The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-03-23

tne weak, d IuI1llS WHICH, Has cursed
humanity in the whole history of long
passed ages
1t is not every trade unionists who
will grasp readily the advantages to be
gained by the methods about to be or
ganized by this, one of the oldest and
most experienced trade union organiza-
tions What the typographical union
does not know of strikes, walkouts and
boycotts has yet to be produced by en-
phatic example. 1t has had fifty years
of experience in the settlement of all
manner of contention; loss of money.
by employees and employers alike, and
the expenditure of many thousands Of
dollars in defense of rights as defensi-
BILE as the right to breathe and live.
The organization has always been con-
Quoted on the broad, honorable and
easily comprehensive basis Of trade un-
ionism without the interference or in
terjection of any other creed, ism Or
theory-only trade unionism; trade un-
ionism, pure and simple. It is through
the teachings of, and the adherence to,
trade union methods that 1t has reach
ed the grandeur and magnificence of,
over four hundred local organizations of
allied trades, as we'll as being the par
ent Of the printing pressmen and book
binders, both of whom now have inter-
national organizations of their own
crafts. The existence and progress of
the printers present sufficient example
and recommends ton for emulation in
other fields, and this new step in the
progress of enlightment and develop
ment can be viewed, reflected upon and
digested by the vast membership of the
score or more Of equally progressive
ion organizations.
One of the creditable features of at.
tempt at settlement of labor troubles of
late years is that, in nearly every case
|of attempt to settle by arbitration, the
proposition comes from the labor side,
from the employe, and it is a case Of
rare occurrence, when opposition is
found, it does not come from the en-
ploying or capitalistic side in the con-
troversy. That, of course, can be at
trbuted to the long lease of power held
. by the employing class, and in the ex-
ercise of a spirit Of feudalism coming
down from the custom of past ages,
where the weaker side held only stip-
endary estate in land, only by service,
only by feudal tenure. The growing
intelligence of the worlds people has
| brought about a vast change in condi-
! tions. Might over right is fast losing
it's absolution of supremacy. AS long
as ignorantisn-the policy Of keeping
/ the masses in a state of ignorance ana
obscuration-preya eyailed, the weak We're
helpless. in any me thod of contention
i u oif
lightenment 4 dispelled the darkness
which had, from the worlds beginning,
| clQuded a vast majority of the human
family as victims of false, pernicious
and cruel customs, and developed an
equality of rights, not restrained by just
| and honorable power or possession; a
demand for simple justice in the dis
tribution Of privileges, in which: the
principle would: prevail of: fairness,
| reasonablen'ess; such equitahility as
would give to each man his due.
! And in no page in the worlds history
has this plan+of an equality of rights
been more ,intelligently, and with more
| reasonableness: of purpose, found it's
demonstrations; than in the develop
| rnent Of trade union principles and pra.
ctices. There. is: nothing in the de-
mands Of pure trade unionism that is
unfair or inequitable. 1t is founded up
on the principles of justice and equality.
1t demands nothing. but it's; rights as a
factor in the production of finished COM
modities for the use and satisfaction of
the worlds demands. 1t takes the dead
| and useless ray material and trans
! forms it into living, practical useful
ness. Without the aid of the. applica-
ton of the labor and handiwork of it's
communal composition, the necessities
of the worlds demands would be sadly
! deplorably missing! AS a factor, prin-
cipal, in production there is no sensi-
BILE or lawful reason why it should not
| be factor in the equita BILE distribution
of the profits resulting from it's partici-
patton in the conditions which bring
I them about. And this is all that is de-
manded or can, or should be demanded
| by the action of any body or organiZa-
! ton of trade unionists Care should
always be taken that demands should
| be reasonably just and equitable; the
| necessities should be carefully weighed,
! before demand is made, and the power
and resources of those upon whom the
demand is made should be as carefully
scrutinized, looked into and developed
as to their ability to render satisfaction
as of those which have forced the de-
| mand. >'.,5 -~,..
| There is no shame or disgrace in ef-
forts of conciliation and arbitration.
The trade unionist should never be in
huenced by. a spirit Of force in his de-
mands--a spirit likely to develop into
a despotism Of power from the strength
of organization. He should always re-
member that employers have rights as
we'll as employees. 1t should not be in
the nature of a trade unionist to bully
or domineer He should be. the first
to conciliate, not because he is the
weaker. but because his demands are
founded, or should be-, upon reasona bic
and equitable grounds. Cancellation
and arbitration will not belle or dis
pute the rightfulness of his claims; II
they are right and just, it will more
firmly establish the Justice of their
( + /