The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-09-19
The Leree Situation in New orleans.

| eyer, seem to present themselves with
sNch clearness that one may have some
confidence in discussing them, though
ne may not feel rranted IN drawing
an absolute and final conclusion on
the whole mater. 1t is a pity that the
late legislative commission did not
have the testimony taken printed, SO
at access to it might be had for the
information it contained as far as it
went.
1t is obvious even TO the casual OBJ
server that the comment ascribed to
NJ. j. Sanders, that the commission
had hardly scratched the surface OF
the situation, is very much nearer the
truth than the1bombastie conclusions
returned TO the general assembly and
accepted by it as a report of the CONS
mission.
1t further transpires that the opera.
ton OF the contract into which the en-
ployers by means ef this commission
dragooned the screwmen, constitutes d
breach on the part OF the employers OF
the contract they had made with the
ilongshoremen IN the fall OF 1867 and
which was To run Tor three years. The
longshoremen have raised this cues
ton anu Mr.. KohDke, The chairman Of
the business men s committee through
whose offices that contract was sf-
fected says the longshoremen are
right.
So far, at least, it is difficult TO see
how any charge can De laid, at the
door of The laboring element for fur
ther trouble on The levee. Would that
as much could be said for the en-
ployers.
The existence of their unions is vital
to the welfare of the laborers. To
even think of breaking them up is
worse than a childish absurdity. 1t
is not for the interest of the commu-
nifty that they should be destroyed or
even crippled. 1t is, however, as nee
essary for the community as for the
laborers themselves that the unions
should be temporarily and wisely
managed.
It would seem, too, that the combs
nation of the various unions in the
dock and cotton council was as neces-
sary to the components as the exist
ence of the unions themselves. They
are all engaged in common enter
prise, and must in the nature OF things
stand or fall together.
Apparently, however, there is de-
! feet in the organization of the dock
aud cotton council which has not re-
ceived the attention it deserves and is
a source of weakness. AS the matter
now stands any union can bring on q
clash ana have a right TO expect the
whole organization TO stand by it,.
There appear To be two class of cases.
In one OF which thai expectation is
and ought 10 be well founded and
should be lived up To. In the other
| it would seem the rule should be more
open. The first class OF CASTS COM
prfses those in which the union is on
the defensive and is resisting an eft
fort to change conditions Tor the worse.
In every such case The union ought to
receive unquestionea support. On the
other hand, when the union enters on
an offensive campal GA the rule ought
to be radically different. Every gem
eral strike Is a serious ard immediate
loss to every body concerned and to
many outside who have no direct in
terest In the merits of the controversy
The affiliated unions as well as the
union directly involved always more
or less jeopardize their very existence
when they go out. Il would therefore
seem thai no union had right TO
begin an offensive campaign without
the previous consent OF all the atfili-
ated unions. The unions upon which
the heat and burden OF the lay will
fall have natural right TO be con-
suited whether or no there be words to
that effect in their written bond OF
organization.
The legislative commission ignored
every union on the Ievee except the
screwmen, and actually forced breeeh
of the contract of the longshoremen,
who were living up to its letter IL
perfect good faith. The New Orleans
dailies even captured The Chief with
their loud acclaim of "peace on the
levee. II now transpires that there
was no peace and can be none until
all the unions are brought into COM
mon settlement under contracts which
run together and are made to CO.
operate to the common good.
The most conspicuous thing that
seems to have been accomplished at
an expense of some $50. 900 to the state,
OF which $40, 900 was for fees to law
yers, has been to handicap the use
fitness of Mr.. Parkerson as mem
Der of movements directed against the
New Orleans Democratic machine.
Comment on the situation anent the
strike OF Illinois Central freight hand
lers is foreborne, lest discussion at
this time may hinder rather than help
an exceedingly delicate situation.
Isn't the Cart Before The Horse?
The State Board of Contest has de-