The Arbitrary Demands of Labor Unions
Some of the secular papers are speaking in no uncertain tones concerning the arbitrary demands of the labor unions, and their assumption of the right to dictate to everybody else, including the State and national governments. The New York Sun calls attention to “two interesting propositions” put forward by the labor unions:— Two significant positions have been taken by labor organizations in the year now approaching its final period. Certain bodies have forbidden their members to belong to the national guard, and have not hesitated to say that they were in favor of the disintegration of the State militia. Their declared reason for this was the employment of soldiers to put down strikes. . . . The second position is that taken by the [New York] elevated railway motormen, that an employer has no full right to determine the standard of efficiency for his employees. They themselves are to decide just what tests of physical fitness he may demand; and if he exceeds the limit, they are to quit work. Brought together, these two propositions mean that the employee is the sole judge of his own ability to discharge his duties; that if the employer objects, the employee shall go on strike; and that if while on strike he resorts to lawless methods to prevent any other man from taking his place, there shall not be maintained by the State any force capable of preventing him from so doing. It is easy to see that there is a significance in these propositions which may not be fully apprehended even by those who make them. The prophecies of the Scriptures are being fulfilled.