The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-30
THE RIGHT TO STRIKE.
A Right the Workers Must Not Allow
to be Abrogated.

The strike 1t is said. sis the
weapon of barbarism." 1t would be
more accurate to describe IT as the
weapon OF nature.
Men strike In response 10 an in
stlnct which will last as long as hui
manity lasts II they don't like the
conditions OF their labor, why shoull
they continue TO labor? What moe
natural than the refusal 10 do so un-
til the conditions are altered TO their
liking?
II may be answered, "They should
90 on working out of consideration
for the rest of the community"
Well. the appeal to patriotism is
very good in It's way. but If a man ia
sweated slave. and suffering under
grievances that oppress him every
hour OF the working day, and give him
small respite on Sunday, 1t will not
be easy 10 persuade him 1t is to the
public" interest that he should pat
iently remain 4 sweated slave. and
bear his grievances with an oX-like
stolidity.
1t may be further answered, "They
can Invoke the law, and have their
ton Court, without disturbing the
community, and bringing suffering up
on their wives and children.
But what II It be a bad law? What
II II be only the statutory enactment
OF injustice, as Wade's Industrial Dis
putes Act is-the legislative express
sion of class-dominance? Or what
If there be a class-biascd Judge on
the bcnch-by no means a remote
contingency?
Patriotism is Ooub!e-T Toneued.
The strike then becomes the one
means of redress. And cruel as il is,
and disquieting as it Is to tho public
serenity, Il may possibly have q bene-
fetal effect upon the public mind
For II occurs to us that the appeal
to patriotism is double-tongucd Why
should not the public" be patriotic
as we'll as the men? The publlc's con-
yenience is interfercd with, it is true.
but IT does not suffer as the men
suffer. II has not to carry the bur
den of an intolerable tyranny on its
shoulders, and risk its life for hard
living II Is too apt to acquiesce in
the seryitude that couduceS to It's own
ease. and it might be good thing TO
shock it out of this selfish frame OF
mind
Let tho public exhibit its patriotism
by declaring that the wrongs of these
men shall be rlghted by recognizing
the reasonableness Of the request for
an open conference. at which all Aus
tralla. through the press. can he pres.
ent to see fair play: and by demanding
lngEng hal tn t.,
proposal. or forfeit the mines which
the public has leased to them. and
which they have failed TO work on
terms of common equity.
There is too much carelessness on
the part OF the public" for the rights
Of others. too much disregard for the
hardshlps that do not jeopardze It's
comfort.
What does it matter to tho public"
that men dare death every day for
thirty shillings week. and go down
Into the black pits never knowing
that they will come up again alive or
sound in llmb2
The public is a thoughtles9 ami
NAL II does not occur To il that coal
Is the foundation oi the social order.
and that without coal It's complex
Nl'lN lNo uSlhOlh vi
Industries. It's far-reachlng commerce.
It's armies and navles. It's schools.
colleges. and churches-the whole
intricate fabric of its civilization.
would come tumbling to the ground.
Sometimes a terrible calamity hap
pens in a coal pit. Perhaps. az in that
Illinois mine at the present time. hun
dreds Of men are entombed. and the
papers arc filled with the narrowing
facts OF the tragedy.
How dreadful" SAYS the public"
shudderlng luXuriously over IT'S break
fast. devourlns the news and its rump-
steak at the same time Poor fell
lows" and casting its eyes further
over the printed page-speedily for
gets the affair, There are so many
other things TO engage its attention
tho latest sporting intelligence. a
spicy divorce case or a big cricket
match.
II is not so easy for the workers In
the mines 10 forget Day after day
they face this appalling danger for
mere bread. and 10 eke out the scan
ty pay must subject their boys to the
same risk as soon as they can be
taken from school
TO make matters worse. they have
grievances To which the bosses-weal.
thy men who have probably never ven