Amador ledger., 1904-05-20
UNIONIsM.


the children of the poorest beggar on
our streets upon level with those of
the millionaire who occupies princely
palace. We are in favor of unionism
in its broadest sense; much good has
come from it in the past, and the pres
ent is full of opportunities that will re-
quire combinations of all the resources
of mankind to carry out.
Less than two years ago Amador
county seemed to be enjoying her full
est measure of quiet and prosperity
Her mines were running increasingly,
some yielding fair return for money
expended, Others drawing from the
stock holders each month a sufficient
amount with which to keep them in
operation, but all working steadily aud
contentedly. Wood and timber men
felt secure in cutting their supplies in
advance, thus allowing them to season
before time for delivery, enabling them
to handle larger and more profitab bic
loads. At the same time new capital
was coming in, and new prospects were
being operated.
But certainty has changed to uucer-
tainty. A paid agitator came, and by
his barks and growls induced them to
band themselves together under the
head of labor union; sowed the seed
of discomfort, and managed to desert
the field before the har! vest time. But
agitatOrs are like Mushrooms they
spring up in highland instead of
one we now have many, some paid, some
hoping to be paid in the future
When boy gets his first pair of
boots he must wade through the same
stream, or deeper one, than that
through which he has often heard his
father tell about wading. Just so with
these union men. They have heard
about strikes, and the first thing to be
considered was strike. It came, and
hundreds of men laid down their picks,
shovels and drills, and walked the
streets demanding what should be done
and commanding what should not be
done, and all the time, perhaps un-
consciously, losing the respect and con-
fidence of employers whose interests
they were jeopardizing. 1t is said that
at the Kennedy and other mines men
who had held their positions for years,
and reared their families on their hard
earned salaries, shed tears when they
were compelled to quit their work
Why should they not weep? They had
sacrificed their American manhood;
they were no longer free men. They
must now yield to the nod and beck of
scheming agitatOrs, some of whom
perhaps never did days work, al
though they had drawn many a days
pay.
Yes, the union, like other benevolent
societies, is a benefit, so long as it keeps
within bounds, but when it oversteps
its bounds it becomes menace to every
industry in the community wherein it
exists. So long as it protects and de-
fends, so long as it renders proper as
sist4nce to its members in seeking en-
ployment, so long as it assists its needy
mem bers, so long as it looks after the
widows and orphans of deceased men,
bers, so long as it teaches the principle
of live and let live, just so long will it
be power in the land, and no longer.
If on the other hand it becomes a
dictator, usurper of power that be-
longs to others; if it assumes to say
that its mem bers shall do all the work
to be had and that outsiders must
starve, and at the same time be the
sole judge as to who shall become it's
members, it then places itself in the
position of the strong against the weak
the very thing which the organiza-
tion pretends to overcome. No one
will deny the right of any person to
better his condition whenever oppor-
tunity offers, but every reasonable per-
son must concede the right of another
to take position made vacant by one
who has voluntarily surrendered it.
Quit if you are dissatisfied with your
place; secure better one if you can, it
is your undeniable privilege to do so,
but do not try to destroy an industry
that may be the means of hundreds of
families gaining livelihood for years.
At the Fremont mine for instance,
thousands of dollars have been expend-
ed in this enterprise, and before it is
put on paying basis the men walk out
on account of a trivial matter that
could in no way concern the manage
ment. The mine is now closed on ac-
count of the union assuming the role of
dictator. If those who put money into
q concern cannot say how and by whom
tshall be worked, then things have
come to an intolerable pass, and nothing
remains to be done except to appeal to
a power more potent than union edicts-
1 power that will see that equal Justice |
S done to all.
How's Thisl
We offer One Hundred Dollars Re-