Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-09-07
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WHAT OF THE 80
TWENTIETH g
CENTURY? q
%
By Joseph R.
Buchanan.
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% % % q % e g.
entirely due to the influence of the
trade unions. Congress and the legls
latures of the states have passed just
and humane laws at the instigation
and under the pressure of the unions,
and, While they are not all fully and
honestly enforced, that there is n pub
lie sentiment i'm their favor is due to
the educational work inauguratcd and
carried forward, frequently in the face
Of strong opposition, by the organized
workingmen.
1t Is true that labor unions strike.
All, there's the rub "If the unions
wouldn't strike, they would he all
right" l have heard more times than
there are seeds in a Georgia water
melon. My answer is. If the unions
don't strike or threaten to strike when
just demand is refused, they had bet
ter disband. If labor had not struck
in the past against injustice and in
support of its rights, 1t would be in
worse position than it Is today. This
is proved by the fact that the organic
ed workers are better paid and treated
with more consideration than the un-
organized in the same trade. Right
here is a pointer for those who want to
end labor strikes and at the same time
improve the condition Of the working.
men generally: Let them use their in
fluence to induce every worker to join
the union of his trade. With this ac
complished strikes will occur very rare
| ly, If at all Eight years ago Mr.. Car
roll u. Wright of the national labor bu-
reau announced to the world that the
era of strikes in the United States was
at an end | puzzled my brain then to
learn where Mr.. Wright got his tip, but
| haven't found out to this day. As
write, three of the greatest strikes this
country has ever known are in full
! blast
Some time in the twentieth century
strikes will cease; l am not as conf
dent as was Mr.. Wright and can't tell
! you the exact date when the last strike
will occur, but | believe that before
many years of the new century have
rolled around labor will be so well or
ganzed as to make strikes unnecessary
or capital will have the power to make
them impossible. This isn't a prophecy;
it's just an expression of opinion.
rather lean toward the first part of
the opinion. During the past year the
trades unions have been growing in
membership and strength as they new
err grew in twice like period before
and those who are in a position to
know say the work has only begun.
l will not attempt to advise the or
ganized workingmen, much less the
able and experienced men who conduct
their affairs-the unOrganiZed and dis
organized are an easier job-but IL |
may be allowed to suggest thought
or two | should say that the most i'm
portant work ahead of labOr-more i'm
portant than the organization of the
unattached workers-is the unification
OF the movement. This more than any
thing else will strengthen labor, and
the extension of the influence of I'M
lonism will be accelerated beyond com
putation thereby. The divisions in the
ranks of labor are dlscOuraging to
those within the fold and uninviting to
those without. The most advanced de-
cision we have had on the union ques-
ton was made the other day by New
York Judge; but there was fly in the
ointment. 1t took some of the pleasure
out of the decision that a union man,
by himself or with others had Il right
to demand the discharge of an objec-
tionable workman as a condition of
his working on the job himself when
we realized that the case under consid'
Grafton was that of one union against
another. Each side in these controver'
sizes between organizations of labor
feels that 1t has right on its side, and
l confess that l generally have an opin
ion on the subject myself, but in the
) face of the danger that threatens the
wage workers Of the country 1t would
be well-in fact, it is absolutely neces
sary-that a policy of give and take, &
J spirit of friendly forbearance, be adopt
ed by the union movement.
In line with this sentiment l believe
the American Federation of Labor
should be given more authority ovel
the unions of which 1t is composed
: and, unless miss my guess, this is ont
of the steps forward that will be takeI
early in the twentieth century Thi
change will necessitate the surrende
of some of their cherished prerogative
{ by the organizations composing thu
8 federation, but it will make Of the lat
? ter body a power able to cope with tn
T great industrial trusts that are comin
e ually adding to their strength.
= The once great organization of tn
! Knights of Labor, which lost its pres
l tige, not because of any inherent weak
s ness, but because it was led away fror
: its original lines, contained some goo
+ features that could be adopted by tn
e trade unionists with advantage, and
s is to be hoped that the old antagonist
i between the two organizations will nc
n stand in the way Of that course.
:. Taken altogether, the outlook for Ii
i Dor ia the twentieth century is not S
s very black nor do l think we are o
e the eve of the millennium. The worl
ers have the power in their own hand
n to make their condition what 1t shOul
? be, they have the nucleus around whic
t. to rally, and they have the Intelligent
k If they will only apply 1t properly.
d is a plain business proposition.
Is All hail to the twentieth century! A
1t hail to labor!