The Irish standard., 1907-10-26
Cardinal Gibbons Gives Good Advise to En-
ployer and Ernploye, Setting Forth
Rights of Each.
Says No Conflict Should Exist Between Gao
ital and Labor Since Both Are !.
Necessary For Public Good.


est laborer who is willing to do work
which is proper and in no way con.
f1icts with the interest of the com.
munity, should he given the oppor-
tuntty to perform 1t. and to have tho
same protection from the authorities
which is extended to any peaceful cit.
izen. no matter how powerful or inlu-
ential may be the person or society
which opposes him. y "a
take for granted that ali unions
and other societies of American labor
ing men are disposed to array themy
selves on the side Of peace and order.
and are as strongly opposed to violay.
tions of the law as other citizens.
Hence they should exert their influ.
ence to see that the laws are upheld
If they would maintain the respect
with which they are regarded by their
fellows. 1t is not only question .of
patriotism. but of self interest WHEN
deeply concerns them.
H. am persuaded that the system of
boycotting by which members OF labor
unions are instructed not to patronize
certain obnoxious business hovses. IL
not only disapproved by an impartial
public sentiment, but that 1t does not
commend itself to the more thoughts
full and conservative portion Of the
guilds themselves
Every man is free indeed. to select
the establishment with which he
wishes to deal, and in purchasing
from one In preference to another h4
lis not violating justice. But the case
is altered when by a mandate Of the
society he is debarred from buying
from g. particular Arm. Such prohibi-
tion assails the liberty Of the purchae.
er and the rights Of the seller. and id
an unwarrantable invasion Of the COM.
mercial privilege guaranteed by the
government to business concerns.
II such social octracism were gen-
orally In vogue, process Of retalla-
ton would naturally follow the cur-
rent Of mercantile intercourse would
be checked. every center Of popula-
ton would be divided into hostile
camps, and the good feeling which
ought to prevail in every community
would be seriously impaired, "LivA
and let live" is a wise maxim, dictat-
ed alike by the law Of trade and by
Christian charity.
Experience has shown that strikes
are drastic. and at best a very ques-
tionable remedy for the redress Of
the laborers' grievances. They par-
alyze industry, they often fornent
fierce passions, and lead to a. destruc-
tion Of property, and, above all, they
result In innicting grievous injury on
the laborer himself by keeping him in
enforced idleness, during which time
while broodng over his situation, and
his mind is clouded by discomfort
his family not infrequently suffers
from the want Of the necessaries Of
life
The loss inflicted by strikes on the
employers is not much more than half
as great as that which is sustained by
the employed, who can much less az.
ford to bear it. It would be a vast
stride in the interests Of peace ana
Of the laboring classes II the policy
Of arbitration which is now gaining
favor for the settlement of interna-
tional quarrels were also ava!led Of
for the adjustment Of disputes. .be-
tween capital and labor. Many bless-
ings would result from the adoption
Of this method: for while strikes, %
the name implies. are aggressive and
destructive, arbitration is conciliatorv
and constructive. The result in tho
former case is determined by tbs
weight of the purse. in the latter ~
the weight of the argument. y;