The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-08
sOCIETY TERsrs UNIONIsM.

CHICAGO, May e.-The most important
feature Of the Chloa 70 strike appears N
the determined effort Of society, az repre-
sented by the Employer Association TO
protect Itself against a wanton abuse OF
power on the part Of organized labor y no
chicago Record Herald calls the team'ters
strike arbitrary, tyrannical, malicious
irrational, and useless The facts amply
Justify the arralgnment.
Fortunately for its organization, and
Perhaps unfortunately for society, labor
unionism, In lie present condition has not
dared TO throw liz full weight into the con-
hict precpltAted by one Of its branches
The strike, In It's development, brought
into prominence issues which are vital 20
unionism In the form now preached by
most Of its strongest leaders. These short
sighted men advocate the very measures
which will lead most surely to the defeat
OF their own aims and purposes, the sym
pathetic strike and the boycott Yet they
dared not, In Chicago. bring these methods
TO a decisive issue az did the Employer
Association.
Just at the present time the ranks OF
Organized labor are in some confusion
They are at war among themselves over
questions Of union policies and methods
Unionism's phenomenal growth during
the past few years appears 70 have reached
climax, and there IL now some reaction
The lawless proceedings at Cripple Creek
resulted only In failure. The Fall River
strike Of last fall was a costly defeat for
the strikers. The recent subway strike
carried its warning. Offended by numer-
Gus experiences, society Ia now less patient
with the methods Of unionism than Il once
was, and IL much less in sympathy with
both mioniHm and its declared objects.
Organized labor has shown itself to be
quite a. selfish and intolerant as those
| whom II denomoes, and society Ia fast
coming TO see it In that light Unionism
has made an overdpft on public sympathy
and society il getting distrustful.
That labor recognizes this fact Is shown
! by it, course in Chicago. At every turn IL
faced the condemnation Of all except a
| limited class Affiliated branches Of union
ism declined 10 get into the ilht on the
side Of the teamsters Had they done 50,
and spread the strike a. it might have been
| spread, In support Of their own conten-
tons, the test Of strength and the appeal
! for public support might easily have be-
SeAlN VI hNldls bIb II "uulh iAaNO hAoeAAAN
disaster to unionism, and the organization
dared not meet the issue on the basis Of
| sympathetic strikes and the boycott,
Such strength az the Chicago strike has
shown IL due less TO the power Of the strikers
and their leaders than 20 the weakness Of
the Chicago authorities A ringing procla-
nation by the Mayor when, about April
20. the signs Of disorder and lswlessness
assumed menacinR proportions would have
had powe fUl Influence. A week passed,
| during which the prominent business men
| Of the city clamored for police protection
in the processes OF their business and the
daily press published lists Of more than 200
Casualties resulting from rioting and dis
order The police force was increased,
but not as it should have been. A clear
out announcement by Mayor Dunno, at
! the very beginning, that violence would be
suppressed and full protection given to all
in need Of It., and a swift summoning Of
an ample force TO make the terms Of the
proclamation effective. would in all proba-
bility have led to the termination Of the
trouble within forty eight hours.
The Employer Association opened the
way for municipal action. 1t made no fight
against organized labor It's battle was
waged for the rights Of society. II stood
ready TO teach labor that lesson which
| il must some day lean-that society has
rights which unionism cannot override
| by unreasonable and tyrannioal methods
backed by violence, Unionism has gained
nothing and will gain nothing by the Chicago
experienoe. On the contrary. It has lost
much. Society Is more than ever distr,lst-
full Of Il, and the opposition TO those meth
DDS which It regards as it's most powerful
weapons has strengthened and become more
coherent.
Unionism must base It's appeal for public
support on other grounds than the sympa-
thetic strike, the boycott, and violent as
sault upon those who are willing 10 do that
which it's members may decline 20 do. Its
power In the community will be measured
by the wisdom Of its policies. 1t cannot
successfully fight organized society; and
the Employer Association Of Chicago is
only one Of sOciety's battalions