The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-03-12
L. D. CAMPBELL. STAND UP!

ledu paper on the LABOR question
from a contractors standpoint Yor
engaged in number Of glittering gen.
lieve were truths, and which form
the basis for your opposition to the
great organized labor movement
You have perfect right to discuss
this question from any standpoint you
seefit. You have RICH. to either
criticise or condemn trade unions
That's your business. We admire your
candor We admire your fearlessness.
But when you read a paper in public
against the labor movement, you must
expect criticism.
From tie outset We can say tina.
your argument was not in keeping
with the atmosphere of the room in
which you spoke. Your audience was
composed of teachers of the meek and
lowly Jesus, with the possible excep-
ton of two hereto editors, and a labor
agitator.
Never once during your speech did
you utter sentence carrying good will
or friendship to the men whom you
employ. Malice, and a desire for re-
venge, marked every paragraph. You
said that organized labor had become
g menace to the country and hence it
was your duty to destroy it. You
would not think Of arbitration, con-
Citation or any kind Of a get-together
policy, because it would recognize the
unions, and tend to perpetuate them.
You jumped at a conclusion, first
sprung by the "Parryites," that the
only solution to the question was in
the "open Shop and in the "incorpora-
ton Of unions" lii one respect you
are right. If you call solution, the
total destruction Of trade unions, and
the triumph of your class in the in
dustrial world, then you are right, and
you are pursuing the PROPER course.
But if you wish the question settled
along lines of equity then you are
wrong.
You believe that organization is a
good thing for the contractors, and
yet you would deny it to the working
men, You believe that your organiza-
tons are perfect, but you think that
trade unions are criminal Was there
ever such inconsistency
You say that trade unions destroy
individual liberty. Is it not a fact that
your class has done more to destroy
the independence Of the individual than
any other in society? Before he had
an organization the workingrnan was
mere beast of burden. He had no
voice in anything. He worked long
hours for small wages. The moment he
asserted himself, your class called him
an agitator. and you crushed him
Having full possession of the tools and
implements of production you COM
PEELED him to submit to your terms or
starve. You coerced him at election
time, under penalty Of discharge, to
vote in your interest. Your class would
have succeeded in making him an alb
ject slave were it not for the timely or
CARNATIONS of labor. At once his
manhood was restored. A new ray OF
light came to him, and he saw in the
trade union movement hope for some.
thing better. His individuality, of
which you refer to so much, was re-
stored after considerable effort, and
the trade unions have done everything
expected Of them to preserve it. We
know that this is contrary to vour
charge, but we can prove what we say,
We do not say that the non member OF
our organizations shall not have the
right to work. Certainly he has. No
one will deny him that right. We do
not say to the contractor that he shall
not employ non-union men. He has
the right to employ whomsoever he
will. On the other hand we have the
right to work for whom we will. We
have the right to say with whom we
shall work, and this is all we ever pre-
tend to do. t." ~
If contractor desires to emplov
non-union men that is his business
All we say is that he can choose be-
tween having all non-union men or all
union men. 1t is necessary for organ
lied labor to take such position az
this In order that it may be effective,
Union labor secures short hours and
higher wages. Its members pay dues
to- support the organization that Sc.
cures these benefits for them. Mos,
non-union men wish to enjoy the bene.
flts secured by union labor, and We,
they do not wish to pay one. cent to
support the organization, that secure.
them An individual has more rf.5= ri II;
Inc trade union than he#ha,s out otItt
Our ideas are e, Rance 81