The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-08-12
The SCAB SINS
AGAINST MANKIND
(BY ROBERT HuNTER.)

Every social order develops its own
ethics, Even in the same social order
there are at least two codes of ethics
The exploiter has his code; the exploited
his
history shows the unmistakable clear,
ness that the ethics of the oppressed
nave IN due course become the dominant
ethics.
Those who have fought against wrong,
injustice, and oppression have naturally
been the wronsed and oppressed
Again and again in the history of the
world, the lower orders, so,called. have
impressed upon the world their code of
ethics.
IN the present order new word has
peen coined to express the contempt one
class feels for those who betray its cause.
The expressing class has tried to Clio
rify the term. lIomlics have beer de
hvered upon it. The president of a great
university has tried to sanctify if hut :,
the minds of millions and millions TODAY
'hefe can be no greater reproach than to
be called a scab''
"hen a man robs anot her he Injuries
one man. When man is drunken, is
addicted to vice, is idle and shiftless, he
INJURIES himself more than another.
but The 'scab'' sins against man
kind
group of men come together mutu-
MY pledged to support one another.
i"eS are struggling against great OBJ
''acies tor better conditions of life for
themselves and their families BY sacri-
ace by the payment of dues, by the slow
md arduous work of organization, they
false to decency and self respect the
mass of workers.
Their struggle is as vital to the prog
fess of humanity any battle that was
Yer fought. No war ever decided an
ssuc more important.
What they seek for themselves thny
seek for mankind, and no creature is so
Door and helpless as to be outside the
horizon of their effort.
In the midst of their conflict. men suf
cring the same evils and opprcssions
hey suffer go over to aid and comfort
the oprrcssors.
Playing the part of Judas, they betray
to the exccutioncr those who are fighting
or their salvation as their own
The scab is not only condemned by his
elbow workers, he is also pushed aside
ma s2orncl as soon as the conhlct is
over by those to whom he sells himself
lie is used when it serves his m,stcr
to use him. Even though he succeed in
breaking the union of his fellows. in I'm
niliating his comrades and in helping to
~astch upon them again, and himself as
we'll the yoke of slavery, the opprcssor
nas no thought to give him thanks.
The scab is like a piece of waste, use
III to wipe away Il nuisance and then to
'"ash one S hands Of
AS Workingman the scab benefits
With other workingmcn by the conm,ests
If unionisn. When WAGES are raised.
hours shortened, machines guarded, fac
tories made sanitary, mines made safe.
ne also benefits. But the benefit comes
10 nm as pennies to a sneak thief
fortunately, few workngmen today
arc content to be scabs For that rc,son
detectives, cX-convicts, and other des
2erate characters must be employed to
recruit strikebreakcrs Out of the SLIM
dive and lodging house they select pen
n''ess desperadoes to ship about the
country to serve as scabs
10 the thoughtful that is, perhaps, the
most hopeful sign in the struggle of the
workers. 1t shows that self-respcctino
"orklnGlncn are unwilling to desert their
comrades in battle to serve the enemy.
This paper is read by scores of thous.
ands. Many of the readers probably are
members of a union We ask YOU, then.
to do your duty in this great conflict.
Don t be scab
If you are asworkingman let nothing
keep you out of your organization.
IT there is no organization in your
trade call the men in your shop together
and form one.
ray your dues promptly as "A privilege
and honor.
Bear your taxes in this emancipatorv
movement with joy and Thanksgiving
Ethical principles are being fought out
IN those battles Of today; and none is
more important than the solidarity of the
workers.