The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-02-07
S{|AY''['R||QyTSAR''|Z:.....
HERE TORE 0 4 1 [: !: N | \

John A. Keyes delivered the address
before the Unity club Monday, the
subject being: TRADE Unions and
Trusts" Mr.: Keyes had not prepared
written paper, but spoke orally He
gave something of their history and
said, that the trades unions arose out
~of the conditions created by a COM
petitive organization Of society; that
unions of working men had always ex-
lsted where labor was sold freely in the
market for wages, that the old guilds
bore some relation to the trades unions,
although they were different in that
the working men in the guilds were al
lied with the capitalists. whereas the
unions are in the interest of working
men along their several lines for their
mutual benefit, and protection.
The speaker then read from the dec
-laration of principals of several unions
to show their self avowed purpose of
organization. He next took UP the
benefit that the unions were to their
members and society, and expressed
his belief that such organizations were
proper, and necessary under existing
conditions.
The trusts he said were a concentra-
ton of capital for the purpose of car
rying on large industries, and it be-
come immaterial from social point
of view whether the trust took the
form of an aggregation of small cor
porations under one trustee, or the
form of one large corporation controll-
ing the same interests. In either event
it meant the complete Capitalization
of productive capital, with the pri-
mary end in view Of promoting the in
terests of the organizers. In this re-
spect it resembles the trade union, both
being for self promotive purposes, the
difference being that the trades unions
is democratic institution while the
trust is an oligarchy.
After discussing at some length the
effect upon society of the two institu-
lions Mr.. Reyes arrived at the con-
clusion that the trade unions were a
very necessary element in the indus.
trial economy of the nation, and were
the only barriers at present obstructing
the excessive, and undesirable power
OF the trusts, and that If trades uiion-
ism was destroyed, and some other or
ganization did not take it's place, the
long cherished liberties of the Ameri-
can people would be put in jeopardy.
Mr.. Keyes did not believe that trusts
could be destroyed, either by political
agita ton or by state or national legis-
lation or by the only apparent
outcome a social philosopher could
conceive would be the gradual
specialization of industry along lines at
present somewhat irdistinct, but
which would take form as the problem
was carried to it's solution.
=. If a just and reasonable solution of
these questions is to be had" said the
speaker, lit behooves the American
people to listen to reasonable warnings,
and to follow conservative leadership.
# they do this. trusts and the trades
union question will be settled by an
ANAL gaInat a Il social interests IL
they do not, we may expect to have
dangerous crises in this as we have in !
settling religious and political questions
In the past, and in the abolition OF
slavery"
w. E. McEwen Joined in the discus
sion after the address by the speaker
of the evening.
He took exception to the statement
Dy anOtner speaker Cnat trades unions
did not take an active part in downing
corruptive legislation, and that their
aims were purely selfish.
1T was the committee from the
American Federation Of labor that
postponed the activeness Of the ship
subsidy bill, and there is at present a
committee in Washington looking after
the interests of labor AMI the consum-
class
There is a committee from the Min
nesota, federation attending the pres
ent session Of the legislature. Trades
unions warn the people of all ilnpend-
ing dangers.
II do not take stand against trusts,
although there are some that are bad.
The tobacco trust is one of these, and
is doing it's utmost to suppress union
ism. Many trusts recognize unionism
and encourage it. A representative of
the maritime union is now In Detroit
making terms with representatives OF
the Lake Carriers association as to
wages, ETC., and you will see that the
terms arranged by him are carried out
tc the letter by both parties"
S I. Levin's xxx Columbian 1892
rye is known by many of Duluth's
s~-1~y E