The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-06-29
GOOD IN UN.IONISM.

1 During the strike in the machinists'
trade prominent manufacturer Of
Bridgeport, stated that his fellow.
employers were determined to be no
longer dictated to- and dominated by
trades-upionism; they proposed to
stamp 1t out; to fight it to the very last
THE eloquent man is known far and
near; but the man Of understanding
knoweth when he slippeth." .-..
: Most of US have heard, from time to
time, declarations of the sort mention
ed. Gentlemen of the calibre of this
manufacturer think. only Of what they
characterize as the bad side Of union
ism.s;, Admitting, for the sake OF argu-
nnent, that some demands are not what
they should be-aN unions are not broad
and liberal as those Of: the printing
trade-it will be interesting to note
some of the good secured by unionisn.
!. The members Of the printing Indus
try have recently been priding them
selves on the specific tendency OF the
day;so far is they are concerned. The
unions, 1t will be freely admitted. have
ysfavored arbitration, or. at least,
have been; dispose to arbitrate. On the
other hand employers have in many
cases been disposed to resent any ac-
ton by the unions that they have con-
sfdefAd Detrimental to their interests;
perhaps it mAy be said that some OF
them have ben disposed to fight for the
sake OF fighting. inviting their en-
ployes to tread on the tails Of their
coats. An incident Of. this sort once
occurred in q prominent typothetae
when an erstwhile: unpleasantly motor
ious member fought tor a fight when
the rest of the association had deter
mined to agree to the mems proposals.
The effort to not recognize any claim
to consideration on the part Of the la
Dor that creates the wealth is unworthy
ofathe: enlightenment OF. the day, and is,
one is glad to- think, being succeeded
by an inclination toward just and rea-
sonable consideration Of the claims put
forward. We have. happily. arrived at
the time when public opinion is a pow
erful factor in compelling selfish, ar.
Eogant and reluctant employers to ad-
nit that workingmen have rights. That
is why the stifr-necked employer fears
that he will be regarded as the enemy
Of his men, and be ostracized accord
ingly, If he does not listen to the voice
of reason.
While disposed to congratulate labor
in general and the printing trade in
particular on account OF the Roadway
which has been made 1t should not be
forgotten that the millennium IL far
away, and that there will be need Of
our energies for the uphoiding and de-
Tense of our interests against the hos
tile influences that will always seek
the opportunity to show their agrees
siveness, vigilance and activity. The
aim will be; as heretofore, the
promotion OF the welfare OF unionism
and the upbuilding Of It against the at
tacks of enemies. The world Of labor
alth3sa8h It tloss not yet krnst s:hntx 10
votesfor those who will be at its beck
and calrfeels somehow that this cent
,1ry will see great struggling against
trusts and Industrial servitude. Its
duty is plain, therefore,: it must rally
round. the flag. =:
There has been q constant struggle
during the past fifty years and more
to-'remedy the old-time system Of al
lowing man to earn living wage and
nothing more. That the American
workman has been more fortunate than
his foreign brethren is due in a meas
ure to the wisdom Of his predecessors
who saw that education was necessary
for the welfare of the people. It il also
due to the growth of unionism, which
is ever gaining strength here. The