The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-07
THE GOVERNOR WAS RIGHT.


 We take the following somewhat liberal extract from the editorial col umns of The Kansas City Journal be- cause 1t refers to a matter of import ance. and one we have often discuss ed:
 The scenes attending the street rail- way strike in Philadelphia indicate that there are many people in that city mindedness and good citizenship taught, by Governor Stubbs and the executive ersct ,n, council of Kansas. A con about to be signed, when Governor Stubbs noticed the specification that only union labor should do the work. He promptly insisted on the elimina- phatically that "any man with two hands" is entitled to earn a living. When we hire man." says the gov Is a Methodist. Presbyterian or Bap- ust Neither should we ask him wheth CT he is member of a labor organi- zation.'
 This is 80 eminently fair and so in- herently just that 1t Is difficult to con ceive how anyone caring at all for The respect and sympathy of the general limit the expenditure of the money of the whole people upon the members of any particular organization. A private employer has every right to insist on any qualifications he may desire. If he wants to hire only blue-eyed Ma sons or red-haired socialists, 1t Is his privilege to do so. though this privilege does not altar the unfairness of such discrimination against other workers. But the obligation is upon public of ficials in g. peculiar degree to give all willing toilers an impartial chance so far as the circumstances will permit. Governor Stubbs and the members of the executive council are entitled to special commendation for their cour- ageous attitude in the matter-cour- ageous because 1t will arouse, the an- tagonism of those who do not rec bor regardless of his aflliation or non afiiiatfon with a labor organization.
 If we should wish to dissent from any portion of this article it would be the statement that "a private citi- zen has every right to insist on any qualification he may desire" If by qualifications" reference is had only to the capacity of the would-be em- pioye we could agree with the senti- ment, but we do not admit that an employer of labor has any moral right, whatever may be the legal right in- volved, to insist that an employe shall belong to any particular lodge, socie- ty, denomination or calling whatever. That Is where the unfairness of the unions and closed shops bear on the working men who prefer to maintain their independence and keep out of any oath-bound organization which would assume the authority to dictate to them and control their actions. A pri- vate employer might just as rightfuHy bar out a member of any given re- ligious denomination as to bar out either a union or non-union man for no other reason than that he is or is not a member of union.
 The case is still stronger when 1t comes to public work. and all fair minded men should heartily commend Governor Stubbs for his action in the matter referred to by The Journal. Work of a public nature Is paid for out of the public funds and they are contributed by the taxpayers of all classes It would be as fair to say that union men should not pay any taxes as it would be to say that none but union men should get the beneht