The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-10-16
SAFETY OF "UNIoN" AT STAKE

AFETN OF UNION" AT STAKE.
The steel strike has thrown AGO.
4D0 men out of work.
The point at issue is the refusal of
DIE steel company to recognize the
Union i'm preference to any other hon
ast American workman.
The fight is on for the closed shop,
whereby free man in America must
JEin class organization before he
xzn Sork and an employer is denied
IzAe night of hiring competent work
nsan who does not belong TO such an
aGganization.
This ia not fight on union ideas.
q is a fight for the preservation OF
freedom of the individual in America.
Il by superior arguments all the
aeel workers can be induced TO join
&c union, there is no reasonable
grcands for complaint and il the
Knicn and the steel company fail to
zettie grievances, the union member
Azve the American privilege OF strik
1g.
But when the union says to tn
steel company, 'yo~ must hire mono
rxr members of our union," it is go
ing too far as il thereby attempts b.
ssf aside the very rights guarantees
~ otiI- constitution 10 every man,
goman and child in this nation.
Labor organizations have had the
sympathy of the public in their en-
keavor TO better living, working and
Nage conditions, but these organiza-
6ons have become drunk on their own
kswer until today IL their slightest
Femands are not granted, they do not
aesitate TO jeopardize the very safety
Gf the nation to gain their point. Tho
yoblic has seen the danger in the
treatened railroad strike when OUR
rotmtry was at war, it has seen il in
tbe shipyard strikes during the war
and in countless other strikes to en-
fsrce arbitrary demands during the
nations peril. II has seen the men
sce growing and has now witnessed
ne workmen in the steel industry re-
,cct even the presidents request that
they withhold action until after the
sunference called to assemble in
Washington early in October TO try
and establish basis Of conciliation
ir an Industrial disputes.
The nation as q whole is face to
dAee with a radical labor autocracy
with as ruthless a hand as did ever
BfIuLiIf
IT labor unions cannot exist with
vut denying the right of working, to
y mar who does not belong to some
zarfieular union, or without demand
ing that an employer hire none but
seTtain specified union members, II is
fme this class of unions were elm
mated else they will destroy the very
asrndation principles of this govern
Mcut.
fs n man can be forced to join n
sc,tsslF union or class organization
bnie,zss an employer is allowed to hire
hii a. 4 is only a step further until
sS cgsr be forced to join designated
xav,srA or political party as a condi-
sinn precedent to getting a job.
Ours is n government for all the
repplc, not for any class or privileged
&fw.
When handful of labor dictators
,sssnand the right TO tell a man where
lxrd when he can work and an employ
.er whom he may employ, IL is time
a,at honest laboring men as well as
xxery other citizen with the best in
;ssEest Of his country at heart, ex-
rvesses his disapproval of such acts.
The Boston police strike showed TO
what lengths these labor dictators
zEald go and the public received its
first real taste of what TO expect il
axscA policies go unchecked
The issue is clean cut in this case,
II the United States Steel Corporation
,run be forced to hire none but em-
pyyes of certain union, it will be
hzf short time before every work
rsxan in this nation must swear allie
xSxsce to some particular organiza-
lxon before he can get job and his
usixgiance to that union would have 10
arne before his allegiance to the
Emon of the United States, as has
hrea clearly proved in the manage
nens of the railroad unions, the ship
zmiders' unions, the attempted police
mxson and numerous ot:ers during and
slsce the war.
One thing is sure: The unions are
fSrnnnfng the greatest force in TIC
syrfd, the force of public opinion.
Menaces of general strikes, indus
akzzi tie-ups, helplessness to thuggery
Sss mt make US afraid; they make US
sAgry.
She kaiser learned his lesson; the
nn6gns must learn theirs.