Judge Sawyer "Ie was
equally positive that you would defend
the policy OF certain OF the labor unions
TO the contrary"
III you think the unions have no
right 60 do as they DO. why do you not
denounee theml' asked the puzzled
postmaster. 'rhe way tho labor un-
Ions are carrying on at the present time
IS an outrage II they have no right to
do these things, II IL about time they
were stopped"
''Do not hold me personally response
bic, Jenkins" protested Colonel Mon
roe. IL did not organize these unions
and so far as l know have no influence
with them. There is no especial rca-
son for becoming excited because they
are doing that which they have no
right 10 do. II they directed their
course along the straight and narrow
path OF legal end moral rights you
would laugh at them We live I'm an
age when the question Is not, What are
orr rights? but is more accurately ex-
pressed by the question, What are our
Kightsf Men arc not sollcitous about
the exact limitations of their rights,
but govern thcis conduct and deter
mine their policy by exacting all with
In their might or power The same
rule holds true With corporations, dis
tricts. state, ard nations. When we
watch great nations ignore the legal,
moral and sacred rights OF weaker and
dependent nations; when we see great
corporations brazenIy defy the laws
framed 10 protect the public against
them; when we know that the world Is
ruled today not by tho law OF right, but
10y the hand Of might. there Is no call
20 become unduIy excited because the
labor unions have followed and prof
ited by these examples II Is wrong,
OF course, and / have not a word to
say IN defense OF such n policy as an
abstract question OF ethics"
",Ehcre Is nothing more sacred than
the right Of man TO work" asserted
Judge Sawyer
Nonsense" exclaimed Colonel Mon
roe. There are lots OF things more
sacred than the right 10 work. as you
call IT, : should say that the right 10
live would take precedence over the
right 20 work"
''ycry true. assented the Judge, "but
the average man has to work In order
to live. Deny him that right, and you
have practically sentenced him 10
death"
"Granicd. my dear judge. but you
speak as II the right to work were
something that man once had and has
lost. hold that the right Of man TO
work and to secure TO himself the pro
ceeds of hls labor IL an absolute and
inallebablc right but that II has been
repealed ever since the present wage
or Industrial system was Installed. HIS
right consists solely IN the privilege OF
asking for work lie has the right OF
petition. His prayer may be refused
again and again until he and bis wife
ana children perish from starvation"
al least you viii admit that q man
should not be interfercd with IN his at
tempts 70 secure employment" amend
"a Judge Sawyer.
You might as well assert that a book
conyasser should not be retarded IN bis
efforts 70 soil his wares" returned
Colonel Monroe You have the right
20 refuse 10 patronizc him. and oil 9th
ers have che same right. No ono s. un-
der moral or legal obligation 70 buy
his books. md he moy perish or become
nm object of public charity without 30.
cieiy holding Itself IN any way fcspon-
siblc. Like him, the workman is also
solicitor You may deny the book
ngent admission 10 your premises. You
aiao may refuse 70 iiston to the work.
mans plea Tor employment IN your Of
Nee or shops. You may dismiss bim
with or without cause, and he has no
redress or right 70 complain. Not only
you deny him employment. but you
may put him on n black list and notify
others not 70 permit him to work Ono
of Our important courts has affirmed
the legality of the biaci, iist, but n does
not depend on judicial sanction Tor its
efficiency If ono man has the right 20
refuse work 70 n petitioner two mon
have the same right and BY the same