Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-07
Saturday, May 2, 1921
Is ALWAYS DANGER
Gus"

stated that tyranny is always danger
Gus. We entirely agree with his
opinion. but tyranny is not always
confined to employers.
Labor should be just as much re-
strained from enforcing tyranny as
the employer. The trouble today and
the strong increasing objection to
union labor is almost entirely due to
tyranny, planned and executed by the
leaders of labor. The rank and file
of labor permits it and is therefore
responsible.
In our own locality. SO much ty-
ranny has been planned and exc
cuted by labor leaders that the pub
lie, who is the real sufferer for the
tyranny of both employers and union
labor, while it acknowledges the
right of labor to organize and use all
fair means to secure their rights, is
rapidly becoming disguised, and so
serious is this that labor is in dan
ger of losing all the advantage ac-
quired after many years effort.
Every contractor in Augusta APP
parently is under the domination of
labor. The restrictions from year to
year have constantly increased, until,
whereas on the start they only re-
fused to work with non-union work
men, they now attempt to say that
no man, landlord or citizen shall en-
ploy non-union labor without being
placed on the unfair list and the
man refused service, not only in the
branch of trade in which the labor
occurred. but in all it's. branches.
To illustrate this piont. we cite
several instances that have come un-
der the writer's observation. A
prominent man in this town, who
had numerous rents, employed nom
union labor for repairs on the rents.
His name was placed on the unfair
list and plumbers refused to thaw
out water pipes or have anything to
do with his work. No contractors,
either carpenters, masons, plumbers
or painters were allowed to do work
for him. He was finally forced, in
order again to get in good standing
with the union. and get his work
done, to pay a fine End sign a paper
agreeing to employ nothing but
union labor.
A prominent man in the city of
Hallowell having several rents and
a tenant who was unable to do con-
tinuous labor accepted part of his
rent by making slight repairs on the
various tenements. A union official
called on the landlord and informed
him that he would have to discon-
tinuo giving work to his above men
toned tenant, otherwise his name
would be put on the unfair list and
he could procure no labor from any
contractors in this locality
It is quite generally understood, and
has not been disproved, that, either
by written or unwritten law, the I'M
ion limits production to less than a
fair days work. Established to pro-
tect honorable labor from tyranny, it
has itself become a tyrant. fostering
tyranny CALLING to the pride of every
man subjected to it, lowering the mo-
rale Of every member and altogether
out of harmony with American tradi-
tons. Whether such exactions as we
have mentioned are of national appli-
cation and obligatory on local unions
we do not know, but judging from the
news reports they are quite generally
enforced. Anyhow they are a tyran-
ny. and we believe are within the
power Of the local union to correct.
We predict that the day is not far
distant when union labor must re-
move the tyranny from their methods
or the general public will absolutely
refuse to deal with union labor. 1t is
up to the labor leaders to say which
it shall be.
An owner Of several rents in this
city. who IL on the unfair list for en-
ploying non-u union labor, has found Q
way out Of his troubles in refusing to
pay hne or make an agreement in
order to be removed from the unfair
list, by getting in touch with open Of
Zee contractors in neighboring cities
Or tewns. He secures the services of
man employed by those contractors.
At the present time. Augusta needs
building operations and repairs on
property as it has never needed them
before, but there are many that will
not build. nor will they. where it is
possible to defer longer. repair or
paint any property while the present
conditions exist. There are many
people In this city asking for work.
There IL plenty Of work at fair price.
Under reasonable conditions. many Of
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