Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-06-12

security. they have taught him that
nnity Of effort is vitality essential to
his we'll being, aye. that it is
essential to his existence as q free
man.
A few more visits TO the butcher q
or grucer's shop will do more to con-
vince the workingman Of the real
meaning Of the trust to him. than all
che graceful rhetoric can advance.
The trusts motto is economy in pro-
auction, and even though it results in
diminution Of prosperity of the
workingman.
The result of tie anthracite coal
strike should have taught them q les
son it would be we'll for them not to
forget that in the final test, the sup
RENE power inheres not in the classes,
but the masses.
The trade union movement is an
aggressive as we'll Ia q progressive
movement. So much Ia expected of
1t, that there is every reason to ba
cautious in every undertaking. There
is more to lose today than there was
few years ago. The attachments of
trade unioniem have been so great,
and may say rapid that one foolish
blunder is capable of having a very
decrying effect. 1t then becomes our
duty in organizing new unions to be
very particular in our advice as to
the methods they should pursue. Let
the unions profit by experiences Of
those that have failed in the past.
Our best school is the school of OK
perience. The trade unions have GER
1ainly had some trying ones and
while they come out of most of them
very creditably the stronger we grow
the more necessity there is for
caution. Let our watchword continue
to be "Toilers Organize.
1t was once said and believe some
political economist in text book de-
fines trade union as IAN organiza-
ton of wage earners formed for the
purpose of striking" Indeed at this
late day too many people still have
that erroneous idea. The history of
our movement is that wherever labor
IS we'll organized there are the least
number Of strikes. No labor organ
zation cares about entering a strike
anymore than q nation glories in
going to war, for strike is but an
industrial war. Bat strikes sometime
becomes necessary and when they do
strike aud strike hard. There are
some things worse than a strike and
one of them is depressed manhood.
Minnesota with it's numerous labor
organizations, has been indeed FORUM
ately free from many strikes during
rne past year. The governor of this
state in his message to the Legislature
laid particular stress upon this fact.
and attri buted it to the wise and
cautious policy of our labor organiza-
lions.
The stronger we grow, the more the
sentiment among even large employers
seems to grow in favor of voluntary
arbitration. 1t has been our policy
for the very conce ptiun of our move
ment. L have always entertained
the belief that much Of the friction
between employers and the employee
was due to the fact that they did not
understand each others disposition.
They have drawn further apart as
questions involving their relationship
to each other have arisen, instead of
seeking a mutually fair and accept
able solution through full, frank and
candid discussion of the subjects.
1t ia proper that the American
workman should have voice in fix
ing the tsrms of his employment and
compensation. It is his right and it
is perfectly natural that he should be
disposed to exercise that right and be
unwilling to surrender it.
the representatives of the owners of
the property and the representatives
Of the employers have Joined in an
b ok &nSa
ing. it has generally been reached,
and having been reached, has been
followed by more cordial. pleasant and
mutually beneficial relationships than
before existed. It as naturally follows
that under these relationships there
is much less likelihood of difference
arising, and that If they do arise,
they are more easily adjusted than
would otherwise be the case.
have long been q believer in the
idea that tie trades unions should
carry on . campaign of education,
even outside Of their ranks Even the
most humble mechanic requires more
or less of an education. The educating
feature OF the trades union, while
ccmmendable to q degree. is far from
being what 1t should be.
WOulQ reCOme0Q Cn0t the ffeeldent
70 this Federation be authorized to
appoint Propaganda committee,
whose duty it will be to prepare
literature, and oversee it's distribution
in every portion Of the state. par
ticularly In localities where. trades
unionism is unknown. This COM
mitee can do considerable good if it
chooses.
Before close permit me to speak
another word for organized labor.
John P: Altgeld once said: 'I5 was
inevitable that on both sides the
Atlantic movement should be given
birth for the emancipation of labor.
The leaves of justice once in motion
must leaves the whole lump. Magma
Charta, extorted from King John,
freed the barons. The American
Magma Charta, the Declaration of
Independence. gave to sll people their
political rights, but left labor in serf-
dom. - 4 j. = ss.~.s g~:.y.
Is L believe that incur i, present
civilization: 8. the. various machinery
~ vnof3opn aoo3atu- a. 1890. 49, -