The herald., 1895-07-15
LABOR NOTES AND NEWS

Every STUDENT OF sociology must be i'm
pressed With the general ignorance of tn,
public in regard to the principles, tn,
aims and objects of labor organizations
While the international labor unions ar,
representative Of the highest industrial
science, and while their principles ar,
the most benefcent and elevating. public
opinion rather regards them as being the
reverse. This condition OF affairs il
largely due to the superficial character o.
the daily press as an educator. The aver
age American business man, in his pur.
suit OF the almighty dollar. does not take
time to delve into scientific matters.
Hence his opinions are in large meas
ure mere inferences deducted from pass
ing events. When he reads that 10, 00C
worKIngmen are engaged in a strike In
opposition to n threatened reduction In
pay or Tor an increase in wages; when
the daily papers bring to him reports OF
SUCH stirring incidents as the battle OF
homestead, or when his interests are
aifected by such general uprising as the
great A. IL. U. strike, he is won't to lay
the blame at the door of labor unions,
rather than to grinding competitive sys-
tenn which, il unrestrained by restrictive
laws or compact of the industrial classes,
will inevitably lead to condition OF alb
Ject serfdom. He does not stop 70 con-
slider that there are practically no laws
upon our statute books to prevent COM
petition being practiced to a degree that
would bring the condition of the Ameri-
can laboier below civilized standard
that there is no governmental provision
for the establi sh ment and maintenance oi
equitable relations between capital and
labor. and that the most practicable way
of supplying this inefficacy of the law. OF
rather lack of law, is TO mobilize the
industrial classes into labor organiza-
tions.
Practically the only exponents of trades
unionism are the official papers of the
different labor organizations. and as
these are circulated exclusively among
organized worklngmen, the general pop
be wondered at. While all great political
economists and students who have en-
tered deeply into the study OF sociology.
from Adam Smith down, unanimously
endorse the labor union movement as es-
sential to the attainment of the highest
degree Of civilization under the wage sys.
TEN. yet there are comparatively few who
are familiar with their philosophy.
Believing that if apprised OF the logic
and justice of its cause. organized labor
will enjoy a greater degree of public SYM
pathy and support, the Los Angeles ,oun-
Gil of labor has decided to inaugurate a
campaign of education in this quarter.
With the consent Ut the managers a labor
department. will be made permanent
feature OF those daily papers which are
not opposed to free, full and dispassion-
ate discussion of the labor problem in its
various phases. These departments will
be edited by persons selected from the
different local unions, and besides giving
to the public an exposition OF the basic
principles of trades unionism. will con-
tain notes and communications on all the
economic AMI social questions pertaining
to the labor problem, which in the main
will be representative of the opinions Of
workingmen who think.
To this same end an effort is also being
made, in connection with the woman
suffragIsts. single takers, socialists and
other reformers. to hold a series of pub
lc meetings. in which some opponent to
organized labor will be invited to take
the platform against representative OF
the council OF labor in discussion of
trades unionism.
1t is hoped oy this educational work to
convince the public that trades unionism
is not opposed to sound business piinci-
Piles or individual liberty, nor backed only
by brute force; that it is not an arbitrary
interference OF Ignorant workingmen"
with the management of your own busi-
ness" but that 1t is science founded
upon the best principles, supported by
the soundest OF logic; that instead Of
being detrimental to the interests of en-
ployers. it is in reality a boon to both
the employing and the employed classes.
and that instead of being opposed by the
public. it should be fostered as a conser-
vator of right and ansaid to human pro-
gress.
: The Tobacco Leaf, journal published
III the interests of the wholesale tobacco
dealers. says that in the majority of
cities 1t is almost inpossible to sell cigars
that do not bear the American label.
Considering the source of this informa-
ton, the Tobacco Leaf being in the main
antagonistic to labor unions, it may be
taken as a positive indication that or
ganized labor is having healthy growth
in all portions of the country. So mote
it be.