Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-10-15
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11H 70 properly represent these VINO sent us
organized. The new members 80 suddenly
brought teeether could not be properly assi1ni-
lated Thousands have been attracted toward
como tor purely selfish motives: while the great
1ulk OF onr new recruits have Joined M for the
good that they could do. Quite few have en-
existing wrongs, and, before waiting 70 learn
ANYTHING concerning the duty Of the Knight to
the order, have plunged into r:sh and n-con-
men who were employed by detective agencies
stood mp on the floor of the last general assem-
blx. made inhammatory speeches urging the
property OF the street car companies b. do
stroyed. 1t was only the good sense of the men
that prevented such outrages from being perpe-
system induced ssme desperate men to blow up
the ears upon the streets Of St. Louis. For
these outrages the order was in no way respon-
beginning Of the tidal wave Of strikes and boy
,ootts which swept over tho country, and which
strained the strength apd resources Of your gen.
durancc. 1t has been assorted that condemned
the Missouri Pacific men while they were on .
strike. No such statement ever escaped my
lips. That the men Of the Southwest suffered
wrongs Is true: they were many and grievOus:
and 1t is my firm belief that the railway COM
panies. with full knowledge Of what these
grievances We're. precip1tated the tight them
selves at time when it would appear to the
cause.
THE EIGHT-HOUR STRIKE
which took place May l. was not successful ex-
cept In cases where employers and employees
were willing to adopt the plan. In
many cases the system Of working long
hours has been revived: The Federation Of
or suggested no definite plan by which the short
hour system could be inaueurated. cautioned
our members against rushing into this move
ment. had the right to do it. and am firm ir
the belief that had not done SO great loss would
have been entailed upon vast numbers of our
assemblies. What said in my secret circular
Of March IS has been severely criticised. and I
movement. No statement ever was further from
the truth. A reduction of the hours Of labor is a
necessity. and sooner or later must be had, but
we must not forget that in many places the ten
hour plan has not been adopted yet. The very
discussion Of the sudden introduction OF the
eiRht-hour plan injured business SO much so
that In many places men were reduced to half
time or thrown out Of employment altogether
Millions OF dollars worth OF work was left
undone because OF the uncertainty in regard
to perform work. Never was it more
clearly demonstrated that An injury to one is
the concern Of all" than III the movement am
adopted, the Knights of Labor and the trade
unions of America must lay aside their jeal.
ousies and differences, come together, name q
adopt the plan OF action, which must be gradual
and such as will not inflict injury upon either
employer or workman. Before a short-hour
system that will be Of any benefit to mankind
can be inaugurated, the relation which the work.
man bears to the labor-saving machine must
undergo radical change. Shorten the hours Of
labor under our present system and the streets
will not be emptied OF their idle thousands.
More machines will be erected and more chill
dren will be called into service to feed them The
assertion that the advocate Of short hours de-
production gradual, healthy. and have it keep
pace with the wants Of the con-
sSat kspng employed amp ed
producer remain consumer TO his fullest ca
pactty, that we desire shortening of the hours
OF labor Visit our large and small factories and
you find that the mechanic Of the past is but the
feeder Of the machine Of the present. We already
hear OF machines in course OF perfection which
will set the type and mould the cigars faster
tricty will soon take the throttle lever from the
hand of the man who runs the locomotive. The
day will soon dawn when these agencies will be
doing their work: and when that day does come
the mechanic, now SO proud Of his calling will
stand face to face with the alternative OF asking
for charity or the adoption Of the calling OF the
street scavenger.. When that day comes, the
man who now seeks to array labor against labor
in asserting that the "$3 day man should not
move In the same society circles with the man
who works for ST. day will either seek to crowd
crumbs OF charity to sustain life. History will
repeat Itself, and the fight for existence will be
waged with unrelentinR fury.
WHAT Is THE REMEDY?
Tho machine must become the slave of the
man, instead Of keeping the man In attendance
on and subordinate to the machine. plan OF
cooperation through which the workman may
control the machine he operates must one day
supersede the present system. To properly map
out such plan requires more time than have
had or IN, likely to have At my disposal can
only cooperate with others in the work.
The thirteenth article rr.ticle in our declaration Of