Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-16
Plain Talk on a Most lnpor-
tant Question.
A ROBUST DEFENCE OF THE UNIONS

welcoming speeches ana responses.
In the afternoon the convention went
into secret session at the Central Labor
Union hall. There were 10 members
present, representing nearly every state
in the Union and a number of points in
Canada After the appointment of COM
mittees Grand Master Sweeney read his
annual report, in the course of which he
discussed the objects Of the association
and its action during the New York Cen
trail strike
Some Reflections on Strikes.
After stating the objects of the associa-
ton he proceeded as follows: "As to
strikes l desire to he explicit, in order
that our position may be fully understood.
It is erroneous to suppose that labor or
CARNATIONS are in favor of strikes or TO-
ment trouble. The very reverse is true.
The better organized trade is. the less
trouble do the employers experience with
their employees. For the benefit of those
among you who do not owe allegiance to
the Switchmen's Mutual Aid association,
as well as of the members, | may be per-
mitted to state this question at some
thrown up by the organization to avoid
strikes, amp the course that must be pur-
sued before a strike can have the support
of the general organization.
Points for Railway Omcials.
Proceeding he said: at is my experience
that wherever the officials will meet and
treat with the men, there has never been
81
ures, and whenever radical measures are
taken, you may be sure that it is because
the respective railroad officials refuse to
give the complaints of the men proper
consideration. say, advisedly, that it is
a refusal even to consider the grievance
which in most cases leads to trouble, not
a refusal to grant whatever may be asked.
The men are not without common sense
1t is easy to negotiate with their repre-
sentatives. But refusal to treat with
them, amounting to denial of their right
to present a complaint or desire, savors
too much of Oriental despotism to be
meekly borne by Americans, though
they be but mechanics and laborers. |
never knew of a working man who wanted
a strike until he was driven to it by abso-
lutte necessity"
The Question of Combination.
Continuing. he said: II have said tn at
will not offer any apology for the e1 ist-
euce of the Switchmen's Mutual Aid as
ISOLATION. With trusts and gigantic cor
porations all around us and continually
growing, who dare say that labor should
not combine? How rare are the cases
where labor organizations have entered
on conflict with capital and have not
enjoyed the sympathy of the public, But
| would like to call the attention of all
railroad officials 10 the fact that they
make mistake in opposing labor organi-
zations because they derive as much BEN
eft from them as do the laboring men
themselves, provided the organizations
are judiciously managed. 1t is easier to
deal with a railroad president than with
all the stock holders Do not the mana
gers see, while all the world is running
towards ombination aud simplicity of
management, that it is easier for them to
deal with an executive head of a body of
men than with all the meni 1t saves
time and trouble; affords better oppor-
tunity to equalize wages and avoid jeal-
ousy, removes causes of dissatisfaction
and secures better service from the en-
ployes.
Running Their Own Business"
@Many railroad managers fully under
stand this, and assist rather than oppose
labor organizations. Those who still op-
pose them display thereby a lamentable
lack of foresight. They insist on "ruu-
ming their own business" as the phrase
goes. The time is fast approaching when
they will learn that they are as much in
terested as are the laboring men them
aal in ha of Lob
tions. notwithstanding the strong oppo-
sition that has been made to the advance
ment of organized labor and the despotic
attitude of some men high in official po-
sition, labor organizations are to-day
stronger and more effective and better
disci plined than at any previous time
Labor is better united between individu-
al men and organizations than ever be-
fore. The onward march OF organized la
Dor is irresistible.
Regrets for OmciaI Folly.
II cannot but regret the folly of the at
titude of some egotistical railroad officials
who think they are stronger than the
economic forces which are bringing about
these results, or seem to see in passing
events the works of men instead of the
results of laws as immutable rs the great
laws of physical nature. These men re-
fuse to meet the representatives of labor
organizations and virtually, sometimes
even in so many words, deny the right of
men TO organize. Have we not the same
right to organize they. And is not ne
cessity stronger on our side than on theirsS
They could live without organization.
We would be degraded below stage com
patible with human dignity were it not
Tor our organizations. The officers of la
Dor organizations represent their constitu-
ents Is the officials of a company repre-
sent the stockholders"
The Action on the Central Strike.
After referring to the United Order of
Railway Employees, embracing four classes
of railway workmen, and its power, he re-
ferred to the Central strike as follows:
@As an illustration of the workings of the
supreme council [of the above orderl, and
the influence and wisdom and calmnness
that govern its decisions, let me call your
attention to the recent meeting at Terre
Haute, Ind There was q strike on the
New York Central railroad Reports had
been sent all over the country that the en-
tire Vanderbilt system would be drawn
into the trouble The anxiety was in
creased when some troubles of our own
caused the grand master of the Switch
mems Mutual Aid Association to depart
to the scene of the trouble. Public appre-
kension, excited by reports sent ont by
persons who were ignorant of the form
and purposes of our federation. grew al
most to panic when the grand officers of
the Federated Railway organization went
to New York in response to an urgent in
vitation from the leaders of the strikers.
Most people expected general strike.
and at many places business was prsc-
tically suspended
Not Anxious to FOment Trouble.
amidst all this excitement, and under
the influence of the pressure of universal
sympathy with the men who were fight
ing for their right to organize, the SUI