The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-08
Will WORKERS LEARN2
President Gompers. Of the Fedora
ton Of Labor, Thinks That
They Will.
Would-B 30 Teachers Have Much to
Learn From tho Masses Of
People.
The Political situation in Conneoticut Set
Forth by Hon. A. H.. WAlkor-Ua-
equal Apportisnneass.

Written for THE HELENA ~INpErENDENT.1
A1Vs learn? ID . question often nskst
oxsxC by men who have given the labol
question some thought. and after sxpend.
ing thsir zeal and enthusiasm for . time
become "disgusted with the whole bus
insss," and 90 the even tenor of their way
thoroughly satisfied that the working POO.
ple will not learn.
The truth of the matter il that the
would-be teashers have moro to learn from
the masses Of labor than to teach Thorn. -
AZ soon ~ some professors or other we'll
meaning persons learn for the Arst time
that there il such = thing Al a labor quss-
ton, and are converted to its justice, and
then decide to advocate its claims, the
common mistake made is to assume an mir
of superior knowledge. They urge the
workers to give up the organizations which
have brought them all advantages and i'm
provsmsnt, which have defended then,
against unjust cxactions, and ask them to
adopt some crazy panacsa which will be a
'tcurs-all" for their economic and social
ills. They do not argue with the wage
wor kers, they talk down to them and want
to instruct and teach them.''
Our wsll-meaninR friends forget that the
working people are confronted with and
surrounded by the actual conditions and
environments of the factory, the store and
the mine. They have no time to thsorize.
They must act and act quickly, with the
struggle, and defend their position and
themselves upon the particular field upon
which they are attacked, and seek advant-
ages in the same time which at other times
are utilized against them.
Wages, hours of labor. shop. factory or
mino rules and other conditions of labor
enter moro deeply and directly into tho
everyday life Of the toilers and are fire.
quently more t%yrannical than n of the
laws enacted At the federal or state capitals.
To secure higher wages. less hours Of
drudgsry or b~urdensome toll, steadier
ployment, more leisure, fairer ''rules'' and
bstter treatment while at work il the first
duty of tho working people. and our friends
who believe that they can be diverted from
the consideration of these questions to fol-
low their lead into the fields of speculative
thought will always find themselves much
disappointed, discouraged and will fire.
quently be heard to declare lit il no use
they will not learn" They have learned.
learn and will learn, but they will do 50,
rs in tho past, in their own way. BY their
own experience and volition.
Will ANY observer deny that the toilers
have come to be looked upon with : greater
ago? The demands of labor have passed
the ordeal of ridicule and contempt and
have new entered the arena of discussion.
Is this the result of the "teacher?" Is it not.
the struggles of the workers to COM
unwilling and unfair employers to con-
them better conditions?
! have no desire to undo. estimate the
valuo of education aud culture and its in
tlueAces upon the Improvement in, social
conditions. We Welcome the good men and
true who have given thoir moral support to
the efforts of the t~oilsrs, but | venturs to
the thought that the organizations
Of labor, in their everyday agitation and
struggles, have done more to disenthrall
The professors r toachers'' from anti
superstitions and p~rsconceived
notions of abstract and concrete rights and
Justice of the massea than they In turn have
aided either in teaching" the workers or
in helping them to secure improved condi-
lions.
In seeking to improve our condition az
wage workers by this methods alluded to 1
hope that tho reader will not infer that we
sschew the maintenance Of our rights as
sitizens-in other words. politically. On the
/ maintain that with every bettsr-
nent in our economic condition, with every
-FOUR reduced in. our dailv toll (the million
hours Of golden opportunities daily, tho
oilers become 3 moro potent factor in pub
10 affairs, and are more thoroughly aroused
20 the intense necsssity of achieving every
light to which we are entitled and the abol-
ton of every wrong committed against the
Weakest OF our class.
Yes, the working people are learning.
They are learning the history of the strug-
,les of their forefathers, as we'll as the
endured to-day. They are learning
hat tho only hope for the protection OF
their children or posterity from
he ravishing and %dsvouring greed Of the
lay is by and through = thorough oreani-
alton. They are learning. not only of the
last and the present, but, taking them AZ
he guide for the future. are inspired with
and in distinct notes shout:
Swing inward. O gates of the future,
Swing outward, ye doors of the past.
For the soul'u Of tho people is moving,
And rising from slumber at last.
The black forms Of night are retreating,
The white peaks have signaled the day.
And freedom her long roll is beating.
And calling her sons to tho fcay.
SAMUEL dOMpERs.
President American Federation Of Labor.