The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-09-05
THE POINT IS HERE !:

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powerful and influential, because of
it's disinterested position, that it's de-
cisions will be respected by all en-
ployers and employees; and because
of this likelihood, strikes will be
rarely, if at all, resorted to. The fact
that such an organization could Or
der out simultaneously every railway
employee in the country, practically
nuts in it's hands the control of all
disputes.
The dividends on the stock of such
an organization might be limited to
5 or per cent; and should the in
come accumulate too large reserve
| fund after such dividends had been
paid, the percentage of the income
could be reduced; as it is not pro-
posed to make out of such a business
any more profit than would prove a
fair return upon the investment.
This new business is founded upon
the idea of the real union of interests
between capital and labor; that one
is practically useless without the 9th
er; that conflicts between them is
nothing but suicide; that the labor
er in controlling his labor has not
less than an equal voice with capital;
that it is not for capitals interests
to Cypress the laborer; and chief of
all, whatever conflict the new organ
ization decides to stimulate, twill be
a fight of capital against capital,
and not labor against capital; and
few firms would care to set them
selves against a corporation highly
capitalized, whose interests were sole
ly in behalf of what is fair and right.
One of the greatest weaknesses OF
labor organizations is their lack OF
any general organization; they are
altogether too sectional to be of any
advantage to themselves in a general
way; their chiefs do not act in con-
cert, neither do they act consistently,
but as shown in large strikes, they
announce no decided policy one way
or the other just at those times when
most needed; in fact they are either
con the fence" or on both sides of it,
from sheer fear of endangering their
positions or influence if they take
decided stand for or against.
If there is any weakness that will
disrupt an organization quicker than
another, it is wavering of decision
in times of the elimination of the
policy the organization has adopted.
All of the leaders in our labor move
ments, that is those highest in au-
thority. have shown an unbeftting
weakness in this regard; and to that
fact is largely due the failure of many
strikes.
Perhaps this is unavoidable when
the enormous strain of thousands of
thousands of working people, whose
substance is threatened by strikes
often, act against their leaders;
but with our plan all this will materi-
ally be altered; for the new business,
as said, is disinterested and in the di-
rection of peace, through the enor-
nous centralized power it might
WELD.
We have not gone into the details
OF the ordinary running expenses of
such a business fair salaries could be
paid the necessary employees, and
some such organization as that of a
bank, with limited salaries of presi-
dent and board OF directors would
be advisable.
CENTRALIZED LABOR.
The new businesses strength would
not only consist in it's large capital,
but in it's Capitalization, with power
to act instantly in all parts of the
country.
There is little or no Capitalization
about the labor organization of to-
day, and herein is another of their
great weaknesses; every district as
sembly of the Knights of Labor
seems to have it within it's power to
declare strike; possibly the condi-
tions among the widespread interests
of the country permit Of no centraliz-
alton of forces when that centraliza-
ton is confined to the wOrkmen But
with the plan we suggest this feature
becomes eminently practicable, and
it alone, gives such concern per-
feet mastership of the situation.
1t might be, the employers of the
country as class can see sufficient
benefit in the proposed business to
give it their material support, just
as much as laborers; certainly it is
for their interests to do so, and at
once get rid of this walking delegate
business, and this obliging work
man to be member of a labor or
ganization whether he will or not,
and the many other expressions that
take away the public sympathy from
existing labor organizations. The
president OF such an organization
should be a cool headed man with
large brains; one who has capacity
enough to see, that oppression, what
ever it's form, does not pay.
This reads well, but we do not be-