Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-07
FIGHTING FOR RIGHT
roo MUCH CoNsERvATlsMNo GOOD
 FOR TRADES UNIONS.

EWEGI WANmOWt SGTM@8A& - The
 Strike Ia Terrible, but 1t Has It's 1 CompensagiOns.
 ! In recent issue the Railroad Train mems Journal has the following to
 say anent conservatism in trade or
 ganizations:
 Just now we are being regaled with considerable advice pertaining to the l government of labor organizations. Some of it is good and well meant, but 1 the most of it is merely the prelimi- nary explanation or excuse for the pro posed practices of some corporation that means to try to put it's employees back couple of hundred years and set it's bondholders ahead couple of hun 1 dred years. This latter kind of ad- vice generally takes the stand that la- bor organizations are good, that they have done good, but unless they stop doing as they have been doing in the 1 past they will be no good.
 ''This means that the methods of la bor organizations, that have brought better wages and working conditions, l that have raised the moral condition of the employees and their families. that brought, as rule, the best homes in the world for the working popula- tion, have provided for the education of their children, have brought the two l sides of the industrial problem closer together than ever before, must all be abandoned and labor recede to the time when arbitrary command and servile obedience were inseparable if labor organizations are to command the approval of their employers. Labor organizations that are nothing but mu- tual admiration societies, formed for the purpose of receiving pat of ap- proval on their collective head from their employer and kick on the broadest part of their collective anato- my when occasion demands, never have done and never will do much for the progress of humanity.
 These advisers always wind up their words of wisdom by saying that labor organizations are all right, but they must be conservative. They must not antagonize the employer They must work for his interest, and, above all else, they must never strike What pleasant, harmonious tea party this would make, particularly for the em- ployer when he wanted to reduce wages and lengthen hours, and had his announcement received with cheers of approval instead of a rude proclama- tion to the effect that the men would strike. These fellows patronizingly say, Go ahead and have your organization, but remember always to be good and obey your masters
 'sWe have received so much of this be good advice that 1t is tiresome. Show us a business man with mill lion who has not fought for it. Show us well paid trade that has not fought for every dollar it receives. Show us set of men who receive fair treatment, who are paid fair wages and who work short hours who enjoy their advantages because of quiet, conserv- atfve tea party plan of operation. You cannot do 1t.
 "A labor organization that cannot or will not fight when 1t means fight for the right or dissolution is of no account anywhere 1t Is not labor organixa- tion. It is nothing as near as we can get at 1t. There have been such or ganizations, but after being bufceted about for time there was always enough manhood to change them to protective organizations, and they quit crawling on their bellies ana thereafter walked like men. And why should they not? It is their right. and while there is no inclination to encourage men to strike when there is not req son for it there is every reason why men should strike when there is suf- flcient cause.
 a-''We do not believe in an organization of trouble makers, nor do we stand for an organization that is ready to run to extremes on every occasion. We be- lieve the record of the past will stand in evidence of that assertion. But the recent press statements and the many words of admonition to labor organiza- tions not to strike against their em- ployers, but to take what they get and be glad 1t Is no less, ranlxle down deep in the flesh, and it is denounced as so much rot. s
 "A strike is terrible affair, and nd one can appreciate it so much as one who has witnessed the suspension of all work in any large industry, with all of the sufferings 1t naturally Inn poses, but there are worse things than strikes, for there is some opportunity to recover from strike, but there Is none offered when class of men are pushed unresfstingly down the path to the bottom of social conditions through wage reduction, long hours and theiS resultant disadvantages to all affected Suppose the working men and wonian of this entire country had accepted ev~ cry wage reduction proposed to theaA, suppose they had never demanded any increases, where would they be? Tho poorest, most despised and ignorant immigrant of today would be their su- perior.
 "A labor organization must stand for what is right, and 1t must carefully analyxe the question of right so that it does not become one of wrong. It has right to demand it's fair remu- neration, and 1t also must learn to pro-