The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-04
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Mellen on Labor Organization.

by invitation, President Mellen of
the New York, New Haven g. Hart
ford railroad addressed the Work.
mems Free Reading Room association
at Hartford one evening last week.
Mr.. Mellen is so well known in the
northwest as the former president of
the Northern Pacific that what he had
is a self-made man, having worked
his way UP from the ranks, and is en-
titled to a hearing, speaking from the
standpoint of one able to appreciate
both sides Of the labor question.
Mr.. Mellen talked very frankly to
the members Of the association, and
was listened tot with great respect
He did not condemn labor organiza
ton, but on the other hand, frankly
expressed his approval, while at the
same time freely criticising some of
the methods and policies which 1t
adopts. Labor unions, he. said, have
come to stay, if they justify their ex-
istence by the policies pursued. That
they did not always pursue wise poll
cies was, however, he thought tenn
porary defect. He thought he saw
signs Of development and growth
among labor organizations which
would tend to make them more valu-
able to their members and to the pub
lie than they are now.
His great objection to their present
policy is the disbursement of indi-
vidual efforts-the tendency on the
part of labor organiza tons to create
a dead level of efficiency and accom-
plishment, reducing the individual to
place as part of a machine.
Another criticism was the DISPOSE
ton, perfectly natural, no doubt, on
the part of the more responsible, con-
servative and efficient men to sur
render the management of labor or
CARNATIONS to men Of less capacity
and fitness for wise leadership.
Substantially the same sentiment
was expressed during the millers'
strike in this city last year. An off,
Ger of one Of the large milling COM
panies In discussing the situation with
The Journal, stated that the
employing millers were not opposed to
the organization Of their men, but, on
the contrary, had advised some Of the
best Of them to enter unions, but at
the same time had coupled with that
advice the admonition that it was
their duty as members of the organi-
zation to attend the meetings and
seek to shape the policy of the or
ganization. The trouble, said this
miller with labor politics is just that
which appears in general politics. The
conservative, thoughtful, responsible
citizen neglects the primaries and
shirks his duty in the selection of can
didates and the statement Of policies
AS result, we have had govern
nient. The thoughtful conservative
and responsible workman does the
same thing in the labor union to an
"A unfortunate degree. He neglects the
meetings of his union and finds him
self committed not infrequently tc
a course of action which his judgment
does not approve, but which is foisted
upon him by men who have much less
at stake than he has To the extent
that labor organization is controlled
by the bast men in the organization
1t is useful and beneficial institution
There are such unions.
This was the observation Of mar
who had had much to do with EN-.
pIoying both skilled and unskille6
labor, with abundant opportunities tt
study the conditions obtaining in labor
organization. Whether his commen