The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1903-04-23
FRANK ". ROACH ....... Managing Editor
THE LABOR PROBLEM

A subject of deepest moment, and
n that calls for careful and practi-
cal consideration in settling upon a
policy or plan that shall govern all
parties concerned for all time to come,
is the problem of organized labor
its rights. and the limits or bound
aries of it's Jurisdiction, and the con-
sideration due it from employers.
1t is but a few years ago that labor
unionism was a factor little reckoned
in the cost of production. Now it is
one of the first considerations. EN-
ployers of labor. whether individuals
or corporations, laid their plans with
out regard to n requests or demands
that might come from an organized
body of w~orkingmen, and laborers con-
tracted to perform services on an in
dtyidual basis, without seeking the
cooperation or considering the inter
ests Of their fellow workmen. But to-
day there is no branch of industry
whose conditions are not governed by
influences that bear directly upon both
employer and employee. Some of the
complications that have arisen. and
are daily coming up for consideration
are of the gravest moment, and call
for all the ingenuity and diplomacy
that the brightest men of the age are
capable of putting forth.
While it must be admitted that there
are features of LABOR organization and
trades unionism that are objection
able, yet it eannot be denied That these
are overbalanced by the inestimable
benefits that have accrued to humanity
by reason of their existence. Trades
unionism is cooperation; it is educa-
ton. 1t means the moral uplifting,
broadening of intellects and perfec-
ton of talents in the laborer. Its
tendency is to raise the grade or quail
ity of the labor performed, therefore
giving the employer more efficient ser
vice. And naturally, the first obstacle
in the way of it's recognition is the
accession on the part of the employer
ton, for better pay, for shorter hours,
for more humane treatment of the
employe. There's where the shoe
pinches.
In attempting to suppress and ignore
the demands of labor. the employer
seems almost invariably to overlook
he fact that the existence of labor
organizations is due to the oppression
of capital in the hands of men whose
sole aim is to get out of the employee
the greatest amount of labor for the
least compensation. If the theory up
on which organization of labor is
based is wrong. morally, and any
blame attaches, il rests upon the en-
ployer. One cannot think without
a shudder of what the condition of
the American workingman would be
If there had never been a labor union
formed in America. In placing the
blame for any wrong, such narrow
dyspeptics as President Parry of the
National Association of Manufactur-
ers would do well TO read up on the
history of labor unions, and endeavor
to learn what brought their formation
about.
The Silver State is wholly and
heartily in favor of labor unionism.
believing that the wage-earning class
has the right TO a fair share of the
profits Of their labor and the right
TO be treated as men born free and
equal" We do not eondone or ex-
cuse the acts of lawlessness that are
committed by radical, irresponsible
members of labor unions in the name
of unionism: but neither do we be-
lieve that the organizations into which
these undesirable characters OCCASION