The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-14

l.
ntion Of the fact that We have to-day
reached that standard Of intelligence and
education upon the problems Of life and labor
that we hold the concern Of each and every
man and woman who ssearn their bread BY
the sweat Of their brow to be the concern of
all !" that we are brothers in common cause,
struggling against combined corporate bodies
and monopolies, and we feel that the day has
arrived when we must bring about COM
bined pressure Of all trades and vocations to
bear upon the powers that crush the life out
Of the industrial classes and saps the blood
of the toilers of the land not in order to
provoke astrikes,n but to the end that con-
ciliation and arbitration in practical and
effective manner be applied in the adjust
ment Of all labor troubles whilst the compet-
tive system operates"
These resolutions express the senti-
ment of men that have done all within
their power to bring Danforth to recog-
nize some rational method of dealing
with his employees, but who have failed
in every attempt,
We now propose to. consult our CO.
workers in other channels of labor and
seek their cooperation to bring about q
change in the drift of labor affairs. The
principle that needs to be applied in
this and every case of the kind, is to
accept the fact that ian injury to one is
an injury to all.
Agents are now9canvassing the Pacific
coast, and they propose to bring in sew
eral hundred Chinese to labor in the
Carbon mines, Wyoming, and take the
plsces of the Knights of Labor.
Shall they do so2 Shall our order be
wiped out 2' Brethren, this degrading
element is pressing upon us heavily, and
it is time We. cry 'halt,n or the day Is
not far distant when we will be power
less to lift up our heads, but we shall
find ourselves surrounded by anlelement
that does not know the first rudiments
of civilized society. Shall we be forced
to compete with this degrading class of
labor7 God forbidl Heaven have pity
upon us -
To those that will make common cause
with us we pledge our honor and lives
to make common cause with them. In
the concentration ofthought and judi
cious action we hope to be saved from
the merciless grip of those grinding cor
porations. We repeat that we do not
court strikes. but we seek the protection
of our rights and liberties through the
cooperation of our co-workers, operating
somewhat in a connecting channel of
labor. to the end that conciliation and
arbitration shall be honored. When
those principles are accepted as just by
the wage-paying power, strikes will cease
to be factor in the industrial progress
of our state.
To devise measures to bring this end
is the prime object of the forthcoming
convention. will your assembly lend
its influence to the movement Will
you either appoint a delegate or recon-
mend the members of your executive
board to cooperate with us? The sue
cess of the movement is in your hands.
Now is you time as we'll as our own, and
wisdom calls upon all to prepare pre-
Yentive for the approaching trouble.
Please take the matter into considers
ton and acquaint me with your decision.
am, on behalf of the Coal Miners
Amalgamation, JOHN L. LEWIS,
- Executive Secretary.
The world is moving onward, and we
mortals must keep pace. 1t is all well
enough that each branch of labor man
ages the affairs particularly applicable
to each respective branch but when we
find that an isolation of the various
branches of labor plays card into the
hands of one common enemy, in such
cases, experience suggests censolida-
ton of forces. To impose upon one
branch of labor at one time, and having
gained their point, turn around upon
another, is an old-time scheme of those
corporations and as result of isolation
each branch becomes a victim to their
concentrated power.
. 1t is time that we open our eyes to the
fact that similar concentration Of power
on our part would reverse effectually the
drift of labor affairs.
There is no question but what there
are two large corporations at present
consplring with a view of introducing
measures and terms that will have ten
dency to cripple our organization, and
thwart intelligent labor.
In thiSevent, what is our duty 2? Can
we afford to repudiate the fact that IN
resisting such measures the interest OF
every branch is identical2 Have we not
learned to our sorrow that to down labor
in all its multifarious branches, is the
great purpose in view? 1t seem to me
that the fact has been brought home so
forcibly to the mind of every. thinker
that the advlsability of perfecting con-
solidation of forces is unquestionable.
The matter will be brought before all
the assemblies, and their judgment will
prevail. II
Turning attention towards the house
of representatives, we find in Mr., Prince,