The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-17


The faults of employers are but the
msni estation Of moral defects inherent
in human nature and attributed by theo-
logians to the fall of ADAM. The faults of
unionized employees are precisely the
same imperfections in collective form
which gives them emphasis and promi-
hence. The universal recognition Of this
indisputable fact would rob unonism of
its favorite comparison, namely, that be-
tween the rapacious greed of capital"
and the purity of the motives of organ
lied labor, Yet this argument is one OF
the weakest in unionism's entire collec-
ton, and persistent reiteration Of it only
reacts, with disastrous results, upon
unionism itself.
The September number of the Ameri-
ccn Federationist, the official organ Of the
American Federation Of Labor, contains
collection OF articles grouped as a
Labor Day Symposium" We quote
from them a few miscellaneous extracts
to illustrate the general attitude:
The history o: the human race has demon
is that progress which has come throug h
the working classes. No other class has ever made
for progress"
In the federated movement our hopes are cen
tired: to 1t mus, look for the enforce. ent OF right
principles the universal correction OF wrong con
dlioas and the establishment OF true economic
conditions"
The labor organizations OF the present t'me
have but one object that being TO elevate 10 hi her
standard OF existence the downtrodden OF the
race those who labor and who are greatly In he
r;ajorily."
Tho successes attained In he economic ard social
conditions OF the workers are generally recognized
10 be attributable TO the organized effort OF the
workers. without tho sympathy, aid or assistance
c: any other element In society. whether Industrial.
economic. ecclesiastical or political Yes, as a
matter OF fact, the Improved conditions have been
secured despite the opposition Of all OF them. Aye.
Il Is thc recorniion by THE capitalist class their
spoEcSyncn defenders and apologies, that the or.
canzed LABOR movement has done 50 much for the
wording p-oplc that has aroused the keen. bitter
and relentless anrugonSm which we have had TO
meet and withstand In recent days. and which
Is Is our mission TO overcome and which we will
ovcrco,l" os SIRE rs he nigh. follows day and day
fpl owN right"
All thoughtful students of labor con-
dtions, end all right thinking men, are
disposed to concur in the statement made
on lago SO7 Of Webs industrial
Democracy" that what is distrusted in
modern trade unionism is not its object,
nor even lis devices, but its structure
and its methods. Society is now ready
TO acknowledge the entire legitimacy Of
labor organization. and is equally ready
to cooperate in such Of its aspirations
as are worthy of support. But even the
best friends Of unionism, even its most
ardent supporters, in view Of the prcva-
lence Of such views as the foregoing, cam
not escape \ conviction that many of
its leaders arc in sore danger Of becom-
ing intoxicated with dreams of their own
righteousness.
One Of the structural weaknesses of
unionism is in its disposition to ignore
facts and to live in an almost sphere of it's
own creation. One of those facts is that
human progress has moved in paths OF
peace, and not through the sloughs of
strife. Another fact ignored by far too
many labor leaders is that the world has
moved onward through an extension of
the idea of universal brotherhood
which includes employer as we'll as wage
esrner, and not 10y exciting and stimu-
lating class hatred No defence ia here
made OF the employer who will not meet
his employees at least half way in prop
erly conceived movement for justice and
industrial peace and harmony, but the
Sins Of such are no excuse for labor's
imitation of them.
Too many labor leaders preach to their
followers a doctrine which pictures all
employers as species of ravenous beasts
who will devour II they are not fought.
While individual exceptions unquestion-
fhly occurtonly too frequently, there is
NO ground IN the history of modern rela-