The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-02-14

his temporary job on a house. and pro-
posed to Page Elwood that they go to-
gether. Page was only too glad to go,
and they set out at once.
But when the men reached their des-
tination they found that something was
wrong as is very apt to be the case
when such promising offer is sent out
without explanation. The old employees
of the factory had struck for a few
cents more pay and some concessions
as to rules, conditions. etc. The men
were well organized and babe fair to
would were good workmen would GER
tainly spoil all their plans if they went
in and took their places
Now there had never been a union Of
the wood workers in the town where
Page lived; it had never seemed neces-
Esary,2. had been ends and
l:neig hborsAt ether, hand and Iempl
|sers, from time the fac Glory had been
I estab lished. And no Organizer had new
er come among. them to urge the bene-
fits Of cooperation. They did not at
first comprehend or realize the situation
of the striking workers, and considered
themselves at liberty to take the jobs
Of the old hands if they did not want
them. So they marched up to the gate
soon after arriving to apply for work.
They were met by delegation of the
old hands The situation was carefully
explained to Them: the demands they
had made were Shown to be just and
right, and the probability of their
gaining theft point<*if i1ninterfered with,
explained. Page felt inclined to urge
the matter.
But If you do not wish to take these
places at the terms the managers offer,
and we do, can you complain? It seems
| to ME. that we are only. exercising our
natural rights to accept. the. owners
| terms if we prefer to do that to being
idle"
"This might be true if we were not
all in competition with one another for
| the work there is to do in the world.
But If we underbid each other at every
| opportunity don't you see that in lit
tie while we would not receive enough
to sustain life at all? Supposing some
one else whose wants are more urgent
! than yours comes and offers to do this
work cheaper than you can; the own
ers would take them and you would be
out of job again unless you could
succeed in undertaking some other
oWrkers. The only hope we have is in
standing by each other If, workers
would all combine and resolve to work
only IT we receive the full value of our
productions, we would receive it. and
there would be no parasites in society,""
! But IN that case there would not be
work enough to so around for every
body would have to work to get any,
hing' answered Page very greatly in
crested .~. 49, :. :,
EXACTLY replied the representative,
each one would be compelled to do an
qulvalent in work for all the products
l. labor he used. Do you see anything
:nralr In that?> And then If there were
lot work enough to keep every man
-: Ausy ten Or even eight hours a day,
need only IVORY six or four or three
> the case may be. He would then
: ave: leisure to improve his mind, and
=: altivate his soul. But if this radical
4 mango is not possible to. day, we still
IN Keep wages UP to a living standard
= We stand BY each other :. and never,
:. rnder. any circumstances; underbid one
mother h I'VE. will send some one; down
I 1: Q Your place and you fellows mus,
j: II: orn y union MS then YOU viii have HEN
ssE yo y, need it, AS we TASK you to help
. us now. I an sure that If you under
fta lr Il the situation YOU will not remain
WI sre to#ruln our prospects.',,*s d. ,*: Il
5s We Will go away to think this ~ r, 4
sW yer { PE'a'ge, and the men vent: bach
81! g secuted place t. consult With one
gst her on the sub sG .z 5=.= y
: te need f Of tl,ee, men was 81
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