Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-31
Labor's Fight With the Trusts For
the Equal Right to Organize
and Control Its Affairs In
It's Own Interests.
BY JOS. r. BUCHANAN.

The great contest between the gladi-
ators of modern industrialism has been
inaugurated. Labor and the trust face
each other in the arena, while the mill
lions in a worldwide amphitheater look
upon the scene with varying sentiments
and emotions. This will be no short,
sharp and quickly ended strife. The
contestants are to meet in conflict
again and again, the repulsed one ris-
ing with renewed strength after tenn
porary respite to more fiercely do bat
tie with his foe. AS to the final VIC
tor, let the future tell. 1t IS probable
that neither will be destroyed, but one,
possibly both, will be subjected to great
organic changes ere peace is declared
The trust is not held in high favor
by the people generally. 1 think the
statement that it is unpopular is a
safe one But labor. or, to be accurate,
organized labor, is also condemned by
many well meaning persons. Where
unfriendliness to union labor is not &C.
casioned by personal grievance or self
Dish interest it has its seat in lack of
knowledge of the question, or so L
firmly believe. But. be that as 1t may,
there are otherwise intelligent and just
organized labor in its contest with the
employer even when the employer Is
trust This is unfortunate, for organ
lied labor is doing battle against an
enemy OF the people.
The amazing thing is that the cap
tains OF industry, the masters Of the
great Industrial combinations, have not
made an effort to secure an alliance
with the forces OF organized labor, tao
lily, II not by positive agreement, thus
forestalling the greatest impeachment to
their absolutism. and it was thought by
many that such an arrangement was
the purpose and would be the result Of
the trust conference held under the
auspices of the Chicago Civic fedora
tion in September, 1899. Certainly
some of the addresses delivered by
prominent labor men at the conference
gave grounds for this belief, but
whether the labor men were simply
throwing out "feelers" or the trust
men baked at an arrangement that
meant more wages for labor and
smaller dividends on liquid shares, or
whether there was ever anything to
Justify the belief that an alliance was
desired by either side. it is a sure thing
now that labor and the trusts are oppo-
nents, not allies
In considering the attitude of labor
howard the trust it is necessary to
understand that the workingmen are
not q unit in their estimate of the
power OF the trust and the danger that
therein lies The socialists, of whom
there are many among the working
men. hold that the trust is natural
evolution of industrialism which will
eventually lead to the specialization Of
all industry, thus bringing about the
cooperative commonwealth. The more
radical of the socialists, those who de-
scribe themselves % "class conscious"
have no sympathy with the popular
outcry against trusts, but rather offer
all the obstacles at their command to
the agitations, political and economic,
which look to the destruction or him
dering of monopolistic combinations
In manufacturing, transportation and
mercantile pursuits
These men declare that the trust is
TO become an international institution;
that fits power will be worldwide; fac
tories the world over will be opened or
closed at the command of the trust
King. 4ne pTOpuecy VI lhS NAoSS SOH-
scious" socialist goes on: All factory
owners, employees and buyers viii be
forced to submit to the trust kings de-
crees, for all characterization will meet
with severe punishment This will
gradually place mankind in the power
of a few conquerors- In this way a
new feudalisn will be called into ex-
istence much more powerful and exact
ing than the old = an aristocracy or
muitimilIionaIres more naughty than
that OF the crusaders. more self willed
than that OF royalty. which, though
crowned, is held I'm by constitutions
Neros will be created whose insane
pride will originate unknown forms of
abject submission and who will spur
the servile disposition Of the multitudes
20 despicable expressions OF doggish