New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-23
Where the Fault Lies.


Mavor Mitchell and Chairman Straus OF
the Public Service Commission are emil
nentlv sound in their declaration that the
integrity of trade unionism" is not at IS
sue in the traction strike. Collective bar
gaining is a principle which has come to
stay. 1t is sanctioned by the courts and
bv successful operation. Even the blind
est of employers knows that his employees
will take advantage Of it in some form or
other and may do so without let or him
drance.
What is at issue now is not the prin-
ciple of unionism, but the practices OF
some of the union organizers. And on
that issue they deserve the condemnation
which the Mayor and Mr.. Straus have
heaped on them for the breaches Of faith
which they have permitted, and even en-
couraged. their deluded followers to make
From the walkout of the surface car
workers up to the preparations Tor the
general sympathetic strike this lament
able affair has been a disaster for the I'M
fortunate individuals who have followed
Mr.. Fitzgerald, Mr.. O'Shea, Mr.. Frayne
and the rest of the organizers. 1t is an
indictment of the overzealous profess
sional in labor troubles. The settlement
of the August strike against the surface
lines by the Mayor and Mr.. Straus was
distinct victory for Fitzgerald and the
Amalgamated union. He crowded his luck
when he insisted on the taking back of
employees who had been convicted Of law
breaking in the sporadic rioting which
accompanied that brief disturbance. But
the company executives gave in to avoid
further trouble.
Apparently this success went to his
head. When he failed to convince the In
terborough employees that they were OPP
pressed and maltreated-worse still, when
he was utterly unable to persuade them to
join his union and pay dues into its treas
ury-he and his fellows encouraged and
sanctioned a strike against the subsidiary
company, operating the surface cars,
which was a deliberate violation of the
arbitration agreement and a gross breach
of faith. Every subsequent strike-the
Third Avenue, the Second Avenue, the
Bronx and the Queens walkouts-merely
added dishonor to this first offence. If tie
general strike actually does come to pass
it will constitute the GROWING infamy.
Honest. sincere labor unionists must re-
alize what damaging thing it is to have
the honor and good faith Of unionism so
stained by the mistakes or misdeeds OF
the leaders of an important, countrywide
organization. The public has been driven
to believe that the signature of union
leader to a solemn agreement for the pro-
lection of the public is valueless. Public
sympathy, therefore, has been alienated
not alone from the strikers in this affair,
but from workers who blindly yield them
selves to the guidance of professional or
ganizers.
Wiser leaders than Mr. Fitzgerald may
reestablish confidence in the honesty OF
unions if they refuse to permit their fol-
lowers to be stampeded into an unjustifi-
able general strike, with its attendant dis
order and lawbreaking. If they, too,
make the mistake of putting technicalities
above honor, a bitter class spirit above
the welfare of the community, they will
inevitably fail as he has failed and only
increase the damage which he has done to
the cause which they all profess to serve.