It was thought,
therefore, a fit subject of legislation to enjoin them from binding
themselves to strike at the dictation of others, when it was against their
judgment. It was suggested, also, to make the intimidation or coercion of
non-union men a criminal act.
"When these measures were suggested the cry was raised that the workingmen
were to be deprived of their liberty and made the slaves of capital. The
labor parties in the legislatures were assisted by a class of politicians
who were made cowards through fear of losing the workingmen's votes, and
this gave these parties the power to defeat all measures of which they
disapproved, and to pass laws in their own interest. They claimed that
they should be protected as well as the manufacturer, and so they made it
lawful for the government to inspect all industries and to see that the
employees received an equitable share of the profits. This was radical
action, but they went still further, and took away from every employer the
right of discharging men for any cause without the consent of the union;
and full power to fix the hours of service and the wages was put into the
hands of the government inspectors and the representatives of the trades-
unions.
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