The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-06-30

The trouble with labor organizations
is hey mistake too frequently the real
object or their existence. It Is not the
possession of power TO be used for the
lrlnry OF others. Il is the exercise of
CONT med intelligence to be used for the
good OF the IaoOrer. Good and lasting
results come slowly. The fruits of or
ganiz4tlon working on proper lines are
not OF speedy growth. But they come
with patience and steady endeavor. The
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
has gathered the fruit of years of in
telhgen3 work. It's membe are not the
tools of politicians nor putty 10 the hands
OF the labor agitator.
All labor organizations, If properly
conducted, can attain to th- same plane
of efficiency reached by the Brotherhood.
But not by disorder, show of force and
disregard OF Individual rights. The sys-
temwhlch demands the suppression Of the
div dual is guided by an evil hand. The
] labOrer who loses his identity In an or
ganlzation has discarded his manhood,
and has made himself al instrument to
be used by others. Just as soon as sell
tishness or ambition enters An organize
ton is work becomes evil. The slow
! process OF self-ImprOvement requires the
possession Of ones own mind, not Its
domination by another. Organization ia
designed TO be helpful 20 the individual
not TO eliminate him as factor 10 the con
duct OF his own affairs.
Employers should encourage rather
than decry the existence of labor Organi.
zatlons and every one should seek to in
splre them With right purpose. Now they
are looked upon with dlstrust, regarded
al aTI Loft .l,lr l.. u T
the designing politician and the willy
agltator, both of whom ar using then
for their own purposes. The laborer IL
not always capable of understanding
motive. 1t is perpetually dlnned into hl!
ears by those to whose tender mercies IL
is surrendered that there is an irrepres
slble conflict betweeen labor and capital
and he naturally comes to regard his en-
ployer as his enemy and their interests a.
antagonistlc. He gate kinds words anC
recognition only from those having
purpose TO mIslead him and widen tn
breach between him and his employer
Professional labor papers are ever harp
ing upon his wrongs as their pgtronag
comes largely from their champio nshil
OF his cause, and he must have II grlev
ance or their vocation Is gone, The NAL
, anXlOus TO secure an office through TIL
votes of labor must show sympathy an
: aids III stirring up strife SO as to Great
the opportunity for exhibiting his regar,
= for and devotion to labor. 1t Is to th
teaching of these classes to whom til
, employer leaves his men. Is 1t at all SUI
prlsing that there is discomfort, distrus
and antagonism? The agitator who live
on labor, the politician wEC compasse
his ambition by the votes of labor, Us
;, the organization for their own ends an
. II really becomes harmful to the interest
! of labor though apparently fighting 1t
BATTLES. The employer frowns upon it a
he percelvas IN it an instrument of coer
clon, II rod designed for his castlgatior
1t could be made mutually helpful t
him and his employees If he gave 1t th
: proper recognition and recognized II
g legitimate uses. The tendency is to wor
through organizations. The effort shout
be to have them intellIgently and unset
G tishly directed. Labor has been wrong
i ed because it has been deluded and de
Z ceived. II needs help not suppression
o light not Instrumentation, honesty sympath
J. not selfish cOmmiseratlo1 and immunit
II from the agltatOr and the office seeke
e Personal interest by employers in labC
unions will relieve them of the malign II
! tlnences by which they are now governed