Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-13

more difficult to manage. more liable
TO disintegration than corporations or
capitalists. and they have need OF
leaders possessed OF great ilrmness,
tact and superior executive ability.
VINO Will honestly aim at consulting
the welfare of the society they repre-
sent. without infringing on the rights
Tor their employers They should ex-
ercise unceasing vigilance in securing
their body from the control of design
ing demagogues, who would make il
! subservient to their own selfish ends,
or convert II into a political engine.
We must guard against any word
or act that Is contrary to the law.
Every American sitizen has the right
to be protected IN his efforts 10 earn
an honest livelihood. No man or com
blnatlon of men should have the power
ITO prevent him from following his vo-
lcation even by intimidation, for lac
may have not only himself but wife
and children for whom to provide.
IT Is my opinion that the honest Ia
borer who is willing to do work which
Is proper and in no way conflicts with
the interests of the community. should
be given the opportunity TO perform
II. and to have the same protection
from the authorities which is extend
ed 10 any peaceful citizen. no matter
how powerful or influential may be
The person or society which opposes
him.
take II for granted that all unions
and other societies OF American labor
ing men are disposed TO array them
selves on the side OF peace and order
and are as strongly opposed to viola
tons of the law rs other citizens.
Hence they should exert their inflli-
ence to see that the laws are upheld
if they would maintain the respect
with which they are regarded BY their
fellows. II is not only question of
patriotism. but of seli-iiterest which
deeply concerns them. |
am persuaded that the system OF
boycotting by which members of labor.
unions are instructed not to patronize
certain obnoxious business houses, is
not only disnpproved by an impartial
public sentiment, but that IL does not
commend Itself 60 the more Thought !
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 he Is not violating Justice.
But the case is altered when by n '
mandate of the society h, is debarred
from buying from particular firm.
Such n prohibition assault the liberty
Of the purchaser, and the lights of the
seller, and Is an understandable in
yason of the commercial privilege
guaranteed by the government to
business concerns. Ii suh n social
ostracism were GENERALLY n vogue, n !
process of retaliation would naturally |
follow, the current of mrcantile in
tercourse. would be checked, every !
center of population would be divided
into hostile camps. and tho good foot
ing which ought to prevail in every |
community would be seriously impair
ed. Live and let live" is wise
maxim, dictated alike by the law of
trade and by Christian charity.
Experience has shown tlat strikes !,
are a drastic. and at best terry ques-
tionable remedy for the redress of the
laborers' grievances. They paraiyye
industry. they often foment fierce pas
sions. and lead to destruction q
property; and above all they result "
inhictng grievOus injury on the "a
borer himself by keeping MIN in en-
forced idleness, during which time ms
mind Is clouded by discomfort wnlie
brooding over his situation ana Wsn
family not infreQucntly suner from
the want of the necessaries OF lie.
The loss inflicted by strikes on the
employers is not much more than
half as great as that which is su5'i
tanned by the employed, who can much
less afford to bear 1t. 1t would be
vast stride in the interests of peace
and of the laboring classes, If the
policy of arbitration which is now
gaining favor for the settlement OF
international quarrels, were also aVaii
between capital and labor; Many
blessings would result from the adop-
ton of this method; for, while strikes,
as the name implies. are aggressive
and destructive. arbitration Is concil'
iotorv and constructive. The result IN
-the former case is determined by the
weight OF the purse. in the latter py|
the weight OF the argument.