The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-09-01
future OF LABOR
PAST AND FUTURE OF THE TRADE
UNION MOVEMENT.
What Of the Twentieth Century:
In IL Few Years Labor Will he SO
Well Organized a. to Make
Strikes Unnecessary, or Capital
Them ImpOssible>
(By Joseph Il. Buchanan


What is in store for labor in the
twentieth century? AS we draw nearer
to the closing hours Of the last year of
the century that has been SO full of
changes for those who earn their
bread in the sweat of their faces this
question presses US for some sort of
answer. There is no seer among us
who has the gift to penetrate the veil
that shuts out from mortal eyes the
future, and the gift Of prophecy is not
VOuchsafed to the sons OF men in this
matcrialistic and practical age. There
fore the best that any one can do is
to review the past and study the pres
ent and in these lights try to see what
the future holds. Under these circum-
stances each one will be influenced by
his hopes, his past experiences and his
environment.
Labor of the Past.
In considering the changes that have
taken place in the condition of the
workers during the century that is
about to close there are several points
of view. That there has been a gener-
al improvement, that the race, as a
whole has gone forward, is pretty thor
oughly conceded, though there are
some persons who conscientiOusly long
for return to the old days of simplic-
ity and conservatism, but that the pro-
ducers have reaped their full share in
the advance is a disputed question.
Frequently when discussing this sub
ject with we'll meaning persons who
said that labor organizations were I'M
reasonable in their demands I have run
against the following, which my Gis-
putant thought was crusher: Com
pare the lot of the workingman of
today with the conditions of his ances-
tor 100 years ago. Why, can remem-
Der so years back, when very few
homes had the conveniences that the
poorest workingman's home now has.
Then his floors were bare, his clothing
was Of the cOmmonest. his fare frugal,
his amusements simple or none at all,
his children uneducated, his hours of
labor long and arduous and his pay
small.
Labor Of Today.
Now the average WOrkingman has
a brussels CARPET on the floor Of his
best room, an organ In the parlor, good
/. and comforts able elathip back,
sSH1lO HIS CnItuEent 8000 ~ 1fn$ANS
y
of labor have been greatly lessened; his
wages have been more than doubled,
and he has unlimited opportunities for
recreation and pleasure This looks
like a strong presentation of the case
of those who claim that labor is unrea-
sonable and piggish. and so it is if the
argument is to be limited to compar-
isnn of the condition Of q class at one
time with what it was at an earlier
period. But there is another way Of
looking at the subject, and from this
viewpoint the picture is not SO rosy
The advocates Of labor-Or the Apos-
ties Of Discomfort, if you like the char
arterzation better-claim the right to
look at the question from a relative
standpoint, and it seems hardly posi-
bic that any fair minded man can dis
putc the claim.
Progress Due to Industry.
The intelligent laborer, who knows
that to his industry and skill is due in
greatest measure the progress made,
who realizes that the great temple of
civilization has been raised, block upon
block, by his strength and cemented
with his sweat and tears, charges
civilization with having, through it's
industrial system, exploited him. 1t
is admitted. at least in this country,
that there is no progress in the changes
that limit their benefits to a portion
only Of the people. IT, therefore, the
contention Of the Apostle of Discomfort
that the relative conditions of master
mi MAJ fn,r ;,11 =,
correct, then my friend who measures
the status of the workingmen with car
pets and cottage organs has not such a
strong argument after all.
Civilization increases Demands.
Another point in the argument of the
apostle is that the advancing civiliza-
ton has Increased the desires and am
billions of mankind generally, else
there has been no real progress as has
been already cited. And not only has
the desire for better condition been
cultivated by the general advance, but
it is an undisputed fact that the neces-
stiles of the man Of today, regardless
Of his position, are much greater than
were those of his type under the olden
regime. The luxuries Of so years age
are the necessities Of today. Of VIVA,
benefit will the free schools and the
other advantages over their grand
fathers be to the children Of today il
they are to be satisfied with the sta
tiOns in life that were occupied by theil
fathers-that is, if the tendency Of the
race is still to be upward? To firmly
grasp this thought just imagine society
with the sole exception of the labore1
Tin the same sense that that word i:
generally used, continuing what W.
call it's advance at the present break
neck speed. The idea is absurd
Were labor to accept the dictum Of
some of the preachers and professor:
and become contented with what W,
will admit is it's improved condition
the wheels Of progress would wabbl,
on for a time under their impetus ant
then stop stock still. The wise maj
in the high place knows that he holds
his position or goes higher only whel
the mudsill is pressing upward AM
raising all that stands between hin
and the topmost layer. The progress
of man expresses only the elevation o
the actual producer, the foundation .
civilization.
Let us take a glance at the nine
teenth century history of labor. In thi
brief review I shall from choice con