The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-06


Albert d. Walker Discusses the Great
Connecticut Battle from His stand
point-secretary Daniels on "aome
Study"
CCopuf0htJ
VIII the Workers Learn?
By Samuel Gompsrs. President american Fed
Grafton Of Labor.
VIII the working people learn. IS a ques-
tion often asked by men who have given the
labor question some thought, and after ex-
pending their zeal and enthusiasm for a
time become "disgusted with the whole
business" and GO the even tenor OF their
way thoroughly satisfied that the working
people will not learn.
The truth of the matter Is that the would
be teachers have more to learn from the
masses of labor than TO tea b them
As soon as some professors OF other we'll
meaning persons learn for the first time
that there is such thing as a labor ques-
tlon and are converted to its justice aud
then decide 70 advocate its claims, the COM
mon mistake made is to assume an air of
superior knowledge. They urge the work
ers to give up the organizations which have
brought them all advantages and improve
ment, which have defended them against
unjust exactions, and ask them TO adopt
some crazy panacea which will be ''cure-
all for their economic and social ills.
They do not argue with the wage workers,
they talk down to them and want to lin
struct and teach them"
Our well-meaning 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 theorize.
Ihey must act, and act quickly, with the
facts that meet them in their everyday
struggle, and defend their position and
themselves upon the particular field upon
which they are attacked, and seek advant-
tages In the same time which at other times
are utilized against them.
wages, hours of labor, shop, factory or
mines rules and other conditions of labor
enter more deeply and directly into the
everyday life Of the toilers and are fire.
quently more tyrannical than any of the
laws enacted at the federal or state capt.
tails. To secure higher wages, less hours OF
drudgery or burdsnsome toll, steadier en-
ployment, more leisure, fairer ''ruIesn and
better treatment while at work is the first
duty or the working people, and our
friends who believe that they can
be diverted from the consideration
of these questions to follow their
cad into the fields Of speculative tn ought
will always find themselves much disap-
PSAhtS0s anu Will frequently be
heard to declare lit is no use wasting time
on the working people, fer they will not
learn" They have learned, do learn and
will learn, but they will do so, as in the
past, in their own way, by their own ex-
perience and volition.
VIII any observer deny that the toilers
have come TO be looked upon with greater
degree or respect than they were few
years agos The demands of labor have
passed the ordeal of ridicule and contempt
and nave now entered the arena Of discus
sion. Is this the result of the "teachergn
Is IL not, rather, the struggles of the
workers to compel unwilling and unfair
employers to concede them better condi-
tions.
have no desire to underestimate the
value OF education and culture and its In
huences upon the improvement in social
conditions. We welcome the good men and
true who have given their moral support to
the EFFORTS OF the tojlers but | venture TO
suggest the thought that the organization of
labor In their everyday agitation aud
struggles have done more to disenthrail the
professors and teachers from antiouated
superstitions and preconceived notions of
abstract and concrete rights and justice of
the masses than they In turn have aided
either in teaching" the workers or in help
ing them to secure improved conditions
In seeking to improve our condition as
wage workers by the methods alluded to |
hope that the reader will not infer that we
eschew the maintenance of our righUs as
citizens-in other words. politically On
the contrary, l maintain that with
every betterment in our economic condi-
ton. with every hour reduced in our daily
toll the million hours of golden opportuni-
ties daily, the toilers become a more potent
factor in public affairs, and are more thor
onghly aroused TO the intense necessity of
achieving every right to which we are en-
titled and the abolition Of every wrong COM
mltted against the weakest of our class.
Yes, the working people are learning.
They are learning the history of the strug-
giles or their forefathers, as well as the
wrongs endured to-day. They are learning
that the only hope for the protection OF
themselves, their children or posterity from
the ravishing and devouring greed of the
day Is by and through thorough organi-
cation. They are learning, not only OF the
past and present. but, taking them as the
guide for the future, arc inspired with en-
thusiasm, and in distinct notes shout:
Swing inward, o gates of the Future:
swing outward, ye doors of the Past:
For the soul of the people is moving,
And rising from slumber at last.
The black forms of night are retreating.
Inc white peaks have signaled the day,
And freedom her long roll Is beating
And calling her sons TO the fray
SAMUEL GRoMPERs,
President American Federation of Labor.
HTN-