The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-11-24
NOT so FooLIsH.

II
In It's editorial comment on the prop.
osition Of the Philadelphia labor union.
70 so on two weeks strike to show
their cortempt for the District Of
Columbia judges-The Brooklyn Times
says:
There was nothing especially novel
or original in the plan by which the
Central Labor Union OF philadelphia
proposed to show its dispgeasure with
the supreme court of the United States
for affirming tho sentence OF Samuel
Gonapers and his associate by pro-
claiming Q general suspension Of In
austry for the space of two weeks. "A
similar method OF retaliation has been
tried more than once In Russia, the
parent OF the idea, and similar meas
ure has been attempted in Paris. but
with results that were by no means
satisfactory to those who had insti-
gated or to those who took part in IL.
The plan has not yet been tried in the
United States, and It is not likely to
be. The American workman is loyal
to his order, but he has not yet learn.
ed that there IL anything to be gained
by biting of his nose to spite his
face"
The only logical meaning OF such a
strike would be to punish the Judges
Of the United States supreme court
for affirming the sentence of com
pers to imprisonment for contempt OF
court. And these are perhaps the, only
men In the United States who would
not be in the least disconnected by
such a strike They. might md it
difficult 70 reach the court unless they
walked, but their salaries would run
on all the same, and they could stay,
at home and read poetry or sermons
until the strike was over. The prin-
cipal sufferers would be the strikers
and their wives and babies, who would
find themselves suddenly cut of from
their supplies. 1t Ia a very simple mat
ter 10 quit work and determine upon,
a two weeks holiday, but the stomach
never takes a vacation; II is as In
sistent upon receiving It's regular sup
plies during strike as at any other
time. The worker himself might be
willing to suffer some privation for
principles sake; but the little ones.
who have not yet learned the supreme
claims Of organized labor, would, be
inclined to clamor for their accustomed
food, and there is pieasanter music
In the world than the wall OF a hun
CRY child. OF course, II there are those
VINO are so loyal TO Mr.. Gompers that
they are willing to drop work and
wages for two weeks to show their
sympathy with him. there is no out
side force that can prevent them, but
the wives OF those who are married
could hardly be expected to see witn-
out audible complaining the prospect
of a dinnerless Thanksgiving and the
barren ideality Of Christmas with no
Santa Claus TO cheer the little ones.
OF course all the rest of US would suf-
fer, except the judges Of the supreme
court Of the United States. II butch
ers and bakers, confectioners and car
conductors motormefl and rnilkmen
Joined In the strike. the rest OF us
would have a hard time, but the great
est sufferers would be the men who
had decided to quit work to show their
sympathy with Mr.. Gompers and their
displeasure with the supreme court.
Fortunately, the American workman
has too much common sense to enter
into so foolish a compact Russian
fanatics and hamboyant French en-
thusiasts may go into crazy schemes
Of this sort, but they do not com
mend themselves to plain, practical
Americans.
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