The labor world., 1900-06-09

Who are the greatest enemies of or
ganized labor? The first impulse would
be to answer. '''the corporations, ''the
| trusts, or 8.# employing classes gen
orally! B is SO? Is it not rath-
er the nc workmen? Who is it
defeats t,s yement of organized
workmen -er conditions? 1t is
not the emp@ i that the union need
fear when enItring into a conflict, but
| those who are of the same condition
of life, and who would be equally ben
efitted by the success of the union as
| the members thereof.
| OF the millions Of workmen in the
land, how small a proportion of them
are in the ranks of organized labor?
Yet every improvement in present over
past conditions of labor are due to the
efforts and sacrifices of the brave men
and women that compose the trade
unions of the land and who are still
struggling to further improve the lot
of the worker, and are daily Amaking
progress to higher and better life for
the toiling masses Of the earth
Every advance made and every ad-
vantage gained, through the efforts of
organized labor, is shared by the unor-
ganized who have been the greatest
| obstacles in the progress of the move
ment.
| Every improvement in the general
conditions Of labor today, over that of
past years, can be directly attributed
to the organizations of labor. Behind
every legislative enactment in the in
81 1o1, ~
ence of the trade union' In every
state legislature, in every congress and
llaWmaking body Of the world, meas
ures are being proposed to ameliorate
| the conditions Of the toiler-to tighten
| the burdens of labor-and behind them
I all will be found the trade union
| and the non -unionists share the BEN
| efits of those whom he has ever antag-
onized.
What mighty power for good would
organized labor be could all workmen
( be brought to realize it, and to join
hands in a common cause. There is
Inothing that could not be attained by
united effort. Legislatures would then
|boW in submission to that mighty force,
| and instead of being the willing SER
wants of corporate wealth they would
lbe the servants of the people. The
power of the people that made them
would be the bower that could unmake.
How can n1tn1, With the least spark 81
manly seif-respect, bear to watch the
STRUGGLES of their union felloW-worS-
men and accept the results and benefits
lacc1uing from such struggles without
lending helping hand? Every work
)ingman owes it to his self-respect; he
owes it to his felloW-Workman to ev-
|erything he holds near and dear, to
| join hands with the union of his craft
and do his share in the movement that
means so much to all Who toll. With
that manly pride the trade unionist
meets his s,felloW-workmen conscious of
duty done; of having done his part and
of still doing it; he looks everyone
straight in the eye, knowing that he
is not enjoying benefits that some other
gained for him; with his union card
| IN his pocket-his certificate of honor
he knows he will meet with true and
lloyal friends wherever he may 60
IShould he be in search Of employment
! he finds on every hand those eager to
assist him, and, should injustice be
done him, just as eager to defend
| Come what will, or what may, it is
much better to feel that one is doing
his part along with fellow-worlkmen
to make the world better, than to, cra-
Ven-lihe, accept the benefits of others
efforts Without doing anything to aid.
-Ex.