The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-19


cd. inducings.a and d vin Z \ the further
cause to still further entailmen III or
consumption and production and still
more discharges :of worlknen, until mil
lions We're unemployed; the wheels of
Industry and commerce paralyzed; un-
I'll men were walking the highways
| and byways OF our country in idleness,
while poverty, hunger, and misery
stalked through the land.
1T Is held now that there can be no
real natural famine In the world be-
cause OF the easy facilities with which
the remotest corners Of the earth can
be reached. Surely If this be true, and
no informed, sane, reasonable person
disputes 1T. there is an utter absence
OF excuse for employment, hunger,
poverty, or misery in our land, a land
so richly and bountifully blessed. When
idleness and Its consequent misery are
permitted to come among our people
| 1t lis due entirely to rapacious, sordid
aVarlce, mlsmanagement, and incon-
potency the one hand, or to ignor-
ant indifference and culpable pliancy
! on the other. The employers generally
typify the one and the workers for
merly typified the other.
If the employers followed their pol
icy of wage reductions In previous
years as a supposed way out Of indus
| trial stagnation, and thereby simply
accumulated the situation and made it
| worse, is it not a logical inference that
the same ruinous policy would be pur-
sued in the present era?
Are all the dire experiences and suf
ferings of our people to go for naught?
sould we permit ignorant indifference
| on our part to make us culpable for
repetition OF the awful conditions
which followed in the wake of the for
mer mischievous and wrongful course
of our employers. or shall we continue
| the course which we last year declared
when we had the prescience to foresee
| the danger with which we were threat
ened? Organized labor then called a
halt and declared the entire policy OF
wage reductions unwise. wrongful, and
dangerous to the well being of labor
| and of all our people.
We were fully aware that 1T would
| be impossible to prevent all wage re-
auctions, but We can view the result OF
our last years declaration OF policy
of resistance to wage reductions with
| satisfaction and pride. We can chal-
lenge our critics and opponents to COM
| pare the past year, when we were con-
| fronted with an Industrial reaction,
with a year of a similar industrial sit
| uation. and it will demonstrate be-
yond cavll or doubt that
First. Wage reductions have been
checked.
Second. The industrial situation has
| not become acute, as was the uniform
| course formerly
| fering and misery have been prevent
! ed.
Fourth. The era Of Industrial stag
nation, as compared with former like
| conditions, has been shortened.
Fifth The prospect for a revival in
! industry and commerce in the future is
brighter, as compared with any SIM
| liar previous period.
| Sixth. There is less acute feeling
Of unrest among workmen and em-
| ployers generally, business men and
all our people.
Seventh. There are more workmen
and employers in agreement and I'M
| derstanding.
Eighth. There Is more general eff
| fort to bring about more rightful rela-
! lions between workmen and employers.
Ninth: There is a better conception
! of the rights and duties Of man to man,
more general satisfaction among our
| people with the present, and moro
gratifying and hopeful outlook for the
future.
! The result of 1abor's policy are our
| best justification. and even though
contemporary comment. may not gen
erally accord us the credit and COM
| mendation: which are justly our due,
ton Of the lasting service and benefit
! which we have rendered our fellow
man.
| In considering this entire subject In
! it's economic and social aspect, we dare
| not fail to realize the difference be-
| tween resistance to wage reductions
| and tho movement for wage advances
during periods OF Industrial reactions.
| It is science becoming more gener-
ally understood by labor to know when
to strike and when not to strike; to
! know for what to strike and for what
not to strike. 1t is said that 1t is not
wise to strike on a so-called falling
market" 1t can not, however, sue
cescfully be gainsaid that strike or
preparedness to strike in resisting an
offer of wage reduction will prevent
the market from falling still lower. 1t
may not be, and undoubtedly is not,
| wise or prudent to strike for wage
advancement on a downward industrial
trend, yet 1t Is better that even this
economic error be committed than q
complacent acceptance of wage reduc-
lions.
OF course, no one pretends or be-
lieves that all strikes can be won, but
that greater victories will be won and
unions have accumulated funds, not
even our most rabid antagonists will
dispute.
Industrial Peace.
But apart from strikes concretely
considered and the accumulation OF
funds with which to win them when
undertaken, there is another important
side to this question to be considered,
and that is, the maintenance of indus
trial peace. It is condition for
which we may devoutly pray and
work. but so long as private greed or
short-sighted interests dominate the
judgment and actions of employers,
just so long will strikes, or better still,
the preparedness Of labor to strike, be
the determining factor to bring about
industrial peace on more equitable
basis, and to prevent an Industrial rup-
ture.
Wealth and the combination Of
wealth are the means and the power
%f the employers in any difference or
dispute with labor as to the conditions
Of employment. Those possessing
o1a ,,oxuor xyiol6 Nff1a mr. nOth-