New-York tribune., 1905-01-09
STRIKE NECESSARY EVIL.
1t and Boycott Not Right an Them
SelUeS, Says L. r. Post.

Louis F. Post Editor of THE Public Chicago
and Daniel Davenport. of Bridgeport attorney for
the National Anti Boycott League met in debate
at the New-Rochelle Peoples Forum yesterday
Ihelr subject was ''Are Strikes and Boycotts
Legitimate Weapons of Industrial Warfare?" Mr.
fost' who represented the labor side of the ques-
uon. seemed to have the audience with him. He
was applauded especially when he attacked what
ne called the leisure class declaring that it daily
was lessening the number OF opportunities for lab
orlng men TO make a living. Mr. Davenport took
up 1he legal aspect of strikes and boycotts. and
told OF the conditions IN Danbury which made it
necessary to organize anti-boycott league for
lhe protection OF manufacturers who desired to
run run their own business He was loudly cheered
"heh he said that it time that American lib
erty was practised the year round in this country
instead Of only being preached on the Fourth of
July. Justice Gaynor, of the Supreme Court, pre-
sided.
mr.. Post said that considering strikes and boy
colts simply in themselves he did not believe in
theIh' lie said that such methods would not be
necessary If conditions normal but, in his
opinion, there was now universal warfare and the
labor unions Were the weaker power.
He firmly believed. he said, that they had a right
to defend themselves with strikes and boycotts so
long their employers resorted to Iockouts and
blacklistfng.
Mr.. Post compared the laborer with the slave
| He said that the slave was compelled to work and
give up everything that he produced except a bare
subsistence
He declared: THE essence of liberty is gone when
one man can say to another man. My terms and
the wages I offer you, or go hungry"
The earth, the water and the minerals were
created to be free and if they were free there
would be plenty Of jobs for every man. Now there
were only nine jobs for ten men, and this condition
/ gave the employer the power to the tenth man
against all other in his employ to beat wages
down and compel them to do his bidding
Ee went on 10 say:
hs5 Bfs9n t5r is the n most 5 CLOSELY @ packed % city in the
New-YOrk City there are 10 to an acre; PhiIadeI-
Orleans, I believe, 3. In those cities there are
PPhiy PPiGih{y OF vacant @ lots, The owners instead OF
great cities employment are greedily holding them
of work than all of the labor Unions Strikes ana
boycotts This condition holds good ali over the
Strikes and boycotts are legitimate because there
you don't want those methods used don't bring
labor into position where it has TO defend itself
Mr.. Davenport likened the striker to the man
who wanted to hatch brood Of ducks and began
by killing the duck which was to lay the eggs to
hatch the brood. He added:
Talk is cheap. but that man is the best friend Of
labor who at meetings like this proceeds TO state
merce and trade which control business and indus
trial conditions Any one who goes among labor
binations to put wages beyond the standard which
supply and demand require is teaching them a
The whole philosophy Of trades unonism is one
which common sense ought to teach labor men TO
shun. Who the people who suffer from such
combinations? We ali do. But who suffer most?
The poor people, the working people who constitute
the great mass of the population Of the earth.
Nowadays, people. no matter whether they are
wOrkingmen. capitalists or lawyers, rushing to
combinations. We all feel that in this manner We
beat the game. My friends, that is the biggest
mistake ever attempted Why? Because two can
play at the game. The whole country is divided
into little groups and monopOlies, working
against the other.
tied I1a ctrilFa Ia
Of the wrong methods OF labor combinations and
said that it ought to convert more men than all
teachers preachers and anti-boycott people in the
country.