The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-04-09

ned OF better leadership than those
bound In the unions; every man who
is given authority in labor union
must be a thinker and the thinking
he does must be OF the soberest and
most consecutive sort, for the honor
and safety and success OF all his fel.
lows. depends upon the thought he
gives to the emergency confronting
the union. You cannot serve a price
less Ideal by cheap and causeless ac-
ton Shakespeare has told us this
in one Of his superb lines Thrice
armed is he who hath his quarrel
just" And in no latitude OF quasi.
public contention. is the saying more
applicable than in the initiatory Of
the union when il makes formal de
mand for its rights.
Union has a sovereign power.
The latent in well-sustalned union
is almost immeasurable The mere
possession OF this power makes It OBJ
ligatory upon the union to use II with
circumspection and In season To use
It in an abusive and arbitrary fashion
Is proof positive of ignorance and
weakness on the part of the leaders
who advise II and of stupidity and in.
difference on the part OF the member.
ship that follows the unwise counsel
Local unions may come and go. but
the principle for which unionism |
stands lives on forever. Principles
never die. Those who adopt them |
and seek to make exalted application I
Of them. may fail through fault and |
bunder and cupidity. but the core
thought flourishes elsewhere in more
competent hands. and so the struggle
for It's survival Is never relinquished.
Hence. Il behooves every new union
to study closely every idea for which
IL Is organized and TO watch jealousy
every step taken 10 enforce and apply
those ideas. Every leader who IS
worth the right of election should be
wise enough and conscientious enough
to give his best thought 10 the work
aud 10 guide and advise his collea.
gues along lines that will not lead TO
stultihoauou and reaction.
Unlonism must live II in its nostrils !
is kept the breath OF action born Of /,
honest inquiry OF concerted approval 4
and OF saasonCblc doing II must bc
rs wise as It's adyersaHes; IL cannot {
iawdle through It's career indifferent,
napt and irresponsible. II must take ;
into itself the best and latest knowl '
edge OF men and facts and conditions a
aud weigh every act and order OF its 4,
Iwn In the scale Of popular measur
nent and appreciation.
II must harl, back 70 It's own predi
'ate OF ORDER increasingly; It must
scan an is projects by the ideal Il I
represents: IL must employ its powers i
ntelligently and at times whom such
exercise OF power is beyond question
necessary. IL must do tho manly /
hing " IL Is 10 represent men, Tor the !
outside world will have none OF il " IL .
ihall not do itself justice. Uuionism !
'aunot overlook the gtupendous fact I
hat there are always two sides 20 Z
very contest, and IL must be- certain .
hat It's side is the one in possession
II the Biggest the Most Wholesome,
md the Justest Of the Issues In
'olyed
believe the union movement in
he world OF labor will live. Il will
% a matter OF profound disappoint.
nent TO me. if In my day. the prin- c
'iple Il stands for shall be oyerridden Z
md abased, That this shall never
'ome TO pass rests in your hands and
he hands OF those you choose to act >
or you, II you will give your union y
york all the time and study and effort
{ really deserves. you will be doing
he simplest OF duties, not only to the
.ause hut TO your fellow workmen.
'our leaders, and 20 the field OF labor
Il large, Don't neglect a single point
u the program you have laid out
lont leave everything TO your OF
'ers; cherish your own personal re
as a workman; shirk |
lothing take an interest in the detail
4 the labor, yourself and don't ex
lect too much wisdom too much en-.
rgy, too much success, from the men
O whom you assign certain phases OF
he work; keep your eye ON every in )
crest at stake; take no pitiful ad ,
antages of people, or times. or cir.
The whole world must I,
i've, YOU cannot live unto yourselves.
nd II YOU mean what you say when {
ou say YOU are a union man" you I
vim concede something TO every liv. ,
ne human being because the runda- ,
]