Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-04
THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.

Inc Uplie u a HTm DtilcveT III III
ionism. Weahave . g the benefcent
results which have been wrought for
the or the wage earners In this
country by their organization, and We
believe that 'oe greatest possible
force for the further advancement Of
all classes Of laboring men lies In
their organization, wisely directed,
Snch orders as the railway train.
men, engineers. firemen. printers,
clerks and various others which might
be mentioned, have accomplished the
greatest good for their members Bur
they have not done this by radical
or un.American measures, but through
the organization Of intelligent men
who have maintained o reasonable at
titnde toward their employers. III the
case or the conductors. for instance,
not only does this great order not de-
mand that the railroad company EN-.
ploy union conductors or none, but
the union itself requires such a high
standard ~ character and efficiency
that the companies cannot keep pace
with ii and there are conductors run.
ing on all the railroads who cannot get
into the union, In the case Of the
Santa Fe. we have the assertion OF
leading conductors that about ten per
cent of those employed by this road
are not In their order because they
cannot measure up TO the standard
q the order. The result Is, of course,
that a high premium Is placed on
unionism and that every conductor II
anxious to get into the order. Such
leaders as Clark OF the conductors,
1.-THE late Chief Arthur Of the engin.
GERS. the peerless barrow, Mitchell
and Gompers have urged. again and
again, against m-advised strikes,
against violence and un-American &C.
lions. They have pointed ont that
the only real victories for unionism
must be gained through organi
cations which put a premium on intel
~ligence, honesty and fair play.
The man who came Into this Office
and stopped his paper because II III
not dub as "scabs" the men who are
being brought In TO take the places
OF the striking machinists. Is a fair
illustration OF the radical and arbi-
trary spirit which Is the greatest ele
ment OF weakness In the labor move
ment OF the day.
The cause Of unionism d only Il
coed in proportion as II has arrayed
on It's side the sympathy Of the great
body OF tho American people. Bit
that necessary ally has during the
last few years been much ~alienated
by the unwise course OF certain lead
ers. The American people believe
In the eternal principles OF Justice and
liberty. SO do the wlsest union men.
No reasonable person will deny the
right OF labor 10 organize, nor will
they deny the same right TO the en-.
ployers. OF to any n who SO desires.
SO long ms their organization violates
no American principles. Any organ.
~lxation will be supported by the scnti-
ment Of the American people SO long
as IL is characterized by moderation
and fairness and exerts its power to
further Its legitimate interests.
The greatest test 81 character.
whether OF an Individual or an asso.
citation Of thousands Of individnals-
whether Of a king OF finance, a car
Of Russia, or OF a democratic nation
the greatest test OF character lies In
the use Of power. Tho nan or or
CARNATIONS which a hold great pow.
or and not abuse II, but. on the con
trary. use Il wisely. honestly and fair.
". Is entitled 10 the admiration. the
sympathy and the support OF an right.
thinking people.
This Is d hard test for either the
employers or the employees to meet.
That some Of the powerful organiza.
lions Of labor have abused their pow.
cr and In 50 doing have only followed
the bancful example Of capital. can
not be disputed. That others OF the
organizations have learned to use the
power which their organization gives
them In the furtherance Of the IN.
tercsts OF their members by all fair
and honest means, Is proper ground
for satisfaction and qualification am,
ong all who concern themselves with
the great nrqblem of the day.