The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-06-18
STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR
HOLDS An|nNP0RTANT SESSION

Flour From the Mill City Is
Put Under the Ban-Presi-
/ dent Asked to Investigate
Colorado Strike.
TO take advantage of the growth Of the
I trade union movement and form a union
There purpose, of course, is to improve
their condition, and in truth, nine times
out of ten, there is plenty of room fo-
improvement. An organizer is called up
on, and his services are enlisted, and
within a. few weeks a new union is ad-
ded to the roster of our movement:
In such instances it will be found that
the men have been working from ten 70
twelve hours day, or even longer, and
| their wages average from 81 to 81 day.
+, Comparing the conditions in the newly
organized craft with those governing en-
ployment in closely allied callings which
| have been organized for some time, there
appears to be, and in fact is a wide diff
terence. The members of the new union
are quick to note this-a fact which prob
ably never attracted their atten ,ion until
they became members Of labor union.
Then comes the crucial period in tine his
uunthinking members, "can't we, too, get
$3.50 day for eight hours work? 1t re-
| Qulres as much skill In our calling as in
theirs, and, besides, with all the other
|
give in. They can't stand general boy
cott, and the strikers of the other unions
whose members work with US" That
sounds all right to many. and, without
may accept it as gospel and vote blindly
| to bring about such conditions which may
result in failure and then suffering, and
| possibly, disruption. Fortunately, it fire.
quently happens that a few men with
sound Judgment. capable of reasoning
| from cause to effect, see the danger of
| 100 radlcal action, and, realizing that the
employers are certain to give, the union
hard fght-whicn will probably be Sue
|cessful-counsel moderation, amicable ne
collation., and, above all, thorough sur
vey OF the conditions likely to arise should
q strike be called-such as the matter of
| hnances the support to be expected from
affiliated unions, the resources of the en-
ployer, the probable or possible supply
OF men who might act as strike break
the individual members Of the union IN
the event Of long struggle. If the
! counsels OF these men are needed one OF
i two results is almost certain--the union
Will either decide to postpone action un-
or 1t will go into the struggle under
circumstances that absolutely insure a
| victorious outcome
Not Always i'm Good Hands.
untortunateiy not al new unions are
the capacity to consider and deal with
conditions as they find them; and not as
/ they would like TO- have, them The mem :
4 hers, or a *Ina jority Of Them. may beswell-
asa
7 toll and st hat when heir de-
! mands for better conditions are presented
before their! fellow uilionists the: latter
financially or by sympathetic strike. These
men confine themselves entirely to the
consideration Of their own grievances.
ganizations which they confidently expect
to give them their support no
matter, what sacrifice may be
involved in giving that support. If Il
these circumstances, the strikers at once
blaze forth with indignation If the unions
associated with them, in their vocation
do not at once order either sympathetic
to handle a boycotted firms productions
in any way or under any circumstances.
complaints against the "offending" un-
IONS crimina nina tion = and Iecrmination
it follow sRnd worst of all, serious OBJ
stacle arises to- block the way of those
who are striving to secure and maintain
solidity in the labor movement
Labor is entitled to it's share of that
which 1t produces. What is that share?
Am I competent to say? Are you? No.
It: can only be determined by those en-
gagged in any production. This can only
be secured by mutual agreement.
Any agency that tends to bring en-
ployer and employe into closer rela ation
of business confidence; which encourages
frank dealings between the two in connec-
tion with which certain rights of both,
which ought to be inalienable, are recog-
nized and respected, is an agency for
good and should be cordially supported
by all who believe in the principles OF
American liberty and all who desire to
see and, enjoy industrial peace
The value Of understandings between
employer and employe has been recog-
nized by a large number of earnest,
thinking and influential men on both sides
Of this question. This federation should
encourage it at all times.
| Apathy is Responsible.
The apathy Of the average workingman
is responsibility the wholesale endow-
bodies to- private parties. Most of the
monopolies Of this day have been fattened
on the government subsidies They have
now grown to such mammoth proper
handle them with kid gloves. They know
their power and what control they have
over the. country. Even if they wouiG
permit saM OF sthe water to leak out o1
share of that which it produces for them
and would give the people the full ben
eft in prices resulting from decrease
j in the cost of production, they would still
De d dangerous AUe ~ d true democracy
The question is not what they will do
but rather what they have been giver
power toado:s r So long as they remain un.
der private control so long will. they be
dangerous.
The trusts are solving the problem ol
/ production. 1t is incumbent upon the
people to solve the problem of aistribu.
4 tion. There can be no righteous solution
nor can labor ever enjoy complete indus
trial independence under private owner
. ship. None of us who have clear con
:! ception of the labor movement have an
4 desire to force the issue at this time. {
= IS recognized that the forcing of progress
often leads :to: retrogression. Experienc,
teaches that the evolutionary process ii
the safest. '*&* ~ @ 80. =
II While capitalism is organizing, central
s izing and :systema tising. 1t Is our dut!
to- spread the. ospels Of labor among ri
II the people Our work today is one o
& Reorganization and education. ,t:1s1, :,
Y; .*. Murmurs OF Discontent.
~ It is. then murmurs OF discomfort
1 are heard among the strikers. Whats
~ <ha 7,un ~ the &11ni0y, 9,53 rg, XII =