The sun., 1910-01-25
LABOR UNIONS.


ARhhN@SSUes
To rMn EDiroB or TIE suS-sir. Thar.
seems to be q good deal OF Indignation
expressed because the labor unions denT
wOrkinsmen the right TO work for whom
and for what they please. Much az |
value my own freedom. I had rather trans
fer it to q labor union which Is attempt.
ing TO get me as high Q price for my labor
as possible and helping me to dispose Of
it I'm other respects as favorably 20 myself
as possible than turn 1t over to an em
pIoyer who wants me to sell my labor as
low as possible and upon other terms as
favorable to himself as possible and
under present economic conditions I ha,.
but one Of the two alternatives. I mean
to say that i must transfer my freedom
and Individuality either TO an employer or
to q labor union. It IL true that as a non
union worker-or as a union worker for
that matter-lf don't like the terms one
employer offers can 20 to another. but a.
without the assistance OF the union the next
mployer and still the next will have ths
power to flx the price must sell the work
Of my hands and brain for. this freedom
lie worth nothing. The man or the woman
who is Obliged to sell labor or anything else
he or she owns at the price the purchaser
nxes, or In other words at forced sale, can
not succeed or be independent.
Suppose the lawyer were obliged to ask
his client: what are you pa ying for retainerr
nowr" or the doctor his patient; What do
tea and sgs gar to-dayp' Assin. suppose Ii.
FOR ''t Il but e. what the public offers. supposs @
sr sgs or we're Sss:S ssa e By 's Il.
How long could any business be conducted
In this way and be even fairly prosperous
worker. Is obliged to sell the only thing he
owns the work OF his hands. at price liked
not by the owner but by the purchaser,
Who SSn hand iaSor Or brain sboT S sSoSd soS
be able TO Ak price upon II and otherwise
dsteTmins the terms Of sale than IN the case
the condition wherein men or women a.
individuals have little or nothing 20 "a y az
the cor condition wherein Il Il Claimed that they ~
but sinele step, and this last named CON
Of dollars and thousands OF lives "'
hare Sssn ss sn e%SiSseFS Re soes.S sFss
q pa rtisan feeling when say IL looks littls
singular to see 50 many employers way
OBLIGED to work for what the union says. and
vet theee same employers seem 70 welcome
The condition wherein he must work for what
lemfnas Il is surprising that q workingmsn
should hesitate for an instant which 70
cn0O6e, altnouHn can easily see now keonlv
he often regrets that he must be dictated 70
by either the one or the other.
There IL still another side TO this subject
Under present conditions, even though q
large majority Of employers were willing
20 give q fair wage. without the assistance
Of the union they would not for a lonk
period be able TO do so. Their greedy and
interruptions competitors, either anxious to
get IL all Or incompetent in 9 businsse
SSe sSee fair i've .Ss %
let liye ernployer to do the same or 60
I freely acknowledge thst labor unions
have tendency to inferior service. OF rather
that they are bar TO the highest proficiency.
and sinply because the workers. haye
learned that the minimum wage OF the
union is the rulme rate and that higher
wares thar the minimum are rare even when
thkv ere deserved Moreover after long
and somew what close Observation and ex-
perienee have found that the selfish. in
conpetent and dissatisfied employees al
ways makes an inconsiderate and fault
finding employer. and vice versa Is u
any wonder when employers try TO get
ne n'uch and give ps little in return 70 their
employees as possible that their employees
should try TO ret As much from thern as
possible and give az little ss possible in
NRW YonK January 81