Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-02-02
United LABOR IN 1891.
swNToN's VIEW OF RECENT PROG
REss AND FUTURE PROSPECTS. :

AdvancIng-Thc Important Work Tina
Labor Has in Hand.
The extraordinary growth Of thinking
among the working masses In the cite
81 folds of the United States during
the past year is very sure to be kept vi
tL~o,,ab 1891 There need be no doub
- onv mans mind that. as n shrewd OBJ
sorver has said, something Will com
from it"
There are four things to be especial.
,ot;csd while looking at the recen
changes in the aspect of the labor move
ment, and at the new features OF th'
formidable forces that now hold tn,
field.
Firstly, we SEQ the extraordinary
or-o,vtb of organization among workers
p oll, branches of industry. We see il
anono horny handed laborers, once
t--o,yn as "mudsills;" we see it among
noaI miners and among factory hands OF
both sexes; we see it among skilled me-
cbanics of all kinds; we see it among the
employees in shops and warehouses, and
we see it among the operators in the fine
arts, even among the handlers of the
goose quill. What may be seen among
the men of the plow need not be spoken
of here just now, but it is spectacle
that may well raise our wonder. Or
ganiZation Is the watchword of all wage
earners in these times. This is gigantic
fact, full Of significance, and of prophecy,
and Of warnings The trade and labor
unions of twenty years agoewere mostly
small, close corporations; those of today
are all encompassing and paramount
powers.
Secondly, we see another new phe-
nomenon in the growth of the principle
Of federation among these organized
bodies. A hundred or more trade and
labor unions will enter into alliance
with each other, will elect general of
6cers for the management of their col
,lective business, will hold national CON
yenhons in which their combined inter
ests are considered, will adopt measures
for their mutual benefit and will CO.
operate in the enforcement of such
measures These afe9great and substan-
tial facts, full of suggestion to every
man who is able to comprehend their
bearings. In former times workingmen's
unions in general were isolated bodies.
Many of them here did not even affiliate
with other local unions of like kind else
where. But now, with the changes, of
the year, the unions are not merely ma
tionalized, they are also federated in
such a way as to enable them to act
unitedly in carrying out those projects
or that policy which may meet with the
approval of their representatives in con-
vention.
Thirdly, we see signs, from time to
time, Of still further development along
the same line, In certain cases a.or for
certain purposes there are occasionally
suggestions Of International co-opera-
ton. We hear Of the holding of inter
national congresses, in which, however,
American unionists have not yet taken
any prominent part; we hear of work
men OF given trade in one country
lending assistance to their fellow work |
men In another country, and we hear of |
various comprehensive projects which |
can be carried out only through the re-
uprocaI action Of the masses every |
where engaged in productive industry. |
Inc Idea that underhes the new move
ment here referred to is wide as the
world; but those who have most closely
watched the growth of organization up
70 thus time will be the least likely to
DENY Its practicability. We have within
snort time had a remarkable illustra-
uon OF the international maneuvers of
capitalists operating in Buenos Ayres,
London, Paris and New York, and w..o
Can tell that the worlds workers will
not yet better the instructions" of the
worlds capitalists?
Fourthly. and finally, we see in these
unes marvellous broadening of the
nSid OF inquiry in which the working
people OF the cities and towns are prose
suung their researches. Look at the
- .ue'nes that are taken up for debate in
unions, assemblies and societies;
-oos at the questions that are brought
y iol acuon in the state and national
Conventions ~ Of labor delegates; look at
~. suo principles that are proclaimed by
"e EDITORS OF labor newspapers. The ,
working people of the United States. or
, y many OF them, are evidently filled !
WI St.n new aspirations. They are EN-
Oiuened 70 think for themselves; they {
- gaming knowledge of their rights;
S are hnding out how to acquire J
S.s,' n' they will yet show their deter1ni- J
-H,.on ~ 70 possess and maintain them. :
-, Hey are and will be governed by rea- '
a. iney do not and will not demand a
tn snlngs that are not theirs by right. i
1ney desire the growth of industry, the I
pes'oe pes' OF society and the welfare Of the 9
sSrunty unity. They desire to enjoy the .
10 sacNges OF our modern civilization;
yentione the benefits Of science and in
macb;niito 70 profit by the work of modern
net - and TO obtain the full prod 4
enricbreennen enen own labor for their own :
antboIseec cure these ends the municiDal d
roy,'Hees ltes OF every city are under their 4
a. =. the legislatnres Of the state a
bonssS .neir service, and 10 are both /
49,. VI congress. They are In the ma C
ovs,I aho II Is the law Of the American
MI NJ that the majority shall L
o1r n The organized labor forces NJ b
Iroi.Iu..es and helds do NOT, contral thel n
osn-- OF the country A. is not - Ii
If ~ ot Their lank of the poSReT to A. II v
|. Shey do not remove sn,l ~ - m 70 30 ~. o.
Aeir ovyr inen tney complain the fault Is
ne work Of Orgnnisat,on th...h.
laVanrippa0o paotsIe.s, - sad that is yet rapidly c
eArTiad 20 Is TIE hrst thing 70 be fully s.
oolorl-,No ouI ~ Is yet very far from di
doDs 10 hardly more than balf Il
done ,ha. aoea OF It has been 30 Ioosely 10