The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-08-28
uEAssyuNG STAND.

In announcing that Illegal strikes among tho
mombora OF the various crafts viii not be
tolerated. the brotherhood chiefs have gone
long way towards overcoming ono Of the prn-
cipnl prejudlcos against unlonlsm.
Nothing has 30 weakened public respect for
organized labor as tho inability or tho I'M
willingness Of tho heads Of organized labor 10
control their memberships or to disclpline
members who rebel against tho rules and tho
labor control boards. There have been num-
erous Instances during the past few years where
tho directing heads or committees OF various
unions have dcnied responsibility for the action
OF factions Of the membership nnd the indl-
vidunl acts OF members. but we search in vain
for single instance where such authorities
have taken steps 70 enforce their authority
through disciplinary measures.
Violence and lawlessness IN countless in
stances have been committed and instantly tho
authoritative heads Of tho union have dla-
claimed responsibility for such acts, nttrbuting
responsibility TO either their ndversnries or 20
the radical tendencies OF come individual mem-
ber OF the craft. But in what instance have any
steps been taken to apprehend the real oulprIt
to adequately punish the member so disre-
gnrding union authority and 40 viciously violnt-
Ing the law OF tho land?
Time after time during the past three years,
In almost every organization OF labor. have the
Io-called responsible heads OF labor been
flouted by their members contracts have been
violated. men have walked off their work and
left their employers in the lurch in tho face of a
solemn contract In fun force; and tho labor
boards appealed to have explained that the
strike was without sanction. that the men were
simply acting for themselves in their Individual
capacity
A justlflabie ana acceptable defense had It
been followed by suitable action. But It was
not followed. Instead the reealctrant mem
bers continued In good standing In their rospec-
tive organizations, unfined undisciplined and
thus silently authorized TO repeat the offonse
Had the authorities OF unionism instantly taken
up the working cards OF such men, and in cases
OF violence did they work zcaously with the
civil authorities In bringing TO punishment the
culprIts responsible therefor, either proving
conclusively that they were acting under pay
from employers. as is so rldcuiously asserted
in many cases. or demonstrating beyond the
question OF doubt that uuioulsm per so would
not tolerate such acts by individual members
acting on their own responsibility. the labor
Heads tuuhy Noulu command respect Instead or
widespread suspicon.
II the brotherhood chiefs are about TO estnb-
lish precedent in this respect; II they do
severely discipline those mcmbers who violate
contracts and who engage In anarchy on their
own responsibility. they will have rendered a
substantial service both to the cause OF labor
and constitutional government, when acts OF
violence are repeatedly INDUCED in during those
periods when war exists between employer and
employe, as in tho OF the present rail
strike, It Is asking entirely too much OF tho
public 10 ask 1t TO believe that strikers are not
responsible for such acts or that tho authorities
of labor have not tho instant means Of fixing
such responsibility and punlshIug it II they
really desired TO do Eo
For labor leaders TO charge that such acts
are committed by the owners Of tho property
destroyed II for labor leaders to prove them
selves capable OF any deception. They can
only rid themselves and their entiro movement
Of deep suspicion by disciplnng rigldly all
OF their members who engage in such insuh-
ordination and lawessness