Show COERCION ALL WRONG THE stonemasons and bricklayers who 0 o have been in the employment of watson brothers have struck the reason for this action is that owing to the extensive business of the h firm they found it necessary to engage another foreman in addition t to the one already employed the ion with which the workmen as a 4 body are connected objected to 0 this because this additional foreman k as not identified with that association it appears that the union only permits the engagement of ef one foreman ot lot connected with it and the men insisted ns isted on the discharge of the second nd one otherwise other they would strike the man whose employment was as objected to expressed his will gneib to leave and thus avoid the creation of trouble on OB his account bilt said he would not join the 0 having conscientious ecru pl about being controlled by any watson brothers would not entertain the proposition ut the man leaving if he chose rei nain as it was a surrender of a principle they recognize the right of the foreman to use his own voll voli ciol alwn in regard to joining the work reevs wa union and they cannot cone that it is the right of any or to prevent them from employing cloying Plo ying him if they desire his bervic we tand that both employ ra and men expressed to each other that the difficulty included no do personal Pers Ie onal Oual feeling only the latter wet worl determined to control in the ater matter it in controversy while the mer firmly insisted that they did 10 lo propose to surrender a principle involved their right to employ persons to work for them of their own selection without regard to their being connected with any society the workmen struck and thus the matter stands this is a singular state of affairs to exist iu in a community like this it appears to us that it exhibits its tendency upon its face there is no question in relation to wages one object of the strike is simply to coerce the man with regard to whom the dispute has arisen into joining an association with whose principles aid purposes he is not in sympathy this is in spirit at least a breach of the liberty of conscience any attempt in that direction is opposed to the genius of natural rights that of acting upon individual judgment when the rights of others are not thereby impinged I 1 m another object is to coerce employers to engage the services of only one class those who belong to a particular organization this is necessarily of a piece with the pressure exercised upon the non unionist foreman tt it is a matter of regret that such disputes should occur we trust that the striking workmen between whom and watson bros the kindest relations have existed will view their action from the standpoint of right rather than from what would appear to be self interest they are a respectable class of men and as a rule inclined to thoughtfulness it is to belko ped they will reconsider their course which is in the direction of division and is of such a character that it cannot carry with it t the sympathy of the coin community |