Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-04-03
WHAT LABOR MAY DO
THROUGH THOROUGH ORGANIzA-
TON 1T MAY UPLlFT ITSELF.

For a number of reasons the labor
union has not been completely success
full. Owing to ignorance and selfish
ness it has been impossible to induce
all workingmen to join the union. In
some cases it was the fault of the un-
ion itself. In other cases it was the
fault of the workingmen, who refused
to organize for their own protection.
The question may be asked, Why
should any workingman refuse to join
a labor union? There is only one an
swer to the question. The labor un-
ion either cannot or will not guarantee
him steady employment. He is com
PEELED to live and win obtain work
even if he has to dlsplace union men.
Self preservation is the first law of
nature, and the workingman who has
acted on that principle cannot be ut
tcrly condemned.
For this state of affairs the labor
union is partially responsible, and we
must look to it for the remedy. Why
is it that there is not work enough for
allt The question is easily answered.
The labor union has been derelict In
the matter Of obtaining shorter work
day. 1t has permitted its members to
work themselves nearly to death in
trying to do the work of the whole
body of workingmen. In doing all the
work themselves they have deprived
others of employment and made 1t pos
sible for nonunion men to take their
places when they are out on strike.
BY not insisting on a shorter work
day the union man has injured him
self In two ways. In the first place he
Is compelled to do his own work, and
in addition to that he is compelled to
do the work of others, for which he re-
ceives no pay whatever. In the second
place his action enforces idleness on
multitude of workingmen who are only
too anxious to take his place whenever
he strikes for higher wages.
1t is perfectly plain then, that If the
labor union will demand and secure
shorter workday it would be of inesti-
mable benefit to its members and to
workingmen generally. IL the work
day could be shortened one-half, it
would be possible to employ twice as
ducing wages in the least. In fact, in
that case higher wages could be com
manded, for nearly all workingmen
would then be in the union, and If
strike should be ordered there would
not be enough nonunion men to take
their places.
The labor union is the workingman's
only salvation. If not organized, he
degenerates into a wage slave and Is
compelled to work for bare subsist-
ence. He must take whatever his mas
ter gives him and be thankful that he
is enabled to live. But organization
places him on an entirely different foot
Ing. AS member OF labor union he
becomes the master of the situation,
and it rests entirely with him as to
whether he will take advantage of his
opportunities.
The industrial problem has been
greatly complicated by the introduc-
tion of labor saving machinery. AS
far as the employees are concerned,
the term labor saving machinery" is
misnomer. In not a single instance
has its Introduction resulted in short
ening the hours of toll. The only re-
suit so far has been to throw many
out of employment and to reduce the
wages of those who were so fortunate
as to get work. The advantage is al
together with the owner of the ma
chine, who has grown rich on the
profits.
A simple illustration will elucidate
this whole subject and help to solve
the problem of labor saving machin-
cry.
Five men are employed in setting
type in newspaper office. Each re-
ceives a salary of So per day. But
typesetting machine is introduced,
and one man Is enabled to do the work
Of five. 1t becomes evident that four
men will be thrown out of work, and
fierce competition arises among the
five printers, each one OF whom is anx-
ious to get the position. A says that
he has been getting SO per day and
that he considers that his services are
worth that much. b says that he can
not afford to be idle, as he has a wife
and several small children to support,
and that he will work for 81 per day
rather than starve. @ reasons in the
same way, and he offers to work for
$1.50 per day. d offers to work for
$1.25, and L offers to work for 81. The
result is that e gets the position and
the others are thrown out of employ
ment. Not having learned any other
trade and finding nothing else to do
they become tramps and a menace to
society. 1t will be seen that the intro
duction Of the labor saving machine
benefited no one but the proprietor
and worked a positive injury to every
body else.
Now the question arises What is the
remedy? Is it possible to have labor
saving machinery without infilcting an
injury upon any one? Such a thing
is undoubtedly possible and is very
easily explained. The workingmen
rnucf own thn machinery SuDnoco