The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-04-28

tHE bFnLN JOONNAL, SAEI
amuses. doing their best TO inname
class hatred and publicly qualifying
themselves to be followers Of Herr
Most?
The narrow and bitter selhshness
of the National Association Of Manu-.
facturers, their gross incapacity to
see any other interest than their own.
demonstrates the need OF organiza.
tion among workingmen for self-pro-
lection against such employers.
The only kind Of labor union which
President Parry and his association
regard with favor is either one which
can offer no advantages to its mem.
bers, or one whose declared object is
To war upon organized labor. The
"scab," the strikebreaker appeals 10
these employers as the ideal work.
ingmen. But much as the National
Association of Manufacturers hate
and assail the union principle among
wageworkers, no part Of the New
Orleans conventions proceeding ex.
cited greater enthusiasm than the
declaration that the association
should 90 on strengthening itself for
the benefit OF its members.
Every man who can think, whether
he can manufacture or not Is aware
that the prosperity Of the masses, OF
the people who do the country's work
depends upon the prosperity OF the
nation. The higher the standard of
wages the greater the consuming
power OF the wageearners. That is
a truth so obvious that II ought 20 be
apparent even to the grade OF mind
which has been exhibiting Itself at
New Orleans.
Could these manufacturers sue
ceed in breaking up or even seriously
damaging organized labor. they would
themselves be among the first TO suf-
FER in the volume OF their sales and
the prices received.
Trades unions, above all other
agencies. have been instrumental in
raising and maintaining the standard
OF wages, Therefore. while seeking
their own advantage. they have con.
ferred an inestimable public benefit.
And the trades unions are continu.
ing TO render this public benefit by
their natural efforts TO bring wages
into harmony with the enhanced cost
OF living which has resulted from our
industrial prosperity Within n few
years the cost of living has advanced
from 30 TO 80 per cent. But general
wages have not gone up in anything
ike the same proportion.
The workingman wants his reason.
able share OF this prosperity,
II he can get II by mediation.
Cancellation and arbitration. he does
H. II not. he strikes
And he does quite right TO strike
when other means fail
n there Is not a greater advance In
wages than in the cost OF living. then
the workinPman Is no better on
What the hard-earned dollar will buy
is the main thing.
The National Association OF Manu-
facturers -- which happily contains
but small percentage OF American
manufacturers-has condemned itself
economically. and morally. too. for
IL is as hard OF heart as Il is wanting
in power 20 think. Such men as Par
~ and his sort war against Industrial
peace and national prosperity. They
are the worst Of strike breeders.
Could they have their way the wages
paid the workers of this Republic |
would be the least upon which the
workers could live Let them make /
the laws and there would be none ON |
the statute book compelling the pro |
per sanitation Of factories. none for
bidding child labor The unintelll /
gence OF their selhshness. repellant j
as il is. is less repulslve than their
The cause OF labor will be adyant-
aged by such proceedings as those at
New Orleans. for they compel
thought
The Parrys belong 20 the slave and
serf stage OF civilization. not In the
twentieth century, aud least Of ali to
the American Republic