New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-28
IAROR ORGANIZATIONS.

In sundry dispatches recently the disband-
ment of certain knights Assemblies was an
no need in others, the secession OF several I'M
nortant Assemblies from the Knights of Labor;
and in others still, the ondeavor to form new
organizations Of labor or to consolidate or
carnations Of glass workers. just now there
appears to be much more than the usual dis
satisfaction with the organizations which work
ers have sustained by their contributions, and
thousands are cropping after some new device
by which, they hope their interests may be
more adequately promoted.
Meanwhile, it is highly pertinent to notice
that the labor organizations as a whole nave
not secured for the workers connected with
them any greater advance in wages than mas
been attained by workers who have not been
organized at all. This may be accident, or 1t
may be the result Of influences apart from those
which an organization can exert, but 1t Is al
all events an important fact. The labor Or
CARNATIONS as a whole cost every year sum
sufficient to maintain great many families
and vet the net result is that the organized
workers gained no more in advance OF wages
during the last twenty-eight years than those
who have been and are unorganized.
may we'll be commended by all sincere friends
Of worllingmen to their consideration. An
employer cannot in the long run pay wages
unless he can produce at profit. lie cannot
attain the highest profits if he is at all times
uncertain regarding the wages he may have to
paw for labor-if there exists, for example, a
body of workers who may be induced at any
moment by unwise leaders to demand greater
wages, Just when he has taken contracts to
| furnish certain products at fixed price. The
attitude of antagonism between employers and
| EMPLOYED in every such case tends necessarily
to prevent an undertaking by the employer
which, if carried out, would secure larger bust
ness and in the end larger profits, and thus
would make payment Of more wages possible.
An intelligent and rational attitude would
be one of harmony and cooperation. IL wouid
regard the employer and the employed as hav-
ing common interest in extending the busl-
ness, in securing as large contracts as prac-
ticable, and in realizing profits by which the
| further expansion of the business and the en-
| areement of wages could be made possible.
| But the labor organization is exceedingly apt
| to take just the opposite view. 1t is generally
| managed by men who receive salaries for SER
vices rendered and who strive to make it ap-
pear that their services and salaries are neces-
sary to the welfare of workers. How natural
it is for them to be constantly on the lookout
for chance to demand higher wages with a
prospect of temporary success, caring little for
the ultimate result to employers or employed.
But when an establishment has thus been
involved in loss and at the next season of dull
ness is forced to reduce wages, do the workers
ever remember how their own demands caused
the loss and reduction?
Peace between employers and employed is
the one thing necessary to the prosperity OF
| both. Any organization which tends to cause
or to keep alive war between employers and
employed is certain to do harm to both. In
the end the organization ceases to commend it
self to the good sense of workers; they see that
they have lost whatever they have spent in
supporting it; and then, too often, they only
turn to some other organization Of the same
| sort. hoping that it may be more effective.