The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-03-14
LABOR NEWS AND COMMENTS.
PERSONAL, ORGANIZATION AND LEGISLATIVE

There are great many trade union
lists who are in sympathy with Mr..
Sellers' conclusion. Perhaps it would
have been better if the strike was
fought to finish. Just at
the time when the president
called for peace, there was a powerful
sentiment being chrystallized for the
public ownership of the coal mines,
and the railroads leading thereto
The prolonging Of the strike would
have compelled immediate action to
this end. And as Mr.. Sellers we'll says
although with another view, "it will
have to be fought out again" Yes,
and the inevitable end must be the
downfall of private ownership and the
recognition Of the rights of labor.
A western manufacture in letter
to member of the United States
Senate in relation to the eight-hour
bill, says: tNeither In our experience,
nor in any of the statistics of the gov
ernment, have we found that a day Of
more than eight hours has been an alb
normal tax upon the physical or men,
| tai condition of men,"
| This is the testimony of manufac-
turer, and what would be the testi
mony of the man who works the twelve
| hour day? Organized labor is not
| contending for the eight hour day for
any such reason as is set forth above.
When labor fought for the reduction
Of the working hours from twelve to
ten it was really humanitarian strug-
gle. The physical and mental strain
for twelve hours was too great. But
the reduction of the hours of labor
from ten to eight is wanted for eco
nomic reasons. This is true particular
ly where improved labor-saving ma
chinery is used, The kind of service
demanded by employer9 to-day re-
quires workingmen to have a technical
as we'll as practical knowledge of their
trade. They must have time to acquire
this. Where labor is enjoying the
eight hour day it is in the advance of
this respect
Here is a good argument against
| high wages:
when organized labor puts up wages
In the steel business, says the New
| York Press. it is not the steel plants
which are taxed for the difference
They add the increase to the price
|
it. When organized labor raises the
scale for railway employees the man.
ayers pass it along to the freight rates
and the public, which eats and wears
and uses the ARTICLES bearing the higher
Transportation tariff pays It. When the
unions IN the allied bull ding trade,
sEfhe thsk Sn g t@s
don't pay it:,,The%$soo me. ns1s J io
pie who live in the houses. the publt,
which pays the rent, pay IT,
Any Tom fool knows this. Bu
where does labor get off at? If the op.
, ponents of high wages were as de.
sirous to regulate profits as they ar,
to fix the wages of labor another tun,
, would be harped. A Jewish friend wei
put it when he said: give ME tn
time when wages are high, and we will
all make good money
Down in st. Paul last week the Afro
= American council composed of coloret
: men, discussed the question of labo
. unions. J. F. McGhee president of tn
: council is reparted to have epresse,
himself upon the subject as follows:
I'VE feel that organized labor /
against the colored man, but on ex
y animation Of the organic law Of tn
: American Federation of Labor, fin
t that no man can be barred from til
e organization on account of color. l
e organized labor does keep us out. tha
. is another reason why the colored ma
should organize to fight the labor or
ganizations.'
e God knows. the colored man has a
. up hill struggle in this world, but h
. should never hold the trade union re
a sponsible. No other institution in Am
7, erica is attempting to protect the negr
2, as the trade union is doing. It wei
1t comes him into it's ranks and it gual
e antees to him the same protection q
it's white members.