The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-06

in industrial conditions on this CONT
nent during the last half century.
In actual practice it has proved ex-
ceedinglly difficult, and in many. cases
Impossible, to, get unanimity Of wise
action among the various states on these
subjects. From the very nature Of the
case this is especially true of the laws
affecting the employment Of capital in
huge masses.
Duty on the States.
With regard to labor, the problem is
no less important, but it is simpler. Az
long as the states retain the primary
control of the police power the circum-
stances must be altogether extreme
which require interference by the fed
eraE authorities, whether. in the way Of
safeguarding the rights of labor or in
the way of seeing that wrong is NOT
done by unruly persons who shield
themselves behind the name of labor.
IT there is resistance to the federal
courts, interference with the mails or
federal property, or if. the state authors
ties in some crisis which they are un-
able to face call for help, then the fed-s
eral government may interfere; but
tho such interference may be caused
by a condition Of things arising out Of
Of labor, the interference itself simply
takes the form of restoring order with
out regard to the questions which have
caused the breach of order-fOr to keen
order is a primary duty and in time
Of disorder and violence all other ques-
tions sink into allegiance until order has
4 been restored. In the District of CO.
lumbia and in the territories the fed
eral law covers the entire field Of gov
eminent; but the labor question is only
acute in ,populous centers of commerce,
manufactures, or mining. Neverthe-
less, both in the enactment and in the
enforcement of law the federal govern
, ment within it's restricted sphere should
set an example to the state govern
ments, especially in matter so vital
as this affecting labor. -
; Upholds Organization. I;
!, believe that under modern indus
!. trial conditions it is often necessary,
, and even where not necessary it is vet
often wise, that there should be organ
: ization of labor in order better to So
: cure the rights of the individual wage.
: worker. ALI encouragement should be
: given to any such organization, so long
as it is conducted with a due and de.
! cent regard for the: rights of. others
!, There are in this country some labo,
g unions which have habitually, and othel
q labor unions which have often, beer
among eSthe most effective agents il
working for good citizenship and fol
:, up1IIGlug the. cOnu1GlOn. OF 'GnOSe whose
welfare should be closest to our hearts
+ But when any labor union seeks i'm
proper ends, or seeks to achieve proper
ends by improper means, all good citi
zens and more especially all honorable
public servants must oppose the wrong
It doing as resolutely as they would op
pose the wrongdoing Of any great cor
poration. Of course, any violence, bru
l. tality or corruption should not for on,
e moment be tolerated.. Wageworker
have, an entire right to organize an
d endeavor to persuade their fellows t
% join with them in organizations. The,
It have a legal right, which, according
% to circumstances, may or may not be
# moral right, to refuse to work in com
v pany with men who decline to joil
J. their organizations. They have unde
v no circumstances the right to COMM
If violence upon those, whether capitalist
It or wageworkers, who refuse to supper
a. their organizations, or who side wit
j. those with whom they are at odds; TO
T. mob rule is intolerable in any form.
W The wageworkers are peculiarly en-
70 Continued on Pages IL and 1S.