The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-15
BEDS TELLS 600 . !. !.
STORY OF PIONEERS
Something Of the Men Who
Fought Early Battle and
Struggles of Labor.
Difficulty in Travelling About.
Suffered Complete Social
Ostracism.

| Oh, how many there were whose
names were forgotten, who suffered
untold agonies to lay, the foundation
Of the labor movement, whose real mis-
| sion they had but the vaguest concep-
| ton!
These pioneers Of progress paved the
way for us, and deserve far more at
our hands than we have in our power
| to do for them. We may at best res
cue their nameless memory from the
| darkness of oblivion, and this we un-
dertake to do with the liveliest sense
| Of obligation for the service they rem
| dered, and the sacrifices they made in
| the early and trying stages of the
struggle to improve the condition and
| advance the welfare of their fellow
| toilers.
the writer has met and known some
Of the untitled agitators Of the ear
| ller day, whose hearts We're set on or
ganizing their class, or at least their
| branch of it, and who had the courage
! to undertake the task and accept all the
bitter consequences it imposed.
The union men of today have little
or no conception of what the pioneer
| uniCnists had to contend with when
they first STARTED forth. on their mis-
sion of organization. The organizer of
the present time has to face difficulties
enough, 1t is true, but as a rule the
road has at least been broken for his
| approaching footsteps; the union has
already been organized and commit
tee meets him at the station and es-
corts him to the hotel.
Far different was it with the pio-
neer/who left home without scrip in
his purse" whose chief stock consisted
in his ability to screw his courage to
the sticking point" and whom priva-
ton and hardship only consecrated
more completely to his self appointed
martyrdom.
Starting out, more than likely, after
having been discharged for organizing
local union Of his craft, or for serv-
ing on a committee, or tnterceding for
fellow, or talking back to the
boss, or any other Of the numerous
acts which mark the conduct of the
manly worker, distinguishing him
from his weak and fawning brother,
and bringing upon him the reproba-
ton of his misunderstanding out to or
ganize his fellow workers, that they
might fare better than fell to his lot,
he faced the world without a friend to
bid him welcome or cheer him onward.
Having no money for railroad fare, he
must beat his way, but such a slight
Inconvenience does not deter him an
instant. Reaching his destination, he
brushes up as Well as his scanty toilet
will allow and then proceeds with due
caution to look up .',thez boys careful,
to elude the vigilance Of. the: boss who
has no earthly use for a worthless ag-
itator.
We shall not attempt to follow our
pioneer through all of his tortuous
wind1ngs, nor have we space to more
than hint at the story Of his cruel per-
secution and pathetic end.
| Our pioneer, leaving home in many
an instance. never saw wife and child
again. Reptlsed by the very men he
| was hungering to serve, penniless, de-
serted, neglected and alone, he became
"the poor Wanderer of a stormy day.
and his career nameless outcast.
Whatever his frailties and faults they
| were virtues ALL for they marked the
generous heart, the sympathetic soul
who loves his brother and accepts for
himself the bitter portion Of suffering
and shame that he may serve his fell
| low man.
| The labor agitator Of the early day
held no office, had no title, drew no
salary, saw no footlights, heard no ap-
pause, never saw his name in print,
and fills an unknown grave.
! The labor movement is his monu-
ment, and though his name is not in
| scribed upon it, his soul is in it, and
with it marches on forever
| E,IIHENE " nLrpC