Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-06-27
THE TRADES UNIONS.
THEY ARE DOING A MIGHTY WORK
.z<1.s FOR THE COUNTRY .-~@

THEY ARE DOING a MIGHTY WORK
FOR THE COUNTRY ->@
Row They Have Aided In Uplifting
the Dwel,ers In the Tenement Dis
tricts OF New York-Opponents
{. Should Do Some seriou. Thinking.
F. The process by which the workers
disc themselves in the world, trans
form themselves from mere hand to
mouth, ambitionless drudges into civil
liked. hopeful men and useful citizens
naturally creates friction, and friction
is ever accompanied by heat.
It is quite likely that all the strikes
which are disturbing the country are
not wise and timely, but just the same
these strikes, viewed in the mass, are
the best possible proof of industrial
and social health. They show that the
workers want to better themselves
and are determined to do it. The nation
is prosperous and the wage earners are
bound to have their share Of the pros
Derity.
Individual employers may feel that
they are the victims Of injustice, but
employers in the aggregate will profit
by the success of the strikes. The more
pay the workers get the more they are
able to buy and the better prices they
are willing to give for what they pur-
chase.
Hard things are being said about
trade unions by many persons who
ought to know better. The trade union
Is what gives the workingmen power
to enforce their demands. 1t is the
trade unions that have elevated the
condition of the wage earning millions
and that will continue to elevate it.
The higher the status of the working
man the surer will be the guarantee of
continued prosperity.
High wages make for good citizen
ship since they mean better homes,
more newspapers and books and longer
schooling for the children. A note
worthy acknowledgment of the benefi-
cent effects Of organization among the
workers is made in recent number
of the Metropolitan Magazine. In
an article describing what has been
done Of late years to render life better
worth living in New York's east side
Leroy NJ. Scott. the author tells of the
labors of the college settlements and
other agencies, volunteer and official,
which aim at ameliorating the lot Of
the packed population of the tene-
ments. Then he says:
"Quite different in character from
the foregoing forces and eXerting a
greater influence than any of them for
the betterment of east side conditions
Is the great force which proceeds from
the organization Of people in trade I'M
ions. Whatever he may think of GER
tain practices of trade unions, no fair
man can deny that they more than any
other single movement have been re-
>sponsible for the improvement that has
taken place in the condition of work.
1ngmen in recent years. On the east
side, as elsewhere, conditions are bet
ter in consequence of the organiZa ton
'of labor; wages are higher, hours Of
work are shorter, the environment Of
work is better, and these improved
conditions which Immediately affect
the breadwinner also Immediately af-
feet the family and the home"
The unrefecting and the class selfish
who sheer at trade unions or rage at
at them when they use their power
have but to do little real thinking In
order to come into the knowledge that
the labor organizations are doing a
mighty work not only for their own
members, but for the country. The
workingman who does not belong to
one of them is blind to his own inter
ests, and all others who are hostile to
that they are too narrow to compre-
hend what is going on and what is
best for this democratic republic
New York American.