The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-23
RIVERS BROS.

"Organized labor must be accented
| as something that exists. Neither the
legal nor moral right of labor to unite
can be questioned. That it has great
ly improved the condition of the
workingman is undeniable. Badly or
| gained unions or those with incom-
petent or dishonest leaders cannot sue
| coed any more than similar combina-
tions of capital This fact has been
clearly demonstrated in both cases
! and repetitions of such failures must
occur through all time, because man
is fallible. But most trades unions
are organized on good business ba.
sis, and the leaders are in the major
ity of cases men of ability and SINGER
ity. Unreasonable demands should
not be granted, since this demoralizes
both contestants, but experience has
demonstrated that calm discussion of
situation seldom fails to produce
amicable settlement In this connec-
ton the Civic Federation has been
power for good. Discussions of dis
puted points is impossible by letter.
while neither side feels that it's dig
nifty can be sustained by going to the
headquarters of the other. A common
ground is provided where the merits
flag of truce without any apparent
concession by either. In countless in
stances agreements have been drawn
up in this way without the necessity
of resorting to arbitration or ANYTHING
more than suggestions from outsiders.
. 1t is frequently stated that as only
twelve or fifteen per cent Of the coun-
try Workingmen are organized they
do not fairly represent the interests of
labor and cannot yield any great
power. Last years memorable strug-
gle in the anthracite coal fields is a
definite REPUTATION of this statement
When Mr. Mitchell presented his case
to the employers, his organization ac-
tually embraced only 5000 men, yet
when the demands were refused near
ly 100, 600 miners stopped work, and
the union gained recruits rapidly.
Acts of violence during that bitter
struggle were deplored by the leaders,
but cannot be avoided in country
where liberal immigration laws ad-
nit all sorts and conditions of men.
NJ borrower, in many instances it has
been demonstrated that the offenders
were III no way connected with labor
organizations, while in other cases
members have been severely disciplin-
ed. In these days of colossal undertake |
lngs there is great economic gain in
being able to do things ON large scale,
and an association of employers that |
can draw up a working agreement |
with large body of employees has an |
advantage over those pursuing early |
methods of individual contracts. In
this connection it IS often stated that |
there is no redress for employers when |
their men repudiate contracts. True,
there is no financial recovery avail
able through the courts, but lin many
cases the moral influence of the Amer |
lean Federation Of Labor or other GEN.
tral body has held men to their con-
tracts.
To the public the most annoying
feature is the inconvenience caused by |
battles between labor unions. A bit |
ter struggle recently occurred between
two organizations of carpenters. This
is result of the general industrial ev-
olution. The United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of America in
sists that the Amalgamated Society of
Carpenters shall be absorbed, claiming
not only great preponderance of num-
bers but also that the other is an alien
organization with headquarters at
Manchester, England. On the other
hand, the latter would lose many sick
ness, old age and death benefits that
could not be made up by the advan-
tages of membership in the Bro her
hood. This is by far the most COM
plicated phase of the labor problem,
yet there is reason to believe that
recent conference will result in
agreement Formerly there
we're four distinct organizations of
carpenters in this CITY Two have been
by amalgamation, and the
of the times suggests that a
'urther consolidation must come
eventually"