The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-24

TERMS: Six Months % 30 &c cents. @
when, and how, without any regard to
the effect of that labor upon his fellow
man. This, however, we cannot do,
for laws regulating labor under certain
conditions, and prohibiting the en-
ployment of children at all times, have,
in measure, restricted the individual
right to choose and follow any employ
ment. We must, and believe all do,
admit the justice of these laws, for
which we must thank organized labor.
1t is for this reason that favor unions
and sympathize with them in their bat
tie against the "closed shop"
Labor, in its real sense, is simply
commodity which the workman sells to
the person who will pay him the largest
wage. 1t is as much an article of COM
merce as the goods manufactured or
the produce raised. Labor, however, is
different from all other commodities,
in that the condition of the seller,
mentally, physically and morally, affect
largely the price his labor will bring.
The purpose of the labor union is to
raise not only the wages of the work.
man, but to also better his condition as
a member of society. This means short
er hours of labor, better conditions in
places where labor is performed, tend
ing to improve the health of the work
er, and wage proportionate to the
workman's earning ability.
Now, it does not require any partic-
ular knowledge of business to under
stand that the laborer. having only his
work to sell, must sell it at once. He
cannot hold his commodity for a rise
in the market, as a farmer holds his
corn or cotton; it must be sold imme-
diately. AS an Individual, and depend
ing only upon his own powers, the
worker who must place his labor in the
market without loss of time, is not
powerful enough to make advantage
!, Gus terms with his employers. BY
+. combining, however, and acting in con-
t force certain conditions upon the en-
Q ployers. By having the wage scale
: fixed upon in the union and by stand
9 ing together to obtain better sanitary
: arrangements in factories, the en-
ployee can compel the employer to do
t things he would not do if he had only
< an individual to deal with. 1t will
easily be seen, too, that in a factory
containing union and nonunion men,
much of the good derived from union
ism is lost While conditions are good
and wages high, the nonunion man
is satisfied to accept the benefits
won from the employer by organized
II labor. AS soon as wages fall or trOu-
!. BILE occurs, resulting in a strike by the
# unionists, the scab exercises his pro-
q fessed right to work where or when he
r. will; and by accepting lower wages or
6 longer hours, he continues in his en-
.. ployment, in this way not only aiding
,r the employer in fight against his
class, but also causing dissent among
nj GQ0 luk0WdIul uuAOA LAOds A>OA 40 oAAA0
N all. Tho he assists the employer in the
effort to defeat the unions, it is the
d scab who first profits by union vic
,t tory in an open shop; he actually has
n ''honors thrust upon him." Aside from
q this insignificant gain, the scab's posi-
II ton is an unenviable one. He is to be
n pitied. He is not friend of the EN-
ar ployer, for the employer will not as
n. sociate with him away from the fac
,r tory. Neither is he companion Of
the unionist, for the union man viii
ID not tolerate his society. He reminds
h. me of the pilot fish that hovers arount
IS shark, feeding upon the scraps lef
a by his vicious ruler, or, as Clarence s
"a Dar1ow describes him in recent arti
q Gle in the Saturday Evening Post, from
20 which 1 have received much assistance
al "He is sort of bat, belonging neithe
as to the earth nor the sky"
m The scab, then, is willing to profit by
n the better conditions and wages VOL
or through organized labor, but is no
Dd willing to pay his share of the expens
M in securing these benefits.