The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-05-30

i"h'i ioi Deltcr pay ana
more reasonable hours, instead of
compelling-I understand the full
meaning of this word-courts to
sustain them in forcing their en-
ployes to serve them at longer
hours and less paye
millionaire Phobia'' was the
subject you were recently called
upon to speak on, and am curious
TO know why you did not take up
inc text. Instead, if you are cor
rectly reported-my informants
oelng the general press, the open
shop, and anti-Union papcrs-you
stood before your auditors as a the
logical alienist defending million
aires against the charge that they
are lnsancly opposing Iabor's just
demands and asserting, in effect
not proNing-by all the power of
your speech, ill which l looked for
sparkling plNitN, brilliant diction
ana rounded periods, that .'the
poor" the laboring man, trades
union and unioniSts were thieves,
assasSins Of honesty, companions
OF the indolent, haid, repulsive
urones. worthless of the lazaroni
ana the greatest depots on the face
of the earth.
You state you have studied the
labor question, though from whose
or what point of view you do not
say. assume, however, that you
are well enough informed TO tell
me how many there are of wage.
earncrs i'll the United States How
many Of these belong to trades
unions? Whether union members
form the majority Of population {?
" neither their number controls re-
ilglon, society, professional and
commercial life, manufacture, min
ing, agriculture, wealth and the
affairs of local, state and national
governments, If you will give me
Il statistical answer as to the two
first requests, and Il separate
answer in the affirmative as to the
others, l admit that l may find
myself compelled to acknowledge
''no greater deSpotism reigns on
the face of the earth than trade
unlonlsm,' though | may ask you
to tell me also in what potency you
class their despotism, for your de-
claratlon proves nothing, invites
discussion and challenger your
right and claim.
No one rcigns supreme over
labor, it is not Il monarchy, but a
government of many constituencies
governed-not ruled-by many in
terests. At the head of these in
terests, working in harmony
throughout the domain of this
government, are men whose power
and influence is greater than any
president, king, emperor, ear or
whatever title one may or can hold
In governing people. Their aim
and cndeavor is to govern all
classes under them with Il wisdom
that will rebound to the peace
happiness and prosperity of the
governed, sentiments and efforts
which, you know, stir not the
heart Of any despot. They are
lighting, with all the methods and
means, the right and privileges
guaranteed to them by the con-
stitution of their country, for those
very rights and privileges and
against every effort, in whatever
guise or condition it appears or
may appear, to make money the
master Of themselves and their
subjects, and so long rs they are
true to their trusts, they will
reign and be loyalty supported by
who are under them. In this
capacity they are kings of labor,
none conspirator to overthrow
civil or political government. no
destroyer of social life. no mine
under the indu trial waves of fair.
honorable and substantial business.
You will not find them or their
people in or of the class and clan
that seek employment at wages SO
low that it is utterly impossible to
sustain themselves. You will not
find them among the begging
menials whom your consulting and
consulted friends, grasping capt
talists, employers associations.
manufacturers leagues. citizens
alliances, open shop advocates and
tyrannical servitors of tyrannical
employers are enslaving them
No: you will not find them in one
and twO-room tenementS. cheap
| boarding houses. five and ten cent
] l,,,l TO-