The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-17
SHOULD REPUDIATE RESPONSE
BILITY

BILITY
A curious and an instructive fact is
reported by some of the st. Paul dele
gates to the recent meeting of the State
Federation of Labor. They say that
the people of New Ulm, where they
met, were inclined to view the dele
gates and their cause with suspicion
and to hold them at arms length. It
was only after getting acquainted with
them and finding them very good fell
lows, and through the efforts of resi-
dents of the city who were themselves
familiar with unions and unionism on
a larger scale, that the general public
threw aside its attitude of distrust
Now the truth is that this relation is
not limited to labor organizations in
ST Paul or in the state of Minnesota,
and to the people of New Ulm. It will
be found everywhere outside of the
larger cities. There is just such a mis-
conception of the quality of labor
OA1AOAlS anu ClAC1I tilSIilUSIS dHlOIS Tic
people at large, who do not come into
direct contact with unionism, as is here
complained of. The effect of it the
unions themselves should be first to
appreciate. 1t is evident that where
distrust is so general the cause of
unionism cannot make the Roadway
that it otherwise would. 1t has to
overcome an opposition constituting an
important fraction of public opinion.
Why should this attitude exist?
If it seems outrageous to some Of
the delegates who attended its con-
vention, and humorous to others, that
the public should regard them with
half fearful eye, they should consider
the cause. The fact of it is that the
frequent recurrence of violence in con-
nection with labor troubles has estab-
lished a connection between the two in
the public mind that it will be very
difficult to shake off. Thoroughly un-
just as this is in many cases, it is the
natural consequence of failure to re-
pudiate odious acts; of a too thorough
going allegiance to labor unions merely
as labor unions, whether they are right
or wrong.
Take, for instance, the very case re-
ferred to. At the meeting in question
resolutions were passed, properly
enough we think, denouncing the gov
eminent of Colorado for placing union
men outside the pale of the law. That
they should be arrested, imprisoned or
deported merely for belonging to unions
is a baleful exercise of power and an
extreme Of tyranny. So far, so good.
But what prevented this meeting from
taking equally positive action with ref
erence to the other side of the dispute?
With that resolution should have
been coupled one denouncing in
equally vigorous terms that or
ganization which in Colorado and
throughout the West generally has
SbO1CA ILC 11clIIlS VI tctOOI " serve the
devils purpose. That organization has
been guilty of murder, of dynaniiting
and of a system of terrorism never ex-
ceeded in the mountain states since the
days of the frontier desperate control.
Why should labor's representatives be
silent of that simply because these
banditti falsely call themselves work
ingmen and degrade the name of union
ism by applying it to their abominable
conclave?
1t is because labor unions have so
often failed to say the bold word of
right have so often feared to visit cen
sure where it was due equally to those
of their own cause and to those against
them; because they have not fearless
~ condemned the use of force in labor
disputes and repudiated and disciplined
those who resorted to it, that the inn
preston which confronted them re-
Gently has obtained SO general and deep
hold upon the public mind.
We believe in unionism. We believe
in it as great agency for the elevation
Of labor and for the good of society.
But unionism must get rid of the ty-
rannic element, of its own inclination
to ostracize. and must utterly repudiate
and trample down every man who steps
outside the line of the law, if it would
win that sympathy which will attract
to it irresistibly the whole body of labor
and bring to it the eventual successes
of it's greatest dreams.
The Democrats will take band along
to their state convention. The Repub-