Connecticut western news., 1900-08-30
8 s s z g $ g WHAT OF THE 8 TWENTIETH " CENTURY? @
 SA
By Joseph R.
 Buchanan.

By Joseph R.
 Buchanan. 8 .8 g g g g g g entirely due to the influence of the trade unions. Congress and the legis- 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 a pub lie sentiment in their favor Is due to the educational work inaugurated and carried forward, frequently in the face of strong opposition, by the organized workinghen.
 It Is true that labor unions strike. An, there's the rub. "If the unions wouldn't strike, they would be all right" I 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 a 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 a worse position than it Is today. This Is proved by the fact that the organiz- ed workers are better paid and treated with more consideration than the un- organized In the same trade. Right here Is 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- tiuence 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 Mir. Car roll D. Wright of the national labor bu- reau announced to the world that the era of strikes in the United States was at an end. I puzzled my brain then to learn where Mir Wright got his tip, but I 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; I am not as confi- dent as was Mir. Wright, and can't tell you the exact date when the last strike will occur. but I believe that before many years of the new century have rolled around labor will be so well or ganized as to make strikes unnecessary or capital will have the power to make them impossible. This isn't prophecy; it's just an expression of opinion. 1 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 nev- CT grew In twice like period before, and those who are In position to know say the work has only begun.
 I 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 if may be allowed to suggest thought or two should say that the most im- 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 un- lonism will be accelerated beyond com putation thereby. The divisions In the ranks of labor are discouraging 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. It took some of the pleasure out of the decision that a union man, by himself or with others, had a 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- eratfon was that of one union against another. Each side in these controver- sies between organizations of labor feels that 1t has right on its side, and I confess that generally have an opin- lon on the subject myself. but in the i face of the danger that threatens the wage workers of the country 1t would be well-ln fact, 1t Is absolutely neces- sary-that a policy of give and take, a spirit of friendly forbearance, be adopt ed by the union movement.
 In line with this sentiment 1 believe ; the American Federation of Labor should be given more authority over the unions of which 1t is composed, and, unless I miss my guess, this Is one I of the steps forward that will be taken early in the twentieth century. This change will necessitate the surrender of some of their cherished prerogatives by the organizations composing the federation, but 1t will make of the lat ter body power able to cope with the great industrial trusts that are contin- | ually adding to their strength.
 i The once great organization of the Knights of Labor, which lost Its pres tige. not because of any inherent weak ness, but because 1t was led away from its original lines, contained some good features that could be adopted by the trade unionists with advantage, and It is to be hoped that the old antagonism between the two organizations will not stand in the way of that course.
 Taken altogether the outlook for la- Dor In the twentieth century Is not so very black, nor do I think we are on the eve of the millennium. The work CTS have the power in their own hands to make their condition what 1t should be, they have the nucleus around which to rally, and they have the intelligence if they will only apply 1t properly. It Is plain business proposition.
 All hail to the twentieth century! All hall to labori