The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-04
The Right Spirit.


ganized labor Is the natural tendency
of the public to identify all kinds
of organization with those forms Of
it that have committed reprehensible
acts. s.: The result Is that the worst
enemies Of unionism are scoundrels
like Parks in New York and the nu-
merous pugnacious, arbitrary and
malignant unions in Chicago. It is
not too much, perhaps. to say that
the street car strikers in Chicago, the
tearnsters and the livery drivers have
done more to injure organized labor
than Mr.. Parry's campaign against it
will ever do.
We cannot speak for other parts
Of the country, but from personal
knowledge we are convinced that the
organized worknen of the twin cities,
taken as a whole, are much superior
to those of Chicago. They exhibit
sounder Judgment, more moderation,
more deliberation, less vindictiveness,
less righteousness. We have, of course,
had our foolish strikes here and our
short-sighted labor leaders,, but fair
minded persons will generally agree
| that we are not overdrawing the gen
eral situation. . A.,
A remarkable statement, which
strikingly illustrates this admirable
conservatism Of organized labor in the
twin cities was made yesterday by
the St Paul labor leaders, in the
form Of a New Year resolve. This in
| terestlng deliverance is as follows:
Our aim during the coming year shall
be to build up not our own interests alone,
but the interests OF our employers; to pro-
mote conditions Of peace and good viii!
! between labor and capital; to make con-
cessions as we'll as demands, and to re-
member; under. all circumstances, that
when In passion or unreason we do aught
to disturb the machinery of Industrial life
we aim fatal blow at ourselves and at
/ the prosperity and happ Inesss of those who
love us most and most depend upon us.
That this laudable program was not
the meaningless product Of moment
of enthusiasm is shown by the. fact
that 1t is merely a condensation of the
statement Of principles of the st. Paul
Trades and Labor assembly, published
in last weeks issue Of the Minnesota
Union Advocate. This statement of
principles declares that union labor
Is in no danger of not demonstrating
it's strength. It's concern must be to
guard against an excessive show OF
force. The statement boldly declares
that it depends on union labor whether
there shall be continued peace and
| prosperity. It admits that mistakes
have been made by organized labor,
splendid confession.
Mistakes have been made by organized
labor. Too much has often been sought
and sought, too, in directions which Lead
+ Only toward the injury Of employer ant
employee, Of labor and capital, alike
Scenes have been enacted under the aus
pieces Of union labor which threaten tt
stem its life-blood; to snatch from It's hant
it's most powerful weapon; which cause
friend and foe to unite in asking the aues
ton. Where and how will this sort O.
thing end?' - Sa@s s
Many of the most thoughtful Of us live
under the delusion that organized labo
can do no wrong; that there is divin,
fright on which we can rely, as did tn,
u monafchs of2old. Decisions such as lthi
a have wrought strange havoc in the pas
with the fortunes Of humanity. They ar
lgsare to work like results on the fortune.
IS of organized labor In our own time. sOu
enemies are always on the alert IF w.
wish to form alliance with Them we neet
J only cast aside the dictates OF common
sense. If we want trouble we will no
have far to seek it. -
Lack of space makes it impossible
!, to call attention to other interesting
declarations in this strong document
but it is enough to say that turnout
breathes fairness and gives manly
recognition to the fair employer
1T is quite possible that this brav
: declaration Of principles will not b
1 lived up to. Well, neither is the con
! stitution Of the United States, but i
is not useless on that account. It'll
e something important that union labo
t entertains such high ideals. There ar
unions In this country that woui
laugh to scorn the principles which
: the. st. Paul unions have openly an,
n enthusiastically proclaimed. LIE
: them receive due credit for their inten
D tons, even ifttfeir acts fall short.
G The market decline in the cut Of pin
d lumber at MINNEAPOLIS and in the Dulut