The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-02
Trades Unions.

somewhat different way, President Mitch
ell of the U. NJ w. of A. and Senator
Fairbanks of Indiana, in their respective
orations yesterday, were in close agree
rnent as to the supreme efficacy OF trades
Funionism as solvent of the labor prob |
lem.
President Mitchell declared that he was
committed to campaign whose ultimate
attainment would be the inclusion OF
every workman within the ranks Of or
ganized labor. Il stand, said he, Tor
the solidarity of the trades union move |
ment" Senator Fairbanks declared that
labor organizations have their origin in
the instinct Of self preservation, Of mu-
tual advancement, Of common good, and
are as natural and legitimate as the
Organization Of capital
These sentiments are as old as or
ganized society. The old Roman trades
unions were both commercial and indus
trial. They embraced every trade and
business. They were incorporated bodies
Under the empire the government fixed
the maximum membership. They were
endowed with great domains, the income
from which insured the payment of wages.
Before the Christian era trades unions
were duly authorized and incorporated
by the state. Their property was entailed
and inalienable. Their funds grew to such
large proportions that they excited the
cupidity, Of the spendthrift Roman en-
perors who robbed them and wasted them
on useless public works such as Caligula
and Nero and Heliogabalus constructed
for their amusement.
Trades unionism has been persistent
who are now exhuming the buried civil
lization of old Nippur are digging up tab
lets which indicate that the trades were
intelligently organized two or three thou
Sand years and probably more before the
Christian era
In these latter days, when capitalistic
consolidation on an immense scale has
been found essential to meet the new
conditions engendered by industrial prog
ress, following the wonderful inventions
of labor saving machinery, it Is simply
complementary process that the Or
ganization Of the forces Of labor. in Its
own right and for Its own benefit, should
continue and continue intelligent
age of machinery, which has elevated the
standard of comfort, responsibility and
morality Of knowledge, science and civil
ization.
The organization of labor for the pur-
pose of physical campaigns against cap.
ital to force it to it's terms is as repre-.
hensible' as the organization Of capita
would be merely to deny ordinary justice
70 labor. It is essential that labor be
organized-as essential as the organiza
ton of capital, but, at present, there i!
difference between such organization!
to the disadvantage of labor. Capital
istic organization is Incorporated. Trades
unionism is not Incorporated. This is no
mere distinction without a. difference.
Organized capital incorporated is re
sponsible. Organized labor ought not t.
~ evade responsibility and, incorporated
* It would not and could not avoid re
sponsibility. Incorporated organized labo
would find immense advantage and prof
in all its differences with capital. whic
it. does not settle by conference, to g
into the courts and plead its rights an
cause and abide by the judicial deter
mination. Under these conditions violenc
as a solvent would be eliminated an
there would be no interruption of work.
This rational mode OF solving the labo
problem has been tried in England sue
cessfully. 1t ought to be the solvent 1
every civilized country. Justice shira
of the federal supreme court, recently es
pressed his belief, unofficially, that tn
would be the intelligent solution Of tn
question. Labor would have to relinquis
something of it's confidence in strikes an
boycotts and rise to the acceptance /
good faith of that which receives valit
ity and sanction from the law, impartial
administered. Capital would have no Dol
sible advantage under this process ov,
that enjoyed by labor. .-.