The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-08-10
THE ORGANIZATION OF LABOR.

pying different positions aud moving in
spheres in life 10 view an OBJ
iect and pass the same opinion upon it,
merits; it in, therefore, no wonder that
50 many conflicting opinions exist re-
garding the present conditions Of capi-
tai and labor. It is the opinion Of .
great many, honestly entertained no
doubt, that tho men and women who
labor do so under protest, and that they
only await an opportunity to seize the
men who employ labor by the throat and
despoil them Of their possessions. On
the other hand the laborer often regards
the man who employs him as an enemy,
who barely allows him to exist that he
may reap. profit from his toll. Both Of
these opinions prevail to-day; they are
but the results Of the present system Of
settling disputes between capital and
labor. Some men say that the interests
OF capital and labor are identical but il
il evident that the majority Of those
most interested do not think 90, or else
these opinions would not prevail. What
is regarded as war between
capital and labor is but lack
Of confidence in each other. Did each Of
these interests give . thought to the
condition or welfare Of the other, two
thirds of the grievances we hear Of
would never exist. So long ~ IL pays
one man to buy labor 1t low figure,
and the man who sells his labor wishes
to get - high price for il = possible,
it will he difficult task to convince
them that their interests are identical !;
and, viewing the question from that
standpoint. they are not identical. Men
having capital, lhe product Of labor, to
invest, form themselves into companies
or associations, and consolidate their
capital that they may reap greater
profit from the + investment. They be-
lieve that in union there il strength, and
that by combination they can best protect
their interests. The men who labor, TAX
ing this action Of the men Of capital 8
. criterion to 90 by, have formed them
selves into companies or associations
that they may reap greater profit from
the investment Of their capital, which is
labor. The capital Of the former is the
creation of man that Of the latter il the
creation Of God, and Of the two is
entitled to the most consideration,
since no capital could exist unless
labor created it. But labor is
regarded as secondary consideration
and that it may have full, just share Of
the values or capital it has created,
workingmen have handed together in
different associations and under different
names, such IS the Machinpts' and
Blacksmiths' Union," the carpenters,
molders', masons', bricklayers, tailors',
hatters' and shoemakers' unions, each
craft having its own organization. The
history Of the trade union reaches too
far back and would take too much time
and space to discuss here. 1.-THE policy
Of the trade union and strikes is what
am asked to explain. The policy Of
the trade union is to protect itsmembers
against the encroachments.o of unjust en-
ployers. Individually, workingmen are
weak, and when separated each follows
. different course, without accomplish
ing anything for himself or his fellow
men: but when combined il one common
band OF brotherhood they become as the
cable, each strand Of which, though
weak and insignificant enough in itself.
is assisted and strengthened by being
joined by others, and the work that one
could not perform alone is easily accom-
plished by . combination Of strands.
Each Of these unions sought to regulate
affairs pertaining to its particular branch
Of trade, but the principal object Of the
trade union Was to regulate the number
Of apprentices, the rate OF wages, the
number of working hours, and to assist
each other in sickness or misfortune.
Some Of these unions have been suc-
cessful in the attempt TO regulate the
number Of apprentices, but the greater
portion Of them have failed. The rapid
introduction Of labor-saving machinery
has made it possible for one man or .
boy 10 perform more labor in some
trades il day than 100 men could in
the same length Of time : century ago.
The mechanic who has served from
three to seven years Of an apprentice
ship finds, in great many instances,
that as soon rs he becomes q journey
man his services are no longer required.
He can only ut rare intervals obtain EN-.
the particular part Of the trade he has
learned. Years ago, the man who learned
the machinist trade WAS required TO run
the lathe and drill press, to work at the
wise and upon the door" - we'll. To.
day this trade has many subdivisions;
one mar runs the lathe, another drill
press, while the planning and slotting.
machines can accomplish more in day,
in the way Of smoothing off the rough
surfaces Of the metals, than the machin,
ist with his hammer, chisel and file car
in q week, or month. What has beer
said Of the machinist trade is true OF :
great many other trades. It is. there
fore, Of little avail to attempt to regulate
the number OF apprentices. when thu
mechanic who has served FEARS at hi
business often finds himself Of less con
sequence than patent machine.
The principal business OF the trad,
union OF late years has been 10 reliev,
the distress OF sick and disabled mem
hers. and to try and secure . fair day.
wages for fair days work. In tn,
mnltifarious branches Of trade, capita
has its combinations, and, whether in
tended or not, tley crush the mani,
hope Of labor, and attempt to trampl
poor humanity in the dust. To preyen
this the trade union has resorted 70 th
strike. The only fault have to 6n,
with the trade union OF the past is tina
It rarely sought 10 And any other RENE
dy. Arbitration was seldom resorted 10
and il the idea Of cooperating with, O
assisting any other union, was limited At
the leaAae q thu trade union issued th
edict "Form no entangling alliance
with those Of other trades." hear,
that order issued by the executive Office
Of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
gineers years ago. Soon after q strik
Was inaugurated by that society, and th
executive officer Of the Machinists' an,
Blacksmiths' Union gave the command
Man the foot boards" The member
Of the aforementioned union took tn
places Of the men OF the Brotherhood @
Locomotive Engineers. II Was not pov
erty or want that compelled them to d
so. but revenge for similar act practice,
On them some time before by the othe
organisation. have seen men engage
in iron and afAol works v,hoao dm<v