The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-07-27

There can be no complaint this year
that organized labor has not received
a due share of attention from the
public.
The EIachinists' strike for q nine
hour day without decrease Of Wages,
has been for some weeks the prevail
ing topic of consideration in all branch
es Of trade and industry.
The movement has been d success.
True, there are few points where
the strike is still ON, but such matters
will soon be settled, and even If they
did not result favorably, the few de-
feats would be more than counterbal-
anced by the large number Of cases
where employers have conceded the
nine hour day In every department Of
vast establishments, and even to those
who were unoIganized. p"
Organized labor, as whole, has every
right to take credit for the machinists'
victory. The machinists were simply
the selected trade to carry on the
movement for shorter hours which is
SO important part Of the work OF the
trade unions. ...'- <,'..<:.. ..1,--..s
It has been very interesting to, note
the respect and consideration paid to
organized labor In connection with this
great movement. In contrast to the
storm Of abuse which formerly greeted
such attempts.
| The daily press reflects average pub
lie opinion pretty accurately. Editor
ial utterances are trimmed to meet the
trend Of public opinion, though with
the large daily papers there is always
a leaning in favor of the employing in
terests.
Bearing this in mind it is remarkable
t. find the daily papers going into the
discussion of economics with q vim
which would do credit to the labor
press itself. Here are a few of the
arguments -culled from the editorial
columns Of the daily press: j,
1.-The machinists have given the en-
ployers fair warning Of the movement
for shorter hours. In this they show
ed great discretion" r,
1T is a departure from the old
methods Of strikes to find the machin-
lists going back to work as fast as
their demands are conceded instead Of
staying out all over the country until
every local trouble is adjusted.''' !
Machinery has made it possible
to produce more in eight or nine hours
today than when hand labor was the
rule. Skilled workmen are entitled to
g. reduction OF working hours on that
ground alone" 49, T. - -" - =
| Men can and do accomplish quite
as much work in, nine hours as un-
der the old system, no workman can
keep up a high rate, of speed for ten
hours q day." -:-. = :-.-... y
while on the surface the demand
for the same wages for nine as for
ten hours looks unfair; yet the ma
chdnists' contention that they have
been underpaid, Is probably true.
They have q right TO share in the
general prosperity, and their de-
mand makes the situation easy to ad-
just" ~ 49,. d.
"The absence Of any violence in the
machintsts' strike 10 a commendable
thing, and shows that wage earners
AEe DeCUlllll8 uuOIe CONSERVATIVE anu
business like" III 80 r,
| while we are contending for for
eign trade it would be very unwise
| for employers to rick strike with all
the attendant dangers and loss. It ID
much better to concede the demand
Employers have no right to re-
place skilled machinists BY non union
men. They thereby endanser the lives
and property of thousands who buy
machinery and have right to expect
that skilled workmanship has been
employed In It's construction" r
These few extracts give an idea Of
the general drift Of the argument.
OF course, there are IL few who held
to the old fashioned theories about
the loss involved in conceding shorter
hours, but they soon dropped such
argument and fell into line.
There 10 no doubt but the wise con-
duct and successful outcome Of the
May movement has done much to Give
organized labor, as q whole, some
thing nearer Ito proper place In pub
| lie estimation. Every organizer and
every member of organized labor
who has helped the paaehinists local
Ily ran take to himself some credit
for this peaceful victory and chsnge
of public cent ament Ell.
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