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

the right to work. Work Is n privilege.
not a right. 1t is something TO be
granted. not to be demandcd.r
but YOU said n moment ago thnt a
labor union had no right TO prevent
man from obtaining work at such
wages as he was willing to accept"
protested Judge Sawyer. "How do
you reconcile that statement with what
you have Just saldr"
"rhe labor unions arc more or less
grannical monopolles formed as de-
fensc against social and industrial con-
ditions which arc inherently wrong"
answered Colonel Monroe. "They were
not organized until II was realized that
the right of n man TO work had been
abrogatcd. Except for possible edu-
cational value. these unions arc utterly
selfish, and many OF their methods
are In the abstract absolutely indc-
fensible. They are as savage as tho
conditions which bred them. What
they know OF battle craft was learned
on the fields of industrial warfare.
The chains they fasten on others were
fashioned for their limbs. The rights
which they deny TO others were denied
TO them, They mastered the arts OF
cruelty In an ancient and respectable
school, the university OF competition.
The slave Will ape his master. When
wearied and wounded capital erected
the ramparts of monopoly on the
heights above competition and from its
vantage point poured merclless shot
and shell into the ranks OF those who
remained outside. few of tho work
ers realized that there was n chance
through imitation 60 secure 20 them
selves certain selfish and material nd.
vantages. IL monopoly be right, the
labor union IL justihable. III combinn-
ton for gain over ones fellows be
right, labor unions are right. II tho
massing OF money for tho accumula-
ton OF money be n fair expedient, the
massing OF labor for the accumulation
OF Jobs is logical sequence"
despite your cloquence, the fact re-
mains that the labor unions have no
right TO discriminate against those not
members OF their organizations" de-
clared Judge Sawyer
"Certainly they have no such right.
as have algeady said. but Il Is evident
that they have the power and the I'm
clinntion TO use it." said the colonel
We have no right 20 bo IN this post
Office after hours. but we are here.
You Informed me this afternoon that
the treasurer OF the United States has
favored your bank with deposit of
10000 In cash taken from the funds
OF the government, on which money
you pny not a cent OF interest doubt
II he has any right to make such de-
positor you any right TO accept Il, but
both OF you have tho power, and that
ends tho matter for the present at
least 1t Is right that man should
pay taxes on what he possesses. IL Is
within his power 20 eyade his Just duos
by perjury or Misrepresentation. Not
day passes but a thousand rights
are trampied under foot by might.
Rights are theoreticai; power is prac-
teal. We talk OF our rights; we exer-
else our powers Let as come down to
the plane Of the nonunion man, for
whose rights you are so much con-
cerned. If he wishes them respected
he must use other methods than he has
yet employed. But cannot see that
he has lost any OF his preroga tives
through the success OF trade unionism.
IIc has always been compelled 20 ask
for "a fob. All that has occurred in his
case is a change OF masters. Formerly
he was forced 20 obtain the consent OF
an individual employer. Tho isolated
manufacturer has disappeared. and the
trust stands in his place. The labor
union Is an employment agency rec
ognized in most cnscs by the trust.
The trust makes contracts with the
nnion, depends on It for n sufficient
supply Of capable workmen and holds
II responsible FOR numberIess details
which formerly harsssed the small
manufacturer. Your lady who wishes
70 employ n maid makes application to
an employment agency. Has the maid
or the coachman lost any rights worth
quarroilng about because it r. no lon
ger possible 90 make direct application
10 the owners Of the cstablishmcntT'
There r. less loss Of self respect IN
making application to the employer"
said Judge Sawyer after q pause.
well, ] confess I cannot SEQ where
IL obtains" insisted Colonel Monroe.
-The amount of dignity involved ia
NithfAN WI JUL httH Not ftrti1 lNl-
press me- Personally I would as soon
ask labor union for permission 30
work ns 20 crave the consent OF
trust"
"But suppose man does not believe
IN unions suggested Postma stor Jen-
klus who had listened nttendyely.
Take q man like me, for instance. I
don't believe in them at all Suppose
J lost my Job as postmaster and had 10
70 70 work At some such trade az car
penter. why should be compelled to
join n unionW
mo one can conrol y0u 20 join q
union. neither can you compel any one
20 employ You ne a carpcntcr,0 con-
clnded Colonel Monroe "Wc are an
agreed that labor unions and trusts
ore wrong md should be abolished.
Whon you lose your sob as postmaster,
Jenkins, lead the crusade against them.
! would 90 Il myself. but I don't knew
how