Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-29

if the President would make public
statement that the federal troops were
being sent TO Colorado for forcing obe-
dience to the law and security to every
citizen the right guaranteed to him by
the constitution to be protected in his
life and liberty whether he chooses to
work as member of a union or not, it
would go far to terminate the deplorable
conditions which now exist.
1T was source of profound regret
to us that our conference with DR.. Foster
did not result in any suggestion looking
toward a solution of the difficulty
Affects All Workinsmen
I'm order to correct an impression
which seems to have gained currency,
I desire to re-state what was fully
stated in the Congressional examina-
ton, namely, our position with refer
ence to organized labor. We do not
question the right of any workmen to
freely associate themselves in unions
for the furtherance of their action and
legitimate interests, but we do assert
the equal right of an individual to
work Independently of a union If he
the right of unions to impose them
selves upon an industry by force, by
assault and murder, and not against
the right of men to organize for their
mutual benefit.
THE impression has been created
that If we could agree to submit to
the unionizing Of the camps of the
Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. this entire
trouble would be ended. The public
generally does not seem to consider
whether or net this is right or fair
demand and in the interest of the en-
ployes Of the company as whole.
What would become of the great ma
jority of its workers were such sur
render to be made? All of its loyal
non-union employees, numbering sew
eral thousands, more than 80 per cent.
of the total number employed in the
mines who have been faithful and
true to its interests, would be thrown
out of employment unless willing to
submit as individuals to union dicta-
ton.
AS to Organized Labor
But the issue is not one of merely
local Importance. 1t affects every
fact that labor unions represent but
a very small minority of the workers
of the entire country seems to be lost
sight of by those who urge the term
ination of this local difficulty at the
price of surrender to union domina-
ton Surely, no thinking man can ask,
much less expect, that we will aband-
on our own employees and the cause
of the entire country because violence
and Wholesale slaughter are brought
about by an element which has come
to regard itself as above and beyond
the reach Of the law.
Are the labor unions, represent
ing small minority of the workers
of the country, to be sustained in their
disregard of the inalienable right of
every American citizen to work with
out interference, whether he be
union or a non union man? Surely
the vast majority will without fear or
favor stand for even handed justice
under the Constitution. and equal
rights for every citizen.
But there is a final aspect of this
grave matter which deserves more
than all else the attention of the
American public in this crisis; wheth-
err the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. and
the other operators have been wholly
free from blame or not in the present
controversy the issue now to be de-
cided is whether the state or failing
the state, the nation, shall make good
the constitutional guarantee Of law
and order. At the present moment in
Colorado funds are being openly rails
ed and citizens are being armed with
the avowed purpose of resisting the
authorities of the state. Since that is
sue of resistance 70 constituted author
ity is raised, it is unthinkable that
the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co. or
any of the company's operating in the
state should be asked to yield its po-
sition on preliminary and now ex-
traneous matter of dispute, as the
price of securing the withdrawal of
forces armed to combat their own
government.