The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-18
TT WILL BE WELL.

If will be well for all concerned If the anticipated troubles in our street Railway systems are finally and fully adjusted. The employees made a great mistake and 1t Is we'll for them if they have recognized it in time and have abandoned all thought of forming or Joining the union. Such movement could be of no possible benefit to them and would certainly work them harm They profess to be satis6ed with their pay and treatment. but were led to be- lieve that they should organize for future protection.
 That is always the song of the organizers who make an easy living bv playing on the crcdulity of working men. The employees of our street rail- ways were led to believe that they were to organize for their own welfare. but that plea is a. delusion and snare. When they sign the union contract or agreement they at once cease to be free men. They place collars on their necks which make them the virtual thralls or the organization. They may think the organization Is only for their benent' but they would not be long finding their error. Some walking delegate would come along and order them to 20 out on a strike and they must obey. They might be perfectly satisfied with their situations, but that makes no dif- ference. They must quit work be- .cause they are told to do so. or because the employees in some other town have struck. Then they must suffer and see their families suffer. or must live like beggars off money contributed from the hard earnings of other workers.
 If those employees of our street rail- ways had kept up with the Chicago strikes they would have never listened to an organizer. They ought to know that wherever there are unions there will be strikes. and there are no strikes without disorder and lawlessness. The scenes enacted in Chicago cannot be repeated in Montgomery on any scale Picketing. lockouts. intimidation. thug gerry and assassination, such as dis graced Chicago would not be tolerated
  what unionism leads to wherever 1t obtains strength enough. Unfonism means unfairness. because 1t seeks and intends to array laboring men against each other as well as against all em- ployers of labor. If any employe of the Montgomery companies is dissatis- fled with his situation let him quit it as he has a right to do. but if he pro- fesses to be a free American citizen let him not bind himself to quit because some one orders him to do so. That is slavery
 The Advertiser comments the stand taken by the managers of our street railway systems. It was the proper and the safe thing to do. Laying down the law at the very beginning was the only mode of procedure that assured the maintainance of their enterprises. They cannot conduct their business suc- cessfuily and satisfactorily and main tain order if they employ both union and non-union men. The entire his tory of unionism proves that the two classes of labor cannot work together in harmony. There will certainly be friction and the end is an outbreak of lawlessness.
 We sincerely hope there will be no misunderstanding in this matter. Let the managers remain firm in their determination to select their own em- ployes and let the latter resolve to be freemen and wear no collars.