The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-05-30
Editor Morning Astorlan,

II described a. representing hlgh Vpe
Of manhood, as man who engages IN
breaking strike because he i brave,
because he Is earring for some cherished
mother, wife. sister or other dependent
kim" aud that "he Is a potent
factor in the new future. and his hands
should he held alolt,
The Astoria Labor Council, the fed
Grafton OF the labor unions Of this city,
has instructed Us to expose the iallacy
OF this emlogy OF the man who Is com
monty known as "scah,' We therefore
most respectfully ask you to give space
to our communication.
We have to admit that tho article
is ably written, that IN II appeal Il
made TO mans regard for him who
braves danger for bis independence and
of his loved ones. But when the article
Is closely examined in the light OF ac'
tual events, very quickly II Is discover
ed that II Ii simply another case Of the
devil quoting scripture TO compass his
ends, that with peculiar ingenuity "the
worse, u made to appear the better
reason
To fairly present the type Of the
strike breaker for Judgment, II N nee
essary to inquire into the causes that
bring about strikes
Men and women, united In unions Of
their various callings. at times cease
work, strike" either against an at
npt on the part Of the employers 10
lower wages and lcngthen the working
hours, or they strike for better wages,
shorter hours or Tor other conditions
that win viii insure better terms OF
employment, When strike occurs, the
employers, to suhdne this insubordina.
tion" of their employees, bring In other
workers, the strike breakers to com.
pei the strikers TO give up their conten'
tions and return TO work at the employ.
ers' terms. In nearly all cases the
strike breakers are only temporarily
retained as employees, for as soon as the
strike Is lost, that is, as soon os the old
employees lose hope Of winning the
strike and declare 1t Of and apply for
work, the strike breakers are discharg-
ed and the old anil experienced hands
again taken on. The history Of strikes
fully proves this statement.
In this question Of the strike breaker
his eulogy or condemnation, We must
go to the very roots OF our system Of
industry. With the advent OF machine
production in the middle and latter
part OF the eighteenth century, the un.
ions Of workers sprang into existence
because aecessity compelled them 70
unite. Before the machine concentra.
ted production into large factories, the
producer Of an article was In most ca.
ses also its seller he worked In his shop
with a few journeymen and apprenti-
ces, who in turn set up in business for
themselves when they could pass the re.
quired examination Of skin. But with
the coming Of the machine propelled by
steam, large capital was needed to start
in BUSINESS, large numbers OF employees
were required to give best results.
Hence factories employing from 10 to
10000 workers were started Long
hours of labor, from l2 to l0 hours per
day, were the rule, likewise small pay.
II the individual complained, he was
told he could quit and seek another job.
where, however the same conditions ex.
listed. II he took that advice he was
quickly replaced and the grind went on
unchecked. But when the workers uni.
ted in their protest and unitedly quit
work when such protest was mot heed.
ed, the factory had to shut down, and
before il secured another set Of proficient
employees, great deal Of money was
lost by the owners. At times by the
threat Of withholding their labor pow.
er, and at times by the actual with.
holding OF such power, the workers
lave steadily in nearly all Industrial.
civilized countries reduced the life kill.
ing long hours Of labor and secured a
wage that enables them to properly
clothe and feed themselves and those
that depend upon them
The worlds greatest students In the
economic field men like Professor Tho
raid Rogers Of Oxford University, Is
his "Six Hundred Years of Work and
Wages" and Professor Ely In his bis.
tory Of Trades Unions" and host Of
Others, have fully demonstrated That
the trades unions more than any other
agency have made for the advancement
of civilization.
Every one admits that the true gauge
of a country's progress and civilization
Is not the wealth Of the few, but the
prosperity Of the many Is IL then, any
wonder that the strike breaker tbe