The San Francisco call., 1904-11-13

ton OF Industrial society
Why 81 Guild the trade unions con-
fine themselves 10 the slow and toll
some methods Of the strike and boy
colt. with their small and uncertain
results, when much larger and more
enduring ends may be attained by the
simple. inexpensive and Intelligent
process Of striking al the baIlot-box?"
Thus stated. the question seems SIM
PIE enough. in all conscience. as sim
PIE as the question: When you come
10 a stream, and can't swim. why not
ny?"
This Is precisely what the position Of
the political-a -tionist in the trade IN
ion amounts TO- AS q means Of getting
across the water without even getting
wet. the aerial route is every whit as
practical and as scientific" as most OF
the plans suggested by the radical"
and progressive" refOrmers who pro-
fess 10 look wEh pity and contempt
upon the trade unionist, who steadily
refuses 70 put 10 sea without at least
q stick OF good lumber 10 hold on TO-
The theory that the trade unions by
declaring. for political action in con
fornity with the principles Of this or
that party may accomplish a general
reformation IN the conditions Of labor.
or even that 10y, so doing the results
VIII be more beneficial than those at
tainable by the present pure and sim
ple" methods. ignores certain funda-
rnentaIs OF the case affecting human
nature. and consequently bearing upon
human institutions, and especially
on such q peculiarly human institution
as the trade union. Some OF these
matters may be briefly considered at
this point
birdseye view Of society presents
three general Objects Of human desire
and activity. Taking as our point Of
departure that characteristic which
distinguishes the human from the other
animal races, 10 wit, the desire for
progress-the desire 10 be better of TO-
day than yesterday, better of to-mOr-
row than to-day-we may define the
first general principle OF social life in
the one word: liberty. Converting that
word into one that expresses means, as
well as end, we have equality; that is,
we have the first law OF human pro-
gress: association in equality.
Thus we find the three general objects
OF human desire 10 be % religious
equality, CO political equality, 90 in
dustrisl equality.
Ancient history apprises Us Of the
struggles Of soulless q. G., slave) labor
for equality in the sight OF the gods.
Later records show US the struggles Of
landless labor for equality before the
law-for political equality. The records
OF to-day tell the story Of the struggles
Of rnoneyless labor for equality or the
industrial field. for the establishment
Of a system under which the moral
rights OF labor shall be recognized on
equality with the physical powers Of
capital
The philosophy OF the sage, the vision
Of the poet and the religion of Christi
anity have been realized. Religious and
political equality have been established.
Industrial equality, except to the ex-
tent that II has been realized by and
through the trade union, is still a
philosophy and a vision, so far as the
theoretical reforner is concerned.
The moral Of past events seems TO be
that in the pursuit OF these objects Of
mans ambition separate and distinct
organizations are necessary; that sue
cess IS achieved in proportion as the
identity Of these organizations is main
tsined, and delayed in proportion as
that identity is lost or merged
No lesson Of the past is more fami-
liar than that Of the struggle between
church and state, the essence Of which
was the desire for separation, and the
fruits OF which have been the strength
r-<F
stitutions. The facts of to-day repeat
this lesson. in the need Of maintain
ing the separation of the economic
and political movements. as a measure
in the interest OF, and necessary to,
real and enduring progress in both
spheres Of activity
The comparatively slow growth of
the labor movement may be largely
accounted for by the failure OF its
members 10 keep in view the real ma
ture OF that movement, and particu-
larry 70 recognize the difference be-
tween II and other movements. In
other words, the growth Of the labor
movement has been. retarded by at
tempts TO engraft upon it functions
peculiarly the property Of other move
ments.
Consider another fundamental as
pect Of the case. The spirit Of COM
bination for any purpose presupposes
mutual understanding and agreement
upon all material points. The un-
derstanding among the members Of a
given trade concerning the conditions
thereof and their agreement as 10
methods OF improving these constitute
the basic element Of strength in the
trade union which confines itself 10
purely economic effort, just as the diff
ference Of opinion concerning political
questions constitutes the element of
weakness in the trade union which at
tempts 10 combine politics and eco
nomics
The adherence OF the trade union to
purely economic lines OF action con-
serves its efficiency IN a twofold way;
Il concentrates the thought and action
Of those already in the union. and It
makes for the extension Of organiza-
ton among non-members.
s.