The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-03-15
urges Farmers To
join A. 5. Of E.
Large Bodies as Well as lndivid-
ualS Have Right of Per-
S0nal Preference.

sonar feTIeTenCc.
BE a refusal to work with non-un-
ion men, labor organizations occas-
ionally excite acute irritation among
uon-union men and criticism from
press and public. The non-union feel
that in taking such action unions
dictate how they shall run their bus
mess and encroach upon their rights.
The non-union seems to believe
that by this course the unions mon
opolize farm labor and determine
without the right Of appeal who shall
be permitted and who forbidden to
work.
The question thus raised by the
non-unionist is not legal but ethical.
From a legal point of view there
can be no doubt that the unionists
have a perfect right 10 refuse to
work with any person or persons,
for any reason, good or bad.
The legal right of union farmers
to boycott should not be called into
question. In refusing to work with
one of their fellow craftsmen they
are simply doing together what they
have a perfect right to do separate
ly.
A man has a legal right to refuse
to deal at certain establishment,
to give or withhold patronage, to buy
where he sees fit, and what one may
do a hundred or a thousand should
have the right to do. No one can
compel John Smith to buy goods from
John Brown, and no one can compel
him to enter the same car, sit in the
same church, or eat at the same ia
BILE. The refusal of unionists to work
with non-unionists is frequently made
to look like a persecution of re-
ligious sect.
A man who is forced to Join one
church against his will is thereby
ODllSCu W hlS AOCibs VI
conscience and TO conform or pre-
tend to conform to certain beliefs
which are possibly repugnant to him.
The union on the other hand does
not ask a man to believe in any
thing. A unionist may be a Catho-
lie, Protestant or Jew, or may have
or profess any belief of any kind
whatsoever. All that is required is
the performance of certain simple
duties and the mourning of certain
common obligations.
1t is generally felt by unionists
that is the non-uniOnist obtains the
advantage of all the sacrifices made
by the union, he should also share
in these sacrifices. The unionist
feels and justly feels that he who
reaps should SOW.
1t is peculiarly CALLING To the union
10 find that the men who sold their
tobacco are the first to gain by sacri-
fices which he and not they have
made. 1t is not in human nature to
expect that a man who has borne the
he blunt of the conflict and the heat
of day should view with equanimity
his enemies, or, at all events, his
lukewarm allies, enjoying the fruits
of his toll in the cool of the even
ing.
The non-unionist who refuses &c
assist his fellow-craftsmen, but draws
benefits from their sacrifices, should
he invited to join the union or be
obliged to work only with other non
unionists.
To the men who have not paid dues
who have not bourne their share OF
the expenses of organization and strui
gle. The union opens wide its doors
Even at the eleventh hour these mer
are permitted to enter.
The union is willing To let the dead
past bury it's dead. to clean the slate
and allow the non-unionist, who have
made no sacrifice, to join the unior
upon the same terms as others. Al
that is demanded is that the cost anC
burden of union management and ac
ton be fairly shared in the future
and in the event of their refusal t
join the union, the members simply
refuse to work with them.-P. A. Sha
yer in Central City Republican.