Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-17
A WORD OF WARNING.

The Journal wishes to indulge in a word of
warning to builders and building crafts.
Albuquerque is the threshold of great build
ing activity which will enhance values and bring
active employment to the members Of the building
crafts. Anyone who wantonly destroys or cripples
this new movement toward prosperity, will be pun
ished by public opinion. The party which carries a
chip on its shoulder looking for someone to knock
it off will find somebody who is ready to do it.
The situation in 1922 in Albuquerque is such
that no wise will resort to threats-at least
not until every resource of negotiation has been
exhausted. Neither party to any labor controversy
is in a position where it is compelled to yield to
coercion The Journal thoroughly disapproves of
Threats of any kind in these matters, 1t produces
Irritation and makes adjustments more difficult.
Let no one conclude that the Journal has any
preconceived ideas or any prior engagements or
commitments in any threatening trouble 1t has
not.
This paper believes in unions 1t thinks that la
boring men helpless without them and power
less to enforce justice. An individual acting alone,
can accept what is offered him remain idle. We
believe in negotiation and mass action.
We believe that capital has imposed upon labor
generally through the ages We believe that it has
been too strongly entrenched and thus enabled to
be dictatoria and unjust. We glad to see labor
put itself in position where it cannot be die
tated to.
An equal evil arises whenever labor becomes
strong enough to become dictator There is no diff
ference in the human nature of labor and that OF
capital. Either tends toward taking undue advan-
tage if placed in position to do
The Journal believes in equilibrium in govern
ment 1t thinks that neither capital nor labor
should be in position to dictate 1t thinks that
negotiation and mutual concession should be COM
PEELED. Public sentiment is the factor which can
maintain this equilibrium and, by throwing itself
against the aggressor and the stubborn can enforce
fair settlement Public opinion must be the only
dictator.
The future of Albuquerque is in the hands of
the general public which creates the weight of pub
lie sentiment. 1t should compel negotiation and
concession. If this is refused 1t should throw Its
weight against the who is wrong and compel
justice.
An open shop tends to destroy unions. The Jour
nal does not believe in 1t except a last resort
when the unions have become so strong arrogant
and unreasonable that they unjustly dictate to the
rest of the community. In that event their power
must be broken under the same circumstances.
The journal insists upon negotiations and con-
cessons until equitable basis is reached Our
attitude is neutral pending the development of the
question to who is arbitrary and unyieding
Then we will aid in Furnishing the aggressor.
We have deemed publicity to be unwise unless
1t became necessary and have therefore refranet
from printing any rumors This position Is stated
because our contemporary has fit to announce
that there is friction between union labor and the
contractor the hotel We have been sien
in the hope that the matter could be settled quietly
Labor troubles on a community project would b,
especially unfortunate
The Journal insists upon negotiations and. fail
ing in that, upon an arbitration of differences