Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06
LABOR |. AND UN IONS
The Industrial Situation in
the Far West.
STORY OF A STRIKE
A TALK WITH GEN. HARRISON
GRAY OTIS.
Rules for the Employer and the EN-
ployed-A Conflict
Coming.
Copyright. 1904. by Frank G.. Carpcntcr.)

Copyright. 1904 by Frank G.. Carpcntcr.)
Written for The Evening Star.
My interview today is with employer
who has been fighting organized labor for
more than decade and who has radical
views as to labor and capital. l refer to
Maj. Gen. Harrison Gray Otis, the editor and
Chief owner of the Les Angeles Times. Gen
Otis has edited the Times for more than a
quarter of a century, he has employed all
sorts of labor. and in 1890 his office was
hlled with union men. They made certain
demands which Otis refused to grant. They
struck. and Otis, whose education in fight
ing began with four years in our civil war.
fought back. He filed his office with non
union men. He was boycotted. but he con-
tlnued to fight, and has been fighting ever
SINCE. taxing only one vacation. during
which he was briga der general in the
Philippines and on the firing line at the
time OF our Spanish war.
Labor in California
My first question was to labor condi-
tons on the Pacific slope Gen. Otis re-
piled:
IN southern California, where I live. we
have to large extent industrial freedom.
We are comparatively free from strikes
and as result perhaps, We are growing
more than any other part of the state. We
are building railroads. pumping oil. getting
out minerals and becoming rich. 1t is diff
ferent in San Francisco. The labor stu
alton there is bad, and serious disturbances
nave been going on for Il long time. The
erect has been to paralyZe Industrial ac-
uVity, cripple commerce and restrict manu-
features. The losses amounted into the
millions, and the greatest losses have been
felt by labor itself because least able to
stand Them
The Trades Unions.
What do you think of the growth of the
unions? Will they ever control the labor
of the country?"
Il think not. They constitute only a
small percentage of all the toiers and the
law-abiding majority will never surrender
to the too often lawless minority. 1t can
not do 50 in the very. nature of the case.
Industrial freedom is as sacred as personal
freedom. political freedom or religious free
dom. My position is that every citizen has
the lawful right to pursue undisturbed and
unhampered any lawful occupation in a
lawful way, and to be protected in that
right by the whole power of the govern
ment if need be-
This is warranted by the Constitution and
the law, and nothing less than this will
serve. As, to the growth of the trades
unions, that would not be a menace to the
country if their tendencies We're not 50 un-
reasonable and monopOistic as many of
them have been in recent years I have
never opposed unions as such. but only
their tendency toward lawlessness. AS they
are today, their domination would paralyze
Industry and be an intOlerabe deSpotism.
The right not to Join unions is as sacred as
the right to join them and it is not for one
class of citizens to say what another class
Shall or shall not do in this regard"
Labor's Worst Enemy.
Give me your idea of the labor sftua-
ton, Gen. Otis.
ut is abnormal threatening. bad" was
the reply. 1T is a serious drawback to the
progress of the country. The remedy lies
in the enforcement of the laws as they
stand. We don't need new legislation but
we must enforce the existing laws The
fundamental right of independent labor
must be preserved and the liberty of all
workmen be protected. If it is not, all will
suffer together, and the laboring classes
most. What labor needs is to be protected
from ITSELF
What do you mean by that generaI?'' l
asked.
II mean that organized labor has so far
drifted from the right lines that it is now
the most bitter foe of its natural brother.
unOrganized labor Capital is not the nat
ural foe of labor, organized or unorganized;
but organized labor is fighting not only the
employers, upon whom it must depend for
wages, but also all other classes of labor,
W
How It Feels to Be Boycotted.
Give me some of your own experiences
in labor matters. How does it feel to be
boycotted?'
1T is not pleasant" replied General Otis.
but one would feel worse as a slave 1
will not deny that we were annoyed by the
boycott but believe we made money by ii.
and, above all. We retained our own self
aY,I
story of our trouble began thirteen years
ago. when were confronted by sense
less strike in the Los Angeles Times office.
The men in our composing rooms then
walked out without any adequate cause
provocat lon. They crippled the office tenn
porarily but refused to yield and stood
fast against the boycott which was at once
instituted. Our business was injured some
what for the first few months, and l might
say for the first year. Nevertheless. the
earnings of the paper slowly but steadily
increased. and after the first year they in
creased rapidly
Employers and Employees.
What, in nutshell, are the rules which
should govern in the relations of employ
ers and employees" 1 asked.
In a NUTSHELL replied Gen. Otis, they
are faithfulness, fidelity and devotion to
duty on the one hand; good will, fair
wages, reasonable hours and good treat
ment on the other hand, and fair play on
both without unwarranted interference by
outside persons or organizations not prop
erly concerned in the affairs of either
workman or employer.
Il am a worker myself" continued Gen.
Otis and | maintain the right of my fell
lows to work and to make independent con-
tracts with their employers. l should like
TO see every worthy man and woman in the
land who wishes to work employed at fair
wages and at regular steady work High
wages for short and irregular periods give
less money in the course of year than
continuous employment at a more moder-
ate vet fair rate of pay. I believe that I'M
der right and free conditions in the labor
market it is possible for every competent
workman in the country to have work for
800 days in the year and be paid accord
ingly."
What do you mean by right conditions?"
asked. - -