Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/799

 THE LABOR QUESTION AND THE SOCIAL PROBLEM 769

the conduct of such a band of Hooligans? Would the authori- ties be likely to display weakness or vacillation in dealing with it?

Now, what difference is there between the case we have supposed and the case of so many of our trade unions? This, and this only that the unionists and their sympathizers commit all manner of lawless acts in the name of a vague right or prin- ciple, though no union would venture to put forth a frank defense of violence and invasion. We know that disorder, assaults on persons and property, insurrection on a small scale, attend a very considerable proportion of our strikes and industrial dis- putes. We also know that the authorities are extremely loath to suppress slrike-begotten disorder, and that public opinion not infrequently excuses it or, at least, remains neutral and indiffer- ent.

Professor John B. Clark, in an article published several months ago, aptly described the present policy toward violent strikes as acceptance of a limited amount of anarchy. The state, he pointed out, winked at intimidation and coercion by strikers and with- held effective protection from the "scab." Why is interference with the right to work and the right to carry on business tolerated? Because, answered Professor Clark, the public is not quite ready for " free strike-breaking." He continued: "We are pursuing a wretched, compromising course, protecting non-union workers sometimes and abandoning them at other times, and seldom giving the amount of protection that would make life and limb, family and property, completely safe."

And why do we act thus? Why is the public not quite ready for the most vigorous, fearless, and resolute enforcement of the law against lawless strikers ? Professor Clark does not put this question, but there is little doubt as to what the correct answer is. Many feel that labor has a grievance, that it is more sinned against than sinning, and that, in colloquial phrase, " it is human nature" for classes conscious of wrong and injustice to over- step the bounds of prudence and reason in offering sporadic and ill-directed resistance to the supposed oppressors. In other words, we feel that the labor problem is part and parcel of a