Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-10-13
sssse or rHs ASSOCIATED Press
CARDINAL GIBBONS ON "oRGAN-
lied LABOR" ;


lied LABOR"
Labor has its sacred rights as well
as its dignity. Paramount among
the rights of the laboring classes is
their privilege to organize. or to
form themselves into societies for
their mutual protection and benefit.
It is in accordance with natural
right that those who have one COM
mon interest should unite together
for it's promotion, writes Cardinal
Gibbons in the October Putnam's
MONTH &: ID S1l
Throughout the United States and
Great Britain there is today a con-
tinuous network of syndicates and
trusts, of companies and partner
ships, SO that every operation from
the construction Of leviathan
steamship to the manufacture of a
needle is controlled by corporation.
When corporations thus combine, it
is quite natural that mechanics and
laborers should follow their exam
pie. ct would be as unjust to de-:
ny the workingmen the right to
band together, because of the
abuses incident to such combina-
tions as to withhold the same right
from capitalists, because they some
times unwarrantably seek to crush or
absorb weaker rivals. 81!
God forbid that the prerogativesa
which I am maintaining for the work
ing classes should be construed as
the slightest invasion of the
rights and autonomy of employers
There should not, and need not, be
any conflict between capital and Ia
Dor, since both are necessary for the
public good, and the one depends on
the cooperation Of the. other. A
contest between the employer and the
employed is as unreasonable and as
hurtful to the social body as a war
between the head and hands would
be to the physical body.
whoever strives to improve the
friendly relations between the propri-
etors and the labor unions, by sug-
costing the most effectuaI means of
diminishing ands even removing the
causes Of discomfort, is. a benefactor
to the community. With this sole
end in view venture to touch this
most delicate subject, and If these
lines contribute to some small meas
ure to strengthen the bond of union
between the enterprising men of capt.
tai and the sons of toll, / shall be
amply rewarded.
But If labor organization have
rights to be indicated and grievance
ces to be redressed, it is manifest that
they have also sacred obligations to
guard. AS these societies are com
posed of members very formidable in
numbers, varied in character, TEN
permanent and nationality, they are
in the nature of things more unWiel
dy, more difficult to manage, more Ii
able to disintegration than corpora
tions of capitalists and they haVs
need of leaders possessed of grea
ability who will honestly aim at con
sulting the welfare Of the societ.
they represent, without infringing 81
the rights of their employers. The.
should exercise uneeasing Yiliganc.
in securing their body from the con
9 troll Of designing demagogues, VIII
& would make it subseryient to the
own selfish ends, or convert it in
to a political engine. III
We must guard against any wor
or act that is contrary to the Law
y Every American citizen has the RICH
Il to be protected in his efforts to ear
s an honest likelihood. No man or con
bination Of men should have the pow
er to prevent him from following b
vocation even by intimidation, for /
may have not only himself but a vii
and children for whom to provid
II IS my opinion that the honest Ial
orer who is willing to do work whie
"A proper and in no way conflicts vii
the Interests OF the commnnit
Should be given opportunity to pc
form it, and to have the same pr
lection from the authorities while
Is extended TO any peaceful citize
no matter how powerful or infinel
Il tai may be the person OF socie
which opposes him.
take for granted that all uniol
and other soeie les ef American labo
fng men are disposed to array the1
selves On the side Of peace and 3