The Washington herald., 1908-08-03

Kansas, says the labor question involves
al the rights and responsibilities Of
common citizenship
In an interview he makes the following
statement.
II men were classified according 10
the usefulness Of the several occupations
they perform, manual labor would be
found IN Class A But We all alike owe
allegiance 10 the government under which
We live and are in duty bound 10 obey
its laws. Our obligations in these respects
are personal They attach 20 US as in
dividuaI men and citizens.
Rights ssd Duties.
our rights and duties are equal. and the
laws must apply 20 ali In equal measure
Our government was organized in order
among other objects 10 establish jus
tice. insure domestic tranquility. provide
for the common defense. and promote the
general welfare In case OF war we are
mustered IN and out as men. and. al
though We are organized in companies
and regiments. brigades. corps. and
divisions. our individuality is never lost
The name Of each and every man who
enlisted in our great war 20 preserve the
the record and pension division Of the
War Department
Companies and regiments were some
times accepted as such. but the officers
and men were all mustered one by one
The man is the unit; the army is the
sum total And 50 It IS and so il must
remain in civil life. Communities are
made Up Of individual men and women,
States and nations are but enlarged com
muniJies-
Organization Of labor IS right in Itself
Nobody questions that The unions have
been Of great benefit 10 their members
directly and 10 nOumembers indirectly
Many men now living remember when
mechanics worked from sun 10 sun for
$50 Since that time working hours have
been reduced nearly ore-half. and wages
more than doubled IN some departments
Of labor
The man who earns a livelihood by
manual labor has the sane rights-either
less or more than any other citizen en-
iOys-and he is charged with the same
responsibilities that rest upon other raen
And a labor union is a business organiza-
ton, chargeable in law and morals with
responsibilities for its conduct as such
Il Il act as a body. II ought to be treated
as a body and held accountable for IN
Juries and losses Occasioned by conduct
OF its members.
Beyond the BOundG
Right here IS where some OF our labor
unions 20 beyond the bounds Of reason
and law. That men have a right 70 quit
work II they choose is not disputed Hon
orable men viii give employers timely
notice 70 the end that other hands may
be secured TO III the vacancies and no
loss sustained by reason OF the change.
But when men cult. with or without
notice. and prevent OF attempt TO prevent
other workmen from AlIing the vacancies
they interfere with the rights OF these
other workers. saying nothing Of losses
that may fall upon employers
And now that the American Fedora
ton Of Labor is asking for national Iegis-
iation il favor OF working men as class.
would it not be well TO Ax the status
Of labor unions n so far. at least. as
they have shown themselves disposed TO
go IN interfering with the rights Of other
men who choose 10 accept employment
when and where they please2
Like other business organizations,
labor unions ought 70 be held responsible
for their conduct This would raise
them 70 a higher level and restrain the
more impulsfve members from acts Of
violence. It would operate as induce
ment 10 keep the peace and let other
people enjoy unmolested their natural
and personal rights. And it would go
far toward preventing formation Of Sc
cret associations Of working people,
which. as We have been informed re-
Gently, may appear IN the near future
The movement for amending the rule
Of law relating to the issuance of writs
OF injunction and orders of commitment
in contempt cases is not unreasonable
If il be kept on impartial lines. But
when it comes to asking legislation in
dorsing the boycott and authorizing
strikers 10 interfere foTcibIy with other
men who are peaceably and satisfac-
torily at work for other employers, it IS
time to interpose an embargo