THE FAIIMKR AND THK [,AI?()K, (iUKSTION. 387 



ism this was not the case. A "conspiracy" to injure one in 

 his business is now, and always has been, a penal offense,* and 

 in the early days of labor organization in Great Britain the 

 conspiracy laws were invoked and applied with great severity 

 to members of trade unions. It is now conceded that action 

 by an organized trade union is not a conspiracy within the 

 meaning of the law. A notable exception was in the case of 

 the great railroad strike of 1894, when a United States judge 

 enjoined certain labor leaders from ''conspiring" to interrupt 

 the transportation of trains carrying the United States mails 

 and also certain employees from quitting work without notice, 

 when interruption of the passage of mails would result. This, 

 however, was not approved by public sentiment, and no sim- 

 ilar instance is likely to occur. The right to engage in a 

 peaceful strike may be considered settled. 



The trouble is that great strikes are never conducted peace- 

 fully. They are almost certain to result in riots, destruction 

 of property, and murder. When strikes occur there is always 

 a rush of the unemployed to obtain the vacated positions, and, 

 as a rule, a strictly peaceful strike would simply result in a 

 change of workmen, those who were formerly employed chang- 

 ing places with those who were not. Work would go on with 

 more or less hindrance and loss for a time, and finally resume 

 its normal condition. This is perfectly understood by the 

 workmen, who, upon the occurrence of the strike, congregate 

 about the place where they were employed, entering it if per- 

 mitted, and by all means in their power seeking to dissuade 

 others from taking their places. The persuasion is backed up 

 by a strong display of force, and if unsuccessful is followed by 

 insults and abuse. The thugs and thieves always join them- 

 selves to the strikers, in the hope of a resulting tumult in 

 which they may ply their trade. The new workmen can only 

 reach or leave their employment under police protection, and 



*This chapter can not deal with the history of the organization of labor, or 

 even its present condition or the ethics of the subject. It must be confined to 

 an elucidation of the topics which imay involve political controversj'^, and the 

 relation of the farmers thereto. 



