Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-11
HALT AND REFLECT!

Ing brought to bear upon the motorlnen
and conductors on the street railroad
system, to induce them to become
members OF a national organization
known as the street Car Mems Union,
which Is 10 be associated with other
societies and related TO the American
Federation Of Labor, In other words,
the men who Join II will place them
selves under the direction Of the man.
ayers and controllers Of those organ
izations and be subject TO their orders
under the rules OF the Union, They
will also have to pay their entrance fees
and regular dues and, n deemed neces-
sary by the chiefs, to go out on strike
and to further comply with such arb-
trary requirements as their rulers may
command.
We put the matter plainly, so that
our friends who are invited to enroll
their names on the list Of the proposed
Union may understand something Of
the position they will have to occupy
OF course there viii be advantages Of
fered to them; they will probably be
very promising and some Of them SUBJ
stantial, These should be fairly
weighed against the disadvantages that
VIII accrue, Rational men should not
permit themselves to be dazsled with
"glitterIng generalities," nor carried
away with the glamor Of persuasion
and hopes that may never be realized,
The position OF this paper as to the
rights and wrongs Of labor organization
has been frequently defined Working
people have Just as much right TO unite
for personal and Joint benefit, as en-
ployers have TO combine for their own
protection and profit. But It is "a mis-
take to do 50 In n hostile spirit, as
though capital were an essential enemy
TO labor, And II Is a fragrant
wrong when Unions are formed
FOR the purpose OF compelling people
to join them on pain Of exclusion from
the ranks OF the employed. That is so
evil and heartess. and oppressive and
intolerant, that society should and viii
arise In liz might and stamp II Under
foot until II IL utterly crushed and
eytlrpated.
But Is not that one Of the ordinary
II not essential features Of unonlsm?
II Is all very well to say; I'VE viii
let the men join or not az they choose"
as stated by paid professional "or.
ganiser' But what viii be done when
Il Union Ia formed and non. Union men
geek or obtain employment In the
same business? The answer is given I'm
the course pursued In various trades
controlled by Union bosses, Here IL an
Instance that occurred but few days
ago; A good workman was engaged
az his trade on q building IN this city,
and while at work with others,
walking delegate came along and
asked "Do you belong to the Unlon?"
lie replied mo, not at present" He
was Informed AZ to the terms on which
he could become Il member A day or
Two afterward the contractor said TO
him. TN very sorry MIR. $780, but
SHAH have to let you 60. Your work
Is entirely satisfactory but If you
stay and don't join the Union the other
men will strike, and am under a
time contract and can't AFFORD to re.
SYST"
or course the man could Join the
Union or not as he pleased. But how
much real liberty was there in that?
We have not words proper to print to
fully express the internal character Of
that kind Of freedom. nor the detest-
able, cowardly, hendish persecution IN
Volved therein one OF the gentlemen
who is plying his vocation In urging
the Union scheme on the car men, re-
marks.
~ In a great hardship for A man 10
get MS family and household goods into
the city, start his children TO school
and suddenly be discharged or laid off
for some trivial thing"
Just so. Apply It to tho case do.
scribed' 1t is not new or singular. II
occurs daily IN this alleged free coun.
try II Is tyranny OF the worst brand.
IL says, iJoIn our union or starvel II
you stay out you shall not work, Your
family may 90 to the poorhouse for
what the Union cares. FORK over the
intrance fee, and pay your dues and |
DOW to Union edlcts, Union bosses |