New-York tribune., 1905-07-08
CRIMES IN THE NAME OF LABOR.

Since Chicago is the hope and the stronghold
Of the social reformers who pin their faith to
the trade union and its plenary power over in
dustry, in Chicago of all places trade unionism
might be expected to be clean and TO be con-
Quoted with an eye single to the welfare of the
workers. Nowhere more heartily than in Chi
cago are the philanthropists of the social set
Elements identified with the trade union in its
extreme pretensions. The tendency of these
philanthropists everywhere, in their anxiety to
be in sympathy with their adopted neghbors, is
TO swim with. or even ahead of. the current of
their thought on social and industrial questions,
instead Of bringing TO them a new light or a
moderating influence. This has been especially
true in Chicago the Eotbed of radical labor
movements. Yet, if we may trust the findings
Of the Cook County Grand Jury some of the
most influential of the Chicago labor unions are
merely instruments of private grating" and
should never have had any countenance from the
| seekers for social betterment. The grand jury
has just handed down long list of indictments.
-Four Of them are for conspiracy between labor
unionists and brick manufacturers to injure the
business of independent brick concerns. Thir-
teen union officials were indicted for conspiracy
TO injure the business of Montgomery, Ward &
Co., thirty-two members or friends Of the team
sters' union were indicted for violence In the
strike and, in addition, the grand jury made a
presentment recounting the methods Of union
officials in levying bIackmail and exploiting
their power over honest workers to enrich them
selves.
1t is always possible TO make some allowance
for the extravagances and excesses of earnest
men honestly seeking the redress of grievances
When labor union really tries to promote the
welfare of laboring men we sympathize with it,
even if we feel that it is aiming blindly and
are compelled to condemn it for lawless and un-
just methods. But who can defend labor union
ism which lets itself be exploited by blackmail-
ers within its own ranks or be made the tool of
capital for the oppression of rival employers?
This misuse of trade uniOnism has been grow
ing. The Chicago indictments are continua-
ton Of the story revealed by the prosecution Of
Sam Parks. 1t then appeared that both in New
York and Chicago the building trades were
sink of corruption, and that the antagonism of
employer and employed was TO a great extent
merely a blind, covering dishonest combina-
tions of some employees and some employers for
the oppression of the general public and the
persons in the trade outside their company
Now it appears that trade union graft -four
ishes among the truck drivers, the elevated rail-
road conductors, the building janitors, the cleo
tric workers and the meat packers. Where such
things are true unionism has become common
instrument of extortion.
Too much must not be expected Of the rank
and file Of labor unionists. They believe the
union exists to protect their legitimate inter-
ests, and they follow their officers like sheep
If their officers betray them or exploit them or
use them to blackmail employers, they can
scarcely be expected TO know 1t. We may prop
erly ask that when the wrongdolng of their lead
ers is revealed to them they will condemn It.
and not as some of them did with Sam Parks
glory in the crime done against them as we'll as
against the rest Of the community. Yet such is
the force Of ignorance and blind partisanship
that failures along this line are not surprising
But certainly the community has a right TO de-
mand that the philanthropic leaders Of the wage
earners. who with special intelligence profess
to help them to give expression to their aspira-
tons and interpret them to the rest of society
and the rest Of society to them shall stand
aggresSively for fundamental law and order.
They have no moral right In mere sentimental
enthusiasm for the welfare Of labor and the up-
lifting Of humanity TO give support to move
ments in the name of labor such as the Cook
County Grand Jury has brought to light They
are bound to look at the realities and If they ask
the public to give weight to their commendation
of labor movement, TO know that # is an honest
labor movement, and to be on their guard
against and denounce the abuses Of labor union
ism and the crimes against employers and en-
ployed committed IN its name.