The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-11-02
HISTORY OF UNIONS
CONTINUED from last week.

The new ideas finally became so
strong, they finally so saturated the
minds Of men, they gained such con-
troll of the consciences of men, that
when the middle class, which had
grown rich and powerful IN the cities,
wanted to take the power, from the
kings, the nobility and the clergy, it
was to those ideas they appealed. It
was those ideas that armed the hosts
of Europe against the old and discrepit.
1t was those ideas that kept up the
courage of the Continentals in the
Revolutionary war of this country.
These ideas wrote the Declaration Of
independence and forced its recogni-
ton from its opponents.
It will be noted that these ideas first
of all were addressed to the minds
and the consctences Of men, as dealing
with their attitude and relation to God.
Having conquered that field they ex-
tended into the political relations of
men and transformed the state. They
are now gradually extending them
selves upon the industrial field, with
the purpose Of remodeling the same b.
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pagan idea of absolutism. There is no
doubt that this struggle win continue.
There is no doubt that in this coming
century it is going to be fiercer than
ever. There is no doubt that it is going
to be the cause of untold suffering, and
again it may be stated that looked at
from narrow point of view it is not
advantageous in all it's aspects to the
working people. But it unquestionably
is II looked upon from the broad aspects
of evolution toward better form Of
society. What is it doing todya? It
takes the individual who under modern
conditions feels himself utterly help
less and crushed. 1t gives to him new
ideas, new hope and new determination.
It lessons pauperism by the introduce
ton of mutual help done in brotherly
way, guaranteed as right. That it
raises the standard of living is so abso-
lutely indisputable that no economic
writer of note today can be found who
will dispute it. During economic crises
it resists reduction Of the standard Of
living to the utmost, and with the re-
appearance of better times 1t endeavors
at the earliest moment to resume the
old position and endeavors to improve
it. This has been so we'll established
by the statistics of Great Britain for
the last 60 years, there is not today
a British statesman, even Of the Man
chester schools who is not especially
friendly to organizations of. labor into
trade or labor unions. It tends to
sobriety in life, to moderation in speech
and to determined resistance to all at
tacks upon liberty wheresoever found.
It gives to the weak the strength and
endurance of the strong. to the rash it
teaches caution, upon the careless it
urges ctrcumspection, 1t makes in gen.
eral for stronger manhood, a happier
womanhood and brighter childhood.
Its endeavor through modern days has
been to put the man to work, leave the
woman In the home and send the chill
dren to school. It seeks to put bride
on: the grasping and .avaricious among
the employers and compel him to come
up to the standard Of the better ones
in his treatment Of his employees. It
therefore makes for the fairer compe-
tition between the employers, while it's
aim is to destroy competition between
the working men. When the employer
refuses to listen to prayers and petit
tions, we refuse to him the supply Of
that labor which makes his plant re-
munerative. When he rEfuses to listen
to our petitions and redress our grew
ances we refuse to'continue to labor for
him. In other words. we strike. The