The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-30
JOHN MlICHELL.S BOOK

JOHN MITCHELL.S BOOK
ga Strong and Interesting Presenta-
ton Of the Labor Problem from
the Union Point Of View.
81 The book by John Mitchell, president iof
the United Mine Workers Of America, ON
[ stsOrga nized Labor" has at last been given
to the pub ic.s Doubtless there are.some
l-hundreds of thousands, Sof Americans to
whom twill be the book of sfhe year.
Only those who have come Into close per-
sonaF relations with SInienisIn and .lunion-
lists can understand how strong is the de-
Votton of workmen to the union, and only
those who know the strength of this deyo-
| ton can understand what store will be
set by this book of Americas greatest and
W1sest labor leader. sfa . Z
go The Union Idea.
+ In the very first sentence OF his preface
Mr. Mitchell mentions the basic idea Of
! has made uosllis mind that he must re-
main a wage earnef-.s, Therein begins
unionism.. Tt is.a fact much as we dis
like ito admit it, that the great multitude
! Of toilerss int this world cannot expect to
Ebecon1e capitalists or captains or super
ll l11 Of industry Here and there
is a man, who will rise partly because Of
Iexception 1sabiiit ties: partly because of ex
lceptional opportunities. That sort of man
has no interest in ia Dor unions as agencies
for. benefiting himself But Tom, Dick
and Harry, who realize that so long, as
strength is granted them to work there
is. only one, place for them, have come to
see that the only way in which they can
benefit them sellYessis to benefit their class.
Hence the uhioAs zone for ALL. and; all
for one. & "a sEIE%ss $=$
=. re- 8. Mr. Mitchelps Key Note. ...:5
1 In. the preface Mf.. Mitchell also sounds
1 the keynote of his whole discussion of the
great question of#organiza ton. He be
tlieYes in organizationsand defends it, but
he does not make t hem stake of under
taking to defend every act that is per-
formed in the 1lanlei ;of union. In this
AIrsaefitcheHsp nnsaas s4he tacsfcs 81 aswise
4 advocate. He admits much and thereby
4 gains confidence in his. assertions and de-
malls The preface, too, reveals att once
Mr.. MitchelIs ttitude towards; the em-
I ployer. He is a good fellow who means
we'll but makes mistakes thru ignorance
and will continue to make them until he
gets over his aversion to collective bar
gaining about wages and comes to under
stand that such bargaining is the only
right and proper way in which to establish
fixed relations between employer and EN-
| plcye. The labor problem Is not TO be
solved by the generosity and kindness OF
the employer but by recognition Of the
rights of labor. Trade agreements viii
become more and more common in the
coming years. They will make Tor peace
in the Industrial world and strikes ant
chickering's will be reduced to a minimum
Mr.. Mitchell is sure that the time is com
11-lopD ho ind inc
ployer Will realize the advantages and The
a essential fairness Of the joint bargaining
method Of determining what wages shall
Il be. - - 80 -: $500 = - stist
-'s'r-@', Writes for Employers. - I =. !
It is plain to- Mr.. Mitchell hopes tina
his book will illuminate the prejudicet
minds of some employers He has writ
ten with the hope that he can make, EN-
! ployers understand the point Of View O.
the unionist. So, in the first chapter we
get the philosophy of trade unfonism. III
it's fundamental prihciple,'' he writes
gtrade. unionism is plain and clear AND
simple. Trade unionism starts from
recognition of the fact that under norma
conditions the indiYidlal,-, unorganizet
. workman cannot Bargain advantageousE
M 1sn5f he ezpoyef 9t m Sas e an
tract between rich employer and poo
workman, the laborer Will secure tn
! WOfSI VI II, ne Is progressively ueDdSGU
because of wages insufficient to buy nour
! ishing food, BECAUSE Of hours of labor to,
long to permit sufficient rest because o
conditions 81 W9rl1 As1sfnfitHIvs af mora
and annihiating to the labor classes 0
the present and the future. and, finally
because of danger from accident and dis
= ease, which kill off the workingman o
prematurely age him. The individual bar
gain between or individual contract he
tween employers and men means that tn
condition of the worst and lowest man ii
the industry will be that which every MAJ
must accept Nothing does trade un
ionism oppose so much as the individua
contract. nothing does it advocate s
much as, the joint bargain. -, --s.ts. j,
'..;.' The Necessity of Labor Unions.
Mr.. Mitchell makes telling use of tn
undisputed degradation and abuse of tn
working people IN the early days of tn
factory system, in his argument for. tn
necessity of labor unions. The all to
: true ACCOUNTS Of the sufferings Of tn
: wage slaves of the first half :of the nine
+ teenth century are drawn with a brus
that spares no line of pain. While tn
: misery of the English mine and factor
operatives was never known in America
: Mr.. Mitchell takes pains to remind us tina
. the lot of the workman hundred year
ago or more was nothing for the youn
d American workman got two shillings a day
V and had to pay rs cents bushel for corr
:, $2.1s for wheat and 20 cents pound 70
> salt pork. Following his presentation 9
the conditions that existed before tn
advent Of unlonisn1 Mr.. Mitchell gives
resume of the history of labor organfza
ton in England and the United States.
: :. In successive chapters, Mr. Mitchell
T takes up all the stock arguments agains
labor unions and makes out a strong cas-
for them as the defenders of the man
hood of the workers, the protectors o
1 the women and children Of the poo
and as great. Uplifting agencies, constant
" tending to give the. republic, a bette
class of workmen and better citizen
v among wage earners. Of course, he
: a special pleader, but he does the worl
e ably. - ~; =
On such subjects as the use of injunc
j. lions by the courts in labor troubles an
compulsory arbitration, Mr. Mitche
: speaks out plainly. The workman is. con
9 WINGED that the higher courts are general
I ~ biased against him, and the more h
i can keep out of courts. the better. So, tn
less injunction and arbitration for him tn
c better At the same time Mr.. Mitche
: comedies that in the case of certain publ
: service corporations, such as railways an
: street car lines, the interests of the publ
: may demand a law which will max
i strikes and lockouts impossible ssigEers
8 The Anthracite Miners Strike. 2
G The discussion of the anthracite Goa