St. Paul daily globe., 1891-09-07
labor DAY.

This is Labor day, which the mayor
has recommended to be observed by a
general suspension of business and by
the closing of the city and county offices.
There will be a parade, an address at
Rice park, and in the afternoon picnic,
with its accompanying festivities. SINH
lar celebrations will be held at the same
time in every other city of this and
every other land, and the labor element
of the world will exhibit its strength
and get new inspiration for its improve
ment and progress from the occasion.
No one who knows anything can deny
the Importance of cooperation among
workingmen if they are to secure
hearing and consideration from their
employers. The whole history of the
world has been history of the subjec-
ton of the many to the rule of the few,
and the subordination of the interests
of the majority to the pleasure and gain
of favored minority. The class which
in this day goes by the name of the cap
italist class has always held the upper
hand, because its superior intelligence
has enabled it to cooperate readily for
has fought against overwhelming odds
because he has fought single-handed
against an opponent united and well
disciplined.
In the past fifty years all this has
changed, and trades unions and labor
ers' clubs have been extensively or
ganiZed for concerted action. A good
deal has been SAID about the tyranny of
these bodies, and the sacrifice of his in
diyiduality and freedom which a man
suffers by joining them. There is some
thing in this, and many of the tactics of
their leaders have not been the wisest
or the fairest imaginable. But two
things need to be remembered. One is
that the organization Of labor is still in
its infancy, and that no science is capa-
bic of the best application till IFS meth
ods have been settled through ex-
perience frequently purchased by loss
and trouble. The other is, that while
the rules which keep the workingman
i'll discipline, with the purpose OF i'm
proving the common lot of himself and
his fellows, may bear hard on him at
times ana deprive him of opportunities
for independent action which he might
find profitable, their hardship is not to
be compared with what would be his
condition, were he compelled to face his
employer without the strength and
prestige this union gives him.
The chief value of labor organization
is found in its moral effect. Harsh and
unjust treatment of employees is stayed
by the fear of retaliation. Retaliation,
to be sure, like any form of warfare,
will be expensive to both parties, and.
as things have thus far shaped them
selves, the chances of victory are always
III favor of the capitalists. But strong
arguments are effective agencies for the
preservation of peace, and the nation
which shows it can defend itself is least
likely TO be attacked. So workingmen
banded together and pledged to uphold
and succor each other, without the eX-
ercise of their power or any positive
demonstrations to that end, secure
hearing where, standing alone, they
would be curtly dismissed. Parades
and reunions of the sort which are to be
held to-day count in this same way, and
improve laborers' positions in the world,
because they prove their number and
their discipline.