The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-04-27

and Bring to the Front as: Repre-
!. sentativen Of Labor the Most In->
telltgent and Faithful MenA
$ One of the chief obstacles to the adj
justment of labor disputes arises from
the general refusal of employers to re-
cognize organized labor. There were
good reasons some years ago for en-
ployers to refuse recognition of some,
and probably most of the representa-
tives of labor organizations. They were
then chiefly composed of men who won
their way to leadership and official posi-
ton by demagogism. and used the pow
er Of the organization, in many in
stances, for the purpose of profitable
barter in the political market place.
Many labor organizations have grown
up. attained great power and speedily
persisted, solely because of the want of
honesty or reasonable intelligence on
the part Of the leaders.
|. The early labor organizations were ne
cessarily crude, and offered a most in
yiting field for the blatant demagogue;
but the workingmen Of the country
have kept pace with it's general advance
ment, and today the labor organizatio
of the land form an integral part of the
fixed and permanent institutions of our
country; and, they are generally con-
trolled by men Of intelligence and in
| tegrity. # ". "
Some Of them are doubtless corrupt.
as are leaders in many other important
organizations, and others are at times
misled by the extreme necessities Of the
wage.earners they represent, but, as
rule, the labor organizations, of today
are entitled not only to general respect
but to general recognition, and such
| recognition should be thoroughly manly
to assure sympathy and trust between
employers and employed.
| 1t is idle for employers at this late
day Ito deny recognition to organized
| labor. The example of organization
! was given to wage-earners by their en-
ployers. There is no more complete
organization in any channel of indus
try or trade than the organization that
controls the mining, transportation and
! sale: of anthracite coal. Not only by
open example are the miners of our
anthracite fields taught the Importance
of organization by their employers, but
this completeness Of organization gives
the: best assurance of profitable returns
by the great coal operators of the state:
and+it also enables them to pay better
wages to labor than could be paid un-
der. the cut-throat policy that once pre-
vailed among the producers of anthra-
cite coal. Millions of tons were mined
and sold at less than cost, and the
] heaviest blow fell upon labor; but now,
by organization, the output of coal is
absolutely controlled to prevent loss to
/ the producers. With such high example
and with such beneficial results from
Organization, why should not the min-
ers Of the anthracite coal fields perfect
I laSl1aiHtain thorough organisa ton
i II Is not only right that they should do
tso, but 1t is made lawful by the statute
of the state. =:
! The time has come when organiza-
tion employers should frankly and man
fully recognize organized labor Such
recognition would do more than all
1 other causes to elevate the character Of
labor leadership, and bring to the front
as representatives Of labor the most in
telligent and faithful men. ST..
We doubt whether there is a railroad
! magnate in the land who would be glad
i to see the Locomotive Brotherhood de-
stroyed. 1t is the best organization OF
/ all our industrial circles and under the
. leadership of Arthur, it has commaned
the absolute confidence of the railroad
people Of the entire country. This or.
ganiZation is frankly and cordially re.
cognized, and when grievances are pre-.
sented by that organization they are
always promptly and fairly considered;
and the result has been, not a singlt
strike has occurred in that industry
since it's organization has been recog.
nized by employers. IT, 4
Thus, every dictate of justice and OF
expediency demands that the labor or.
CARNATIONS of today should be cordi.
ally recognized by employers. . The,
1 could not do otherwise it they would
and they should not do so if they could
Labor organizations are here to stay
and the sooner they are brought into
the closest relations with organized EN-.
ployers the sooner will the control o1
labor be brought to the highest stand
ard Of intelligent and honest admins
tration. It would bring the disputins
parties into more friendly and sympa.
thetic relations: and when employers
and employed confer upon equal foot
ing strikes will likely be eliminated
from our, industrial circles. Recognize
organized labor.-Philadelphia Times
- :; IT - .--
EMPLOYERS VIEW OF UNIONS.