The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-29
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TUESDAY, SEPT. 20, 1903.
THE WORSHIP OF ORGANIZATION.


The answer that President Lynch, of
the International Typographical union,
makes to the criticism of the oath re-
quired to be taken by members of that
organization evades rather than an
swers the point. He says that he him.
self and many others subscribed to that
oath many years ago and still remain
good citizens and good men. He dis
claims any intention on the part of the
union to interfere with the political or
religious beliefs of any of its members.
All this is quite true, yet the truth of
it demonstrates that the oath in ques-
ton is unnecessary, rather than that it
is proper
We think it quite true that the
matter of pledges exacted by this and
other unions from their members has
been exploited to a rather unnecessary
extent, but we think also that the occa-
sion is a fortunate one for calling at
tention to a dangerous feature of most
of these associations; a feature danger
Gus not merely to the public, but to
their own future and their own success.
This is a danger common to all
forms of organized effort, and consists
In setting the fortunes of the organiza-
tion above the fortunes of the object
which it has been formed to advance.
We find this very common in the
history of lob
deed. the great defect of the whole sys-
tenn of trades unions today. The mem
bers are taught to consider their Or
ganization a sacred and infallible thing
Criticism of it, whether lust or not is
resented with the utmost bitterness. It
Is made point of honor to defend it's
resolutions, its orders and its acts. no
matter whether they be righteous or
the opposite. The average member of
a union holds it to be aIoof from criti-
cism; and resents any reflection upon
1t, even with good cause, as an attack
upon his personal honor This is the
principal reason why differences be-
tween labor and capital are so stub
bornly contested and so frequently
marked by narrowness on both sides.
For it is to be remembered that we
are speaking of a defect not merely of
the organization of labor, but of all
organization. 1t tends to the worship
OF the mechanical. When men associ-
ate together, whether it be to operate
a railroad or organize a church or con-
duet labor unions the mere fact of
their association presently takes prece-
dence of all else in their minds, The
value of transportation or religious ex-
perlence or of a community of interest
among laboring men sinks to second
place; and the company, the church
and the union rise to the first rank.
Each member thereafter makes it a
point of honor to defend the organ
1zatlon, although he may know in his
own mind and conscience that it has
departed from its proper path or func-
ton The strength of this form of all
legiance is the great drawback to the
perfect and completed work which Or
ganlzation ought to accomplish.
Do not make a fetch of organiza-
tion' no matter what its name or for
what purpose it exists. It is a means
and not an end. 1t is the end alone
mat can justify the means. The SUI
preme allegiance of every human being
lies in the moral obligations that he
feels. He may call this worsb;n Of
Hoo' or obedience to the dictates of
conscience, or fealty to an Unborn sense
OF honor, or by such other name as he
pieases; but it is that sense which di-
reefs him so to act that he shall be a
better man than he was before, and
me community the better and happier
1or his having lived in it. Any obliga-