The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-12
EFIES1 ~ LiROR tNJONISw.
Dr. Rainsford Ncpi,cs to Dr. E'i"ts ne'
InMrks NN Tie SIIblcCt.

uvuckS UN NV SUDJe'N.
TO rnE EprroR oF TUE SuN--Sit: IN
TIE SrN or Tuesday. February 10
President Eliot replies In a signed letter
to Charles T.. Ponder of the trolleymen =
union, who asks him why he dislikcs
unions.
President Eliot says that he disllkes
them because "thcy seem to have had II
bad effect on the character and happi-
ness II their members
Whatever Dr. Eliot writes will over
be treated with respect No more able
or honest critic of matters social lit
erary or religious lives in the United
States to-day; but I am confident that
the ma jority of men who know the life
Of the laboring people far better than
he can know II. will quite disagree with
this opinion Of his.
Now, while no dispassionatc observer
can deny the mistakes, sometimes the
crimes. done by labor unionists or those
under their influence think 40 much
may be admittcdyet II may he far
from true to say that Tabor unionism
has had bad effect on the character
Of the people SO associated"
Dr. Eliots charge Is too sweeping, too
generally condcmnatory.
Only a long and intimate acqu8ip-
lance with the working classes In their
homes as we'll as In their fields OF
labor could enable even the ablest and
most dlspassionate observer to form
opinions on such a subject that would
carry conviction.
To say that character has deteriorated
and happiness decreased among labor
union people. that liz, among millions OF
our most intelligent and best furnished
neighbors, who are and will surely con-
tinue To bc "unionists." II u statement
that requires much more support than
even President Eiots signature will
give II.
Surely. II Is only fair to say that the
multitudinous activities OF a great uni
vcrsity career made It impossible for Dr.
Eliot to gain that close acquaintance
with laboring people and labor condi-
tons which would seem to warrant his
,arriving at such sweeping generalza
ton.
do not hesitate to say that those
best qualified TO speak on the subject
do not ngree with DR.. Eliot.
a large number Of experienced, fair
minded ard very able men and women
have lived and are living among the
laborlng folk.
They watch their struggles and OPP
pose what they believe are their mis-
takee. They crl,lcisc evil measures and
evil men, whether among labor leaders
or the employers Of labor
Few such. am confident. will be
found to admit that labor unionism
as a whole has had a had effect ON tho
character Of the labor union man or on
his happiness
President Eliot refers to cooperation
as way out. To some IL has seemed
evident for very many years past that
some application If 1t would in the end
come to he accepted by employers and
employed.
But every ono in this country was
so busy making money in the SOS and
tho COS that We could not get any ono
IN those days to listen 20 us Now CO.
operation is surely II slowly coming to
It's own.
Meanwhile. awaiting tho day when
common sense. common sympathy.
common justice. shall prevail in all the
field Of labor. many who know whereof
they speak are thankful for labor
unlonism.
admit 1t stands for class conscious
ness. not always IA good thing, but still
Il step forward. surely,
There il no need to go over again the
old reasons in support of labor union
ism. Circumstances have forced Il on
the poor: circumstances over which
they had no control whatever.
The rich and the strong stand to-
gether. They have the right to do so.
This class consciousness in their case
sometimes works very great H. as lately
our courts have been declaimins.
II a bank is insolvent. If insurance
companies or trusts need regulating, IL
is evident tn all men that tho big in
trr"sts stand together In common fair
ness the poor and the weak must he
permitted, nay encouraged. 10 do the
same
But surely class consciousness is not
the final stage We are Il arrive at
II Is only n hating place, "A brief
camping ground on mans onward
march.
Surely il il better that a man should
struggle for his class than that he
should only struggle for himself.
II Is better than either, better far thar
he should struggle for his brother
w $. RAINsFoRp.
Nav York. February II.