Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-09-25
WEDNESDAY EVENING. SEPT. IS. 1907.

appear Wltnln 10" usJS 90 moi
r. .icIe, declares bimselt as strongly op-
oossd to strikes and boycous ss means Oi
sel,ling differences between the employ
ers and tbe employed, and makes an
urgent appeal for the pacific adjustment
If industrial difficulties. With unusual
caudor, but in kindly spirit, he makes
several outspoken admonitions to or
gaoized labor. He expresses clearly In
detail his views regarding capital and
labor. and finally urges wOrkingmen to
s,riVs constantly and zealously toward
an uplifting of the moral and social
standard of their organizations. AL
though his theme is "Oreanized Labor
end much Of the article is addressed to
the labor organizations, Cardinal CID
bous does not spare the trusts and cor
porations. He is unsparipg in his de-
ruaciation of those monOpolists who ne
ssSs "e1hibit grssping avarics which
has dried up every sentiment OF symPa-
,by and sordid selfshpess that is deaf
IN the cries Of distress" While he
sorroyes the banding together OF work
iaguen for their own protection Oardl-
nal Gibbons denounces those elements
os organized labor which seek to stir
nm unnecessary discord. Regarding the
evils of strikes, which subject he dis
.usses at length, he sSy', in part:
Experience has shown that strikes
arc drastic and at best q very question:
able remedy for the redress of the labor
o. grievances They psralJz e industry,
Ibey often foment fierce passions and
lead TO toe destruction OF property; aud,
above all. they resul! in infictlng griev-
ous injury on the laborer himself by
besning him 10 enforced idlentss, during
mich time bis mind is clouded by dis
enc,ept while broodirg over his situation,
and his family not infnquenily suffers
from want of the accessories Of life. The
Ioss ipf cted by strikes on the employers
10 mot much more than half IS great
as that which is sust1ined by ths en-
,JoVed. who can much ltss afford to bear
!, Il, would be vast stride in the In
,erests of peace and OF the laborlng
closes if the policy Of arbitration, when
i. now gainiog favor for the settlement
of international qusrrels, were also avail
ed Of for the adjustment OF disputes De-
tween capital and labor. Many oless-
inc, would result from the adoption OF
Ibis method, for while strikes, So the
name implies, are aggressive and de-
st,uctiye. arbitration j. conciliatory and
constructive. The result in the former
case il determined by he weight OF tie
parse, in the latter by the weight OF The
Argument.
Cardinal Gibbons believes that the
American workingmsn is better paid and
lives better than his brethren across the
Atlantic. He praised briefly The en-
plJyers who have at heart the welfare OF
u ,se they employ. Continuing CArdi-
mi Gibbons discusses the subject OF
boycottiug, OF which he says, in part;
AM persuaded that the system OF boy
emitting. by which members of labor
unions are instructed not to patron'ze
certain obnoxious business houses. Is
not only disapproved by an impartial
nublic sentiment, but that 1t does not
commend itself TO the more thoughtful
and conservative portions of the guilds
themselves. Every man is free indeeo
% select the establishment with which
he Wishes to deal, and 10 purchasing
from Que 10 preference TO another he Is
not violating justice. But the case Is
altered when, by mandate OF the society,
he ia debsrred from buying from psrllc-
niar firm. Such proposition assails
the liberty of the purchaser and me
rights of the seller, and is an naSar-
rantable invasion of the commercial
privileges guaranteed by the govern
mept 10 business concerns. IT such
social Cstracism was generally in vogue,
. process of retaliation would naturally
follow. The current of mercantile inter
course would be checked, every centre
of population would be divided into
hostile camps, and the good feelings
which ought to prevail in every COM
munity would be seriously impaired.
Live and let live is a vice maxim,
dictated alike by the Law OF trade ana
no Chr;stian charity.
Cardinal Gibbons warns labor unions
against toleratiny elements dangerous 10
.sejr own we'll being. He points out
that the unions "have need OF leaders
possessed OF great frmness, tact and
superior executive ability, who will
honestly aim at consulting the welfare OF
the society they represent, without in
ringing on the rights Of their employees,
They should exercise unceasing vigil
lsuce in securing their body from the
control Of designing demagoenes, who
CJuld make it subserv;ent to their own
selfish ends Or convert it into Poiiucsl
engine. They should be careful to ex-
clude from their rsuks that turbulent
element who boldly p:eachs the gospel
Of anarchy, socialism aud nihilism; those
land pirates who are preying on the in
dastry. commerce aud trade Of the
oonat,v vbosa mission ia to pull