Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-03
THE RIGHTS OF LABOR

The demonstrations made today by
labor organizations and the holiday OBJ
served throughout the country are all
right when order Is maintained and the
common rights OF an citizens are duly
recognized. The salt Lake parade was
fine. II was the largest and best of
the kind ever held 10 this city
labor. as specially represented
on these occasions means that
kind Of work known as manual labor
including mechanical trades as vel as
ordinary toll. but not enploymenis
known as professional. although per-
sons engaged On them often spend more
hours and greater eXertion than do
the artisans, hod-carriers, pIck-snd-
shovel men and others who are desig-
mated the laborlng classes. Their pa
rades and entertainments and speeches
and arguments in favor % tightening
toll and securing adequate remuners-
ton therefor. should not be hindered
or opposed. nor should any block be
placed In the way Of the advancement
and elevation OF working people
But in this as In other matters there
ought to be perfect freedom Of choice,
either to parade or not to parade, 70 at.
tend the gatherings Of the hosts IN
meetings or picnics or 10 stay away,
10 Join the labor organizations or TO
remain outside. to support resolutions
and sentiments or TO dissent from
them. The real aud potent objection
10 the movements Of unions is the elo-
ment of coercion that some Of them
bring to bear both upon members and
non-members II t. un-American and
hostile TO the spirit Of liberty to com
pei any man 10 parade on labor or
any other day TO work longer or short
,r time than he chooses. or TO receive
Lor refuse as compensation anything
more or less than he Is willing 10 ac-
cept The liberty OF labor Is as pre-
cious and inalienable as the liberty
Of speech. Any power that seeks to
bind or infringe II is wrong and op-
pressive
The sentiment Eight hours for la
nor, eight hours for improvement and
recreation, and eight hours for rest
and sleep" is right and Is as old Ak
it Is commendable II is founded on
equity and humanity II should be
encouraged and promoted by all ration.
al means compatible with the freedom
OF the Individual Organizations to
establish Il as rule are. so Tar. on
ihe line OF the general welfare Put
shey err and turn aside ihercfrom
when they attempt Ia use any Kind Of
compulsion upon persons who do not
voluntarily fan into that line. Also
when they attempt TO force employers
40 comply with their edlcts. Reason,
persuasion. arbitration. may he fully
employed. but coercion, never
A test OF this was recently made iu
pennsylvania II went up TO the SUI
preme Court Of that State on a suit
for injunction against a labor union
which attempted to interfere with the
business Of an employer OF labor 1t is
thus reported in Law Notes The
defendant union had demanded Of the
plaintiffs that they unlonize their mill
and enter into an agreement whereby
the control Of the business would be
practically turned over 20 the union
enabling IL to dictate the selection OF
employees. the number OF hours that
should constitute a days work the
compensation to be paid therefor. and
the time Of payment ON the refusal
at this demand the union undertook
10 coerce the plaintiffs into submission
ny concerted attempts TO iniure their
business. No violence was used or
threatened but the plaintiffs employees
We're persuaded 10 Quit work. ana mo-.
ilces were sent TO the customers OF the
plaintiffs not 10 use material produced
NY the latter under threats Of strikes
IN the establishments Of such cugom-
srs as did not obey The court held
that an Injunction restraining the
union from such interference with the
business OF me plaintiffs was property
granted.
The rights NJ labor should ho maine
taincd. They are as sacred as the
rights ~ capital But both should
Ne considered when disputes mise and
laws enacted bv the states or bv the
nation should be- protective of 90,
rights Of the humblest worker as wrU
as the richest employer lu our prcs-
snt social system both are essential Co
general and individual prosperity. ANA
they ought 10 be- friends NOT enemies
The waiohword Of the times is zone
ward and upward" The ranks OF
labor should be helped ln the march.
Light Is spreading. Intelligence I'M
creasing, freedom advancing Hail Co
the advent of universal liberty and