Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-09
LABoR's HOLIDAY.
CONTINUED from page -

the last decade Given a good deal
more of stern, sound, knowing criti-
clsnn, and I believe We shall escape the
Killing effects on industry charged TO
lrades-unionism in England. For our
iapof is clearer-headed as well as big
ser-muscled and shrewder-handed than
ioreign labor. 1t has it's violence and
| us passions and its absurdities; but it
! can learn. To be sure we often see
| iapor acting as Though it had learned
iiothlng, and a large class of employ
efs see only ignorance and violence.
ana eXecrate unionism. This is such
| pllnd opposition as these same employ
efS despise in the antitrust fighters.
Inc history of the organization of CAPT
TAI and of labor is q close parallel OF
cftlleS and mistakes, but that these are
hot essentials to either is proven by the
progress, slow and hard though it be,
when each is making. But the best
evidence of permanency is the i'm
pfoVement in the character of the
unions, their broadening policies, the
conservatism of their leaders, which
have male possible the Inauguration of
JOINT conferences and agreements with
'.
'Ehe increased use of these conferences
and agreements during the past five
years proves that some employers have
come 10 look upon some unions as Il
good and permanent force.
The enormous growth of these or
ganlzations make them a power. Sept.
/ 80 1902, there was affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, ma
tional and international unions with
approximately 14,C00 local unions under
their direct jurisdictiom SO; state fed
erations. 2G; city central bodies, 424;
local federal labor unions and local
trade unions, directly affiliated to the
American Federation of Labor by char
ter, 1883. In the II months ending Oct.
!, 1862, there have been organized and
chartered by our affiliated national
unions, and by the American Fedora
ton of Labor direct, not less than $500
new local unions. with an added men,
bership of not less than 100000. The
total membership must be close to
1000 900.
President Elliot of Harvard, speak
| ing of labor unions, says:
Let me admit, as all persons must
who have studied their history, that
the industrial community as Il whole is
under many obligations to the unions
| They nave, as a matter of fact, miti-
gated many evils. They have reduced
| what used to be the unreasonable num-
! Der Of hours in Il days work They
have improved health conditions in fac
| tories and mines, and have procured
the legislation which has enforced bet
! ter health conditions. They have pre-
| vented young children from working in
| factories, and they have emancipateI
| employees i'll many industries from the
company store. Moreover, they hold
i'll. check combined capital; and COM
bined capital is, from the democratic
point Of view, Il formidable oliarchy,
and one which the American commun-
ity is distinctly afraid of The labor
unions hold that o1iarclly in check. The
| argument commonly used in iustifca-
tion of the organizations of laborers in
unions is q sound one--capital is eff
fcCtiVely combined in certain indus
tries. and therefore, laborers must ef-
fectively combine in those industries.
That argument is unansWerable. The
great combinations of capital are very
formidable to unskilled laborers-inuch
moro formidable than to the average
man in the community at large, and
they are sufficiently formidable to us
all. | think. too, that We all believe
that the labor union is going to last
The facilities for uniting multitudes of
men in one organization, for communi-
eating on the instant with all branches
of III" organization, for bringing masses
of men together for Il common purpose
have increased wonderfully even with
in the last ten years.
The one necessary thing today is that
the unionist should learn patience
practice justice, stand FOR fairness, that
the employer should seek to see both
sides, should be willing to cooperate
with the Workmen, should put aside the
unreasonable view that capital is the
only party to be considered This
problem can only be worked out at
great cost and suffering to all con-
rerned and the one who would inject
bitterness and hatred into the discus
sion and into the struggle cannot be too
greatly condemned.
"Organized labor is an institution
tuition that is promoted by laboring
men who seek to protect themselves
and whose hope is mutual benefit"
says Senator Marcus A. Hanna of
Ohio. Organization of capital has
come to stay, just as organized labor
has come to stay, and for the same rea-
son-it is necessary. You cannot sep
1rate the interests of capital and labor
II it is good for one to be organized for
any purpose, it is good for the other for
the same reason. They are both good
ana necessary as applied to our condi-
lions today and our development for
the future.
Labor Union Methods.
Many persons harbor the idea that
Unions favor strikes as a method OF Sc
curing their demands Nothing could be
farther from the truth than this.
Again, many think the Unions the
cause of most strikes. This is also un-
true. The strike, so far as the Union is
concerned, is ii last resort, sort of war
| measure. No one knows better than
| the American workman the injury
caused by the strike and the Unions