The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-20
MITCHELL ON TRADE UNIONS.
Discussion of the Question by Miners
Famous President.

John Mitchell, president of the United
Mine Workers, has expressed himself on
the principles of trade unions. Whatever
Mr.. Mitchell says on the labor question, one
always feels secure IN reading Mr.
Mitchell has stated the fundamental princi-
pie of the question i'm the following clear
and interesting paragraphs:
ITO the ordinary man OF affairs. i'm
merSed in his business and the daily rou-
tine OF life, trade unionism may seem a
Dewilder1ng maze of conflicting ideas and
doctrines. such man, unless he has a
special interest in the subject. is Liable to
nave his opinions formed from dsjointed,
scattering and often unworthy accounts
AT one time he reads or hears of trade
unionlstS attempting To raise wages or
duce hours OF labor in particular factory
or demanding the recognition of the union,
or urging a sympathetic strike, resist
ing or announcing "A federal Injunction AT
other times the trade union seems to be
taken up with such questions as whether
the foreman shall or shall not belong TO
me union, whether the unionist shall or
shall not work with a nonunion man.
whether a particular factory or mine is i'm
a sanitary condition. And still at other
times he reads of unionists leaving their
uncompleted work at the strike of the
hour, demanding the abolition of truck
stores, insisting upon the weighing or meas
ur1ng of their product. In some instances
the unioniSt seems to be insisting upon
pay by the piece. and in other cases refus-
ing absolutely to have anything to do with
the piece system. One time the unions APP
pear 70 De AT war with one another. or with
employees, and al other times they are meet
ing amicably, in gigantic federations or
IeSlsIating In conjunction with associat tons
or employers for the conduct and manage
ment OF great industries.
MANY PROBLEMS.
I'm the hundreds of trade unions that
exist, in the thousands upon thousands of
local groups into which these organizations
are divided, various problems are encoun-
tered and various measures taken i'm each
exigency. The result is a perfectly bewild-
ering series of rules and regulations. in
which the superficial observer sees neither
rhyme nor reason, except. perhaps. that
ne observes, in vague outline, the ever
present desire on the part of tho ,rorkinc,-
men 10 improve their conditions and to
raise their standard of life and labor Rut
even when the general public clearly under
STANDS this ideal il fails to see WHY SO
simple an ideal requires so many and s,Ich
elaborate regulations: and i'm many cases
thougn the good motives of trade unions
questioned. '''
The complexity of trade unionism. how
ever is merely the compIexty of human
Ire itself. Its rules and regulations become
complex as soon as they encounter the di-
verse conditions that characterize modern
s .TS ana industry The commandment,
mentary running through hundreds of thou
sands, or even millions of accounts of cases
OF men who have been tried and ACQUITTED
or convicted. Even simple contract in
voives the most elaborate series of condi-
tions either expressed or implied in order
TO guard the interests of both parties to il
In ITS fundamental principle trade
unionism is plain and clear and simple
Irade unlonlsm starts from the recognition
OF the fact that under normal conditions
the INDIVIDUAL, unorganized workman cam
w 1fgo
his labor Since the workman has no money
in reserve and must sell his labor imme-
ulately; since, moreover, he has no knowl-
edge or the market and no skill i'm bargain
ing; since. finally, he has his own labor to
sell. while the employer engages hundreds
or thousands of men and can easily do with
on. the services or any particular individual,
the workingman, If bargaining on his own
account and for himself alone, is at an
enormous disadvantage. Trade unionism
ttssSognlzes the fact that under such condi-
ions labor becomes more and more de-
generate. because the labor which the work.
man sells is, unlike other commodities a
Thing which is of his very life, and SOUL
and being. In the individual contract be-
tween an individual employer and work.
man, the laborer will secure the worst of
1t. He is progressively debased because of
wages insufficient to buy nourishing food /:
because of hours of labor too long to per-
init sufficient rest; because of conditions
OF work destructive of moral. mental and
physical health. and degrading and ami
hilating to the Iaboring classes of the pres
ent and the future; and, finally, because
of danger from accident and disease. which
Kills OFF the workman or prematurely ages
him. The individual bargain or individual
contract between employers and men
means that the conditions of the lowest
and worst men in the industry will be
those which the best man must accept.
NO YIELDING
From first to last, from beginning to
end, always and everywhere. trade union
ism stands unalterably opposed to the in
dvidual contract. There can be no conces-
sion or yielding upon this point. No mo-
mentary advantage however great or how
ever srdently desired no advance in wages
no reduction in hours no betterment in con-
ditions. will permanently compensate work.
ingmen for even a temporary surrender, in
any part, of this fundamental principle II
is this principle, the absolute and complete
prohibition of contracts between employers
and individual workmen upon which trade
unionism Is founded. There can be no last
ing prosperity TO the working classes, no
real and permanent progress, no successive
Improvement in conditions until the prin-
ciple is firmly and fully established. that in
Industrial life, especially in enterprises on
a large scale, the settlement of wages.
hours of labor and all conditions of work
must be made between employers and
workmen collectively. and not between en-
ployers and workmen Individually"
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