The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-12-20
RALLY, LABOR, RALLY

.
A REORGANIZATION OF TIE TO.LERS
MUST BE BEGUN AT ONCE.
Mistakes Of the knights of Labor whics,
Should BE Avoided In the Future-A
Crisis Has Arrived, aud Labor Should
Meet It With n Compact National Union.
Never before was organized labor con-
fronted with a situation SO serious as the
present There is crisis in what is
known as the labor movement. Three
important factors in creating and mag
nifying the present unhappy and threat
ening condition are the business depres-
sion and consequent enforced idleness of
thousands upon thousands who were at
work few months ago. the rapid en-
croachment of machinery in the fields
of craftsmen and the unorganized or
disorganized state of 80 per cent of the
wageworkers. AS the facts relating to
the first two causes named are well
known to all those who are likely to
read this letter, and as any effort to ap-
ply by labor itself remedies for the eff
fects of those causes is dependent upon a
correct diagnosis of the third, it is my
purpose at this time to discuss the sub
ject Of labor organization, past. present
and future. Only through organization
can labor obtain its rights. know that
expression has become a chestnut" but
it is truth which only fool will quar-
rel with,
First, let it be understood that fully
listing trade union movement. | know
that until ''hard times struck us few
months ago it was making steady adj
vances, and that it has held its own re-
markably we'll during the depression.
know that if it had not been for the
| trades unions labor in this country
would today be in a situation horrible to
think of, but I also know that the con-
ditions under which industry is carried
on are rapidly changing, and that dur
ing the next year Of depression there
will be innovations and realignments
| in methods of production-and distribu-
| ton, too-which will, when 1.-The bust
! ness revival" comes, present system in
which the old methods Of organization
will not be competent to protect the
wageworkers except in rare and unimpor-
! ntinstances wherespecial skill will still
be required and the demand for crafts
men is equal to the supply. From what
l have written you will understand that
/ believe that the future of labor de-
ponds upon the rapid organization of all
wageworkers, whether mechanics. ma
chine tenders or laborers, and | think
! they should be compactly united.
Every influence at the command Of the
American Federation of Labor should be
, exerted to increase the membership and
power Of the organizations within its
fold. and | believe that will be done;
but, as l. have already said, that is not
all-nor half. To get right down to
business: Either the Knights Of Labor
must be thoroughly and quickly reor-
gained, or another organization upon
the lines they followed up to, say, Janu-
airy. 1886. must be started and pushed
throughout the length and breadth Of
this country. The principles upon
which the Knights of Labor were organ
lied and extended until they reached the
proud position Of the greatest labor Or
ganization the world ever knew are
broad enough, deep enough and high
enough to serve as the foundation of an
impregnable fortress of labor and an
everlasting temple of justice. Hun
dreds Of thousands of earnest. intelli-
members of the order will, know, say
'Amenr' to those words. But will they
not do more than say ''Amenr' if they
are asked?
We'll, why did the Knights of Labor
shrink away to almost nothing, if there
is such power in its principles?' think
l hear a croaker ask. All, my friend,
thereby hangs tale. 1t is long tale
or a short one, just as the relator pleases,
but let me tell it to you, as remember
! it, but briefly: On the night Of Dec.
%, 1869, in the home of one of their
number, in Philadelphia, seven men,
who were members of the garment cut
ters' union, formed an organization
which they named the Knights of Labor,
though it was 10 years later that the
name became public. The organization
grew slowly for the first few years, but
it was wholesome growth. need not
trace the progress of the movement from
stage to stage; it is familiar to all
readers. But must quote few words
from the address delivered at the first
annual meeting by Uriah S. Stephens,
the master workman, because they are
just as fitting now as they were ON Jan.
10, 1871
/ Mr.. Stephens called attention to the
, deplorable condition of the workers, and
then said:
| Where lies the fault that this condition Of
! things exists? Mainly with ourselves. Dis
jointed and inharmonious, no concerted ac-
ton. not even much mutual respect. =
What is the remedy Cultivate friendship
among the great brotherhood of toll; learn to
respect industry in the person of every intelli-
gent worker; unmake the shams of life by def
erence to the humble but useful craftsmen;
= hoppf cOncert If action NV conci1;a f;on oon6