Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-08-13
LtsoR Unions
RxToS, Aug. II, Issi

RESToS, Aug. II, Iss5.
EDITOR PssT-ISTuLIsKxcEs
There is much groundless prsiadjcs
sRalnst labor organizations in this
country. IL is supposed that their ob-
Ieet is TO sxtort BY threats and violence
Wnat they cannot gain by pesceabIs
meAsures. Nothing can be furtker
from the truth. Violence is the resort
OK onof9anlzsd. or impeFfeesly organ
ixeo, maeses OF workmep. The riots
oloodsned and lncendiaTiscn connected
With strikes are not due 10 ofgsziza
tlon, bus toe lack of IL. The great
damage 70 society. IN the struggle of
laOcr. Is IN keeping the working classes
IN oisoreauizsd masses. Organization
means knoSiedge, improvement, en-
!lgotened view OF the rights os labor.
1odlolous dsmAnds and welI-timed, con
csrteo, but always pesceabls action,
Ine settlement Of the conflicts between
labor and capital will not be attained
oy the repndlstion Of labor unions, tus
oy RAISING them to a higher level, max
ing them more general and more solid.
and thus enabling tAem to obtain their
hRnteous claims without violence. The
great dIfncuity 10 in Raking orRauiz A,
nonsof ignorant, badly balanced, often
intenpersts and hungry Wogkmen sufi
cientiy extensive and perfect 10 proteas
their interests- Bot much hss been
done in this direction in England and
Germany. where unions have materially
Improved the condition OF workmen.
Political economists, ike Henry Fav-
Get, Thomas, Brassey, w. T. Thornton.
Francis A. Walker, and many more, ali
admit that labor unions have OreatlS
increased wages. They have elected
membsrs Of the Reichstaq in GERMANY
and OF Parliament IN England.
Bat for 1nionism, says one. eupioyersl
would be able TO dictate as of cid; with.
oat ID, vorkingnen conl6 not have that
preparation for war which 10 theirs, a.
IN every other case, is the best guarantee
Of peace. TIE majority Of Christian
writer's and ministers hass been so pre-
occupied with ScriStural instructions
and doctriusl questions that they have
not studied and do not understand the
economic problems of the day. Those
churchmen whose attention has been
called BY the conflicts between capital
and labor to the dreadful condition OF
the wagevorkers are led By tbs Christian
doctrine of noa- resistance 20 look vittl
distEust upon the remedy here proposed.
Bat what have they to offer as a substi-
tuteG IL ths thorough organization of
American labor to resist the aegressions
OF thoroughly organized American cap
ital is morally mpracticabIe--a uotion
that is really absurd-what can be done?
when mothers in miserable Rarrets and
cellars make shirts at q mere pittance
each, and miners Gin PENNSYLVANIA espe4
ctsily) work for 65 cents Der day? When
thousands Of workmen are oppressed to
the lowest point of endurance by
wealthy corporations. Christian men
are not at liberty TO ignore this ques.
tiOn. A favCrite remedy of churohmen
ls TO get both parties converted, but a
monopolist who has grown rich by
grinding the faces of the poor is the
least hopeful subject for conversion.
The conversion Of iaborers would give
them spiritual consolation in their hope
less lot, and mayhap make their deaths,
rendered premature by years of insult
cient food, more peaceful; bat unforta-
nately their hatred TO the church, be
cause u will not champion their cause
against their oppressors, a. Christ did
the cause OF the poor 10 his time, hedges
up the way TO ministerinR TO their spir-
itual wants. This 10 the explanation OF
the widening breach between the church /
and the masses.
Others urge temperance reform as the |
remedy, bat many men take drink from |
sheer despair, and their reform cannot |
oe thorough until the cause of the des- |
pair is removed. Moreover, If two dol
lars 10 the minimum apon which work |
man can feed aud olothe himself and |
family, temperance will not enable him
to do 1, on 65 cents day.
Others urge education as the cure-all, |
and II certainly is Indispensable. BY |
prsdncinR more self-respees, economy
and thrift smona workmesi, Il would |
greatly improve their condition.. Bot |
education does not make men contented |
With a Low standard of living, and in
snfficient noarishment 10 NJ easier for
IN edncsted man than it 10 for an ianor-
ant one.
A favorite remedy With many il CO.
operative production, in which laborers
IN the yarious industries shall furnish
the capital in small shares, control the
business and reap all the profits. Co
operative distribution In England has
been quite successful; bat % operative
production, though 10 has bean repeat
edly tried, has proved a comparative
failure, and for this reason, that the
management of the large capital needed
in productive Industries reQuires more
centralized control than is possible wien
furnished by large numbers Of small
shareholders. IL 10 also true that snc-
nesstul 90. operation, requiring as 10 does
q considerable degree OF sniiehtenment
and self control in q multitude Of co.
operators. IL only possible after many
years of the sterneF discipline OF unions.
and has always been the fruit of she
latter.
Oshers urge industrial partnership
between employer aud employee. by
which the latter shall recsIve q liked
share of the profits and productions
This would be an efectual remedy II
generally adnpted; bat tae adoption By
the capitalists Of this uaselfish, bensh-
cent, Christian method Of Business 10
not likely TO become general. IL implies
q predominance Of the intrinsic virtues
that does not noe exist. It does not
avail 10 argue that this plan would be
better for all concerned. Tae difficulty
10 In making the employer see thst IL
would. The tact that philsnthropio
economists have tried in vain for q half
century 10 make thsm see it IA evidenco
that they are NOS likely TO sucosed for
long time TO come. They can most
quickly be made 20 see il by an organ
iKstion OF waQeworkers sofiicisntiy thor
eneh and extensive 70 make tkenn mas
teFs ok legislation and give them an
equal voice in determining what shall
be their share Of the wealth produced
By their labor. RESrosIAs.