The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-09-24


10 work fory'
No"
Il never heard you say 80 before,
said jenkins rather ruefully Il bet
the cigars with Judge Sawyer that you
would say yes, and it looks as II
have lost"
You certainly have lost" declared
the colonel If there is any one Opiu
ion fixed in my mind, It is TO the effect
that no man or combination of men
have a right 10 interfere in any way
in preventing another man from doing
any honest work for such wages as he
chooses TO accept"
IL was confident that such was your
belief and 50 informed our friend Jen
kinS.' smiled Judge sawyer He was
equally positive that you would defend
the policy of certain OF the tabor unions
TO the contrary"
If you think the unions have no
right 10 do as they do why do you not
denounee thems" asked the puzzled
postmaster The way the labor I'm
ions are carrying on at the present time
Is an outrage II they have no right to
do these things, Ii is about time they
We're stopped"
DO not hold me personally respOnsi
BILE, Jenkins" protested Colonel Mon
roe. 4 did not organize these unions
and SO far a know have no influence
with them There is no especial req
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 and moral rights you
would laugh nj them. We live In an
age when the question is not What are
our rights bat is more accurately ex-
pressed By the question What are our
Rughrss Men are not sOlieitous about
the exact limitations Of their rights
but govern their conduct and deter
mine their policy by exagting all with.
in their might or power The same
rule holds true with corporations, dis
triCts, stHtee and nations. When we
watch great nations ignore the legal.
moral and sacred rights Of weaker aud
dependent nations; when we see great
corporations brazenly defy the laws
framed 10 protect the public against
them: when we know that the world "a
ruled today not by the law u right. bat
by the hand Of might. there IS Nd call
To become unduly excited because tie
labor unions have followed and prof
tied by these examples. II Is wrong.
OF course, and 1 have not a word TO
say in defense Of such policy ~ an
abstract question Of ethics"
There is nothing more sacred than
the right OF a man 10 work" asserted
Judge Sawyer.
Nonsense exclaimed Colonel Mon
roe. There are lots OF things more
sacred than the right To work. as you
call it. should say that the right to
live would take precedence over the
right 10 work
Very true. assented the Judge. "5ut
the average man has to work in order
to live Deny him that right. and you
have practically sentenced him tn
death
Granted. my dear Judge. but you
speak as II the right to work were
something that man once had and has
work and 10 secure 70 himself the pro
ceels Of bis labor is an absolute and
inalienable right, but that It has been
repealed ever since the present wage
or Industrial system was installed. His
right consist. solely In the privilege ~
asking for work He has the right Of
petition. His prayer may b. refused
again and again until he ana his wife
and children perish from starvation"
AT least you will admit that man
should not be iuterfered with In his at
tempts to secure employment" amend
ed Judge Sawyer.
You might a. well assert that book
canvasser should not be retarded In his
efforts TO sell his wares returned
Colonel Monroe. You have the right
10 refuse to patronIze him. and all 9th
ers have the same right No one Is IN
der moral or legal obligation to buy
his books, and he may perish or become
an object Of public charity without 90
ciety holding itself In any way respOn-
sible Like him, the workman l. also
a solicitor You may deny the book
agent admission 10 your premises. You
also may refuse to listen to the work
mans plea for employment In your Of.
fice or shops You may dismiss him
with or without cause. and he has no
redress or right 10 complain. Not only
you deny him employment, but Jon
may put hiu on n black list and notify
others not to permit him to work one
Of our important courts has affirmed
the legality Of the black list but II does
not depend on judicial sanction FOR lts
efficiency II one man has the right to
refuse work to petitioner two mrn
have the same right. AMI by the sams
Dken be may be debarrsd from q