, 1923-09-30
Unionism and Justice

As an ordinary thing organized labor stands
by its own, whether its own is right or wrong.
This attitude got by in former days but it is
out of style in present times. Organized labor
is taking more pains to see that "its own" is
right in the first place that it may with perfect
propriety and Justification as an organization,
stand by it's own.
This point is remarkably illustrated in the
pressmen's strike in New York, which prevented
the issuing of the metropolitan newspapers for
a day or two and prohibited the further issue
except in combination form and in reduced size.
1t was a tremendous hardship on the publishers
and the public and not Justified in any question
between the pressmen and the publishers. That
this was true was proved by the prompt action
of the officials and leaders of the international
Printing Pressmen and Assistants union.
They denounced the walkout of the local union
and outlawed the strike as a violation of agree
ments with publishers and of the laws of the
parent organization. They ordered the men
back to work at once or to suffer a revocation of
their charter.
The head of the international organization de-
hvered this sentiment, which is good American
ism through and through:
"This local has violated the law of the parent
body wilfully and without hesitation, and they
are going to, and are now, suffering the conse-
quences of attempting to do business by and
through the instrumentality of the big stick We
do not want, and will not have in our organiza-
ton men who are so weak as to be stampeded
by a few Reds who think they ought to run the
newspapers of America according to Soviet
rule"
Now when union labor, Of all kinds and classes
throughout the United States is represented by
and captained by such men as George L. Berry,
who is a Just and fearless man and desires only
ttat which is right on the part of employers and
employees, and seeks no unfair advantage for his
own organization and permits none on the part
Of employers, then will organized labor come full
ly into its own and command the respect Of every
body.
Organized labor must stand up and accept its
responsibilities the same as employers are re-
CURED to do, and they must exclude from places
of power in their organizations all persons of
anarchistic tendencies and grasping proclivities
who are unwilling to do business in accordance
with accepted American business principles of
fairness and justice to all parties concerned.
When this Is done, and pretty generally, it is
being done by the unions themselves, labor
troubles in this country will be reduced to the
minimum and peace and satisfaction will rest
upon employees and employers alike.
The action of the parent body of the press.
mans union, meets the approval of all intelli.
gent unions everywhere. The pressmen were
wrong in quitting their jobs and leaving the big
newspapers in the lurch in the manner in which
they did. The heads of the organization took
prompt action with reference to their own out
laws, and then Joined with the publishers in
remedying their situation. This whole incident
with its termination, will have done more for
the cause of organized labor and its prestige
than anything else that could have happened.
A union has proved itself big enough to be just.