Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-03-11
10 McDILL'S MUSINGS.
COMBINES AND COMBINES.

SONlDilNt-o ANU SOVlDilNi-.'.
Some time ago, in an article in the AGIrA-
TOR, attacked union labor methods as leading
to conflict and complication rather than solu-
ton of the gravest OF all earthly problems.
So far, my position is justified by results
II we take the single city of San Francisco,
we find just what may be expected of union
labor methods wherever labor obtains the COM
plete ascendency.
Ray Stannard Baker, in McClure's Magazine,
is my authority for condensed statement of
conditions that prevail in the city mentioned.
The city government of San Francisco is under
control of union labor officers. Its mayor is
serving his second term, and was elected for a
second term against the opposition of com
bnation of anti-unon people of all classes and
parties. The result in few words, is that
San Francisco has swapped off one bad master
for another bad MASTER and it is nip and tuck
as to which is the worse. The mayor admin
listers the city government through the bosses.
'He has never led anyone nor organized any
thing" Zone would almost have sworn that
he was an ordinary Republican or Democratic
mayor" says Baker. Ali that the mayor does
for labor is to keep the police from interfering
when labor wishes to establish point.
The San Francisco situation, Tor want of
space, must be told in few words likewise, the
means used to attain thereto. Labor is corner.
ed. All non.union laborers out of job.
Membership to union labo, organizations is re-
s,ricted by high membership fees. Means
used to prevent an influx of labores from other
sections. The monopoly having been secured,
working time has been established at eight
hours per day, and wages have been advanced
till higher prices paid than in any other
city in the world but in the words OF the
author, "the men are not giving as much work
for higher now as they did for lower wages
three years ago." Again: "San Francisco is
threatened, as Eastern cities are threatened
with complete cessation OF new construction
work." "Ot course it would not be fair to
place upon the unions the entire burden of this
condition. The greed of employers associa.
,ious, the supply dealers and the material man
ufacturers have all had destructive part in it,"
Now, what were the methods employed to
epthrone labor? Was it moia suasion--the
peaceful teaCninS tHdt convinced alN HOluS the
minds of thinking people, because Of the reas-
ouableness and justice of labor's demands?
II was not.
Mobs and boycotts reigned supreme. The
scab and non.unonst were driven from the
field, through coercou and in that coercion,
men---fellow laEorers-were cru-lly treated.
Employers and merchants were boycotted into
acuuiescence. The mouths OF all opposition
newspapers were hushed, except one-the one
edited by General Otis, of Philippine Islands
tame.
Now, am a working man. Three score
wears of life have been spent as child, boy and
man in labor, if bar the years spent in the
Civil war as soldier. l am disciple of Wen
deli Philips and Abraham Lincoln. AS such,
INV sympathes have always been with "the dog
that is under." No man more deeply sympa-
thizes with labor than l, and take my position
upon the eternal principles of right and, TAX
ing that position, declare that union-Iaborism
(;f San Francisco methods and conditions are
10 prevail) is only the substituting of one base
tvraut for another base tyrant