The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-09-24
LABOR PRESS STANDS {.
FOR BIC DEFENSE FUND.
Draws Moral From Loss and
Experience During the Late
Meat Strike. =.
Advocates Defense Funds to
Establish Large Industries
in Country.

> ~S~AAVAJs
The late meat strike has started the
wheels going in the craniums of SONS
OF the editors of labor papers through
out the country. Whit shall be done to
tight big corporations in strikes? This
question is puzzler that is confront
ing the men in the ranks of organized
labor. A most novel suggestion comes
from the Labor Unionist of Roanoke
Va. 1t is as follows:
Inc great strike against the cut in
the wages Of the workingmen in the
packing houses of Chicago and other
western cities has been declared off.
The packers who are handling meat
at less cost and getting better prices
than formerly, have succeeded in
grinding the poorly paid employees
down to a lower scale of wages than
was paid before the strike. And the
capitalist press throughout the coun-
try is heralding it as "a failure" "a
defeat a knockout" that will prove
q step in the direction to the complete
overthrow of organized labor. So much
for short sighted humanity,
Let us philosophise little and we
shall see whether it is a failure Fail
ures are characteristic of evolution,
Far reaching victories are never won
without cost. The tides of evolution
ebb and flow, but the preponderance
of the drift is always in the direction
OF the equilibrium of right. This fall
ure' is but step in the industrial
evolution which shall culminate in the
emancipation of labor. Great classes
Of men refuse to learn save by expert
ence. It will take organized labor some
time, and it must suffer many sad
defeats" before it will be convinced
of the futility and unwisdom OF strikes
as remedy. Suppose strike is won
at great cost and suffering; the peace
endures subject to the whim or op-
portunity of the employers.
There must be, there is remedy
more effective and less cruel than the
strike. An economic force, which will
bring about conditions whose contin-
uation will not depend upon the will
Of selfish employers. In the earlier days
OF trades unionism, when labor was
organized and capital lsSwas uror ganized
strikes may have been necessary and
were often advantageous but the day
series atllresIs' conYince.
rQpeE,s senge business
111ean6ss sobyi atlngSS the necessity
for strikes Is 4=s to e form az federal in
|sdustrial association and enter into:
business competition with unfair en-
ployers.' The large defence funds now
in the treasures of the various labor
organizations might be voluntarily
transf erred to this means of defence,
where it would be much more effec-
tive; small levy-say ten cents per
Week--cou]d be laid on union men
throughout the country, and voluntary
contributions from. locals and individ-
uals called for, altogether forming an
immense fund to be placed under the
direction Of a federal board OF direct
OrS.
We do not advocate cooperative
business in the sense, Of each laborer
being a SHAREHOLDER but regularly con-
stituted business concerns employing
union labor at union wages and work.
ing under humane conditions. These
enterprises to compete with regular
capitalistic industries wherever labor
is treated, unfairly.
It may be argued that there would
be- failures. losses from fluctuations Of
business and from defaulting manag-
ers, and other foreseen contingencies.
With the whole body of organized la
bor and'its multitude Of sympathizers
as patrons, there need be no losses or
failures. Certainly not more than are
ordinarily incident to business vent
ures. And as to dishonest managers,
they could not be able to get away
with as much as the millionaires have
diverted from the pockets of the toll
ers. At worst, We would be called upon
to incur no risks that the successful
industrial enterprises of the world do
not meet and provide against.
We have not space to elaborate, but
we think we have suggested an effec-
tive remedy for strikes, as we'll as a
sure defence against unfair and op-
pressive impositions upon labor, and
all within the natural course OF indus
trial evolution.
A levy Of ten cents a week on the
three millions Of union workers in
and a quarter dollars per month This
added to voluntary stock and the reas-
enable increments Of the business
would soon place the national associa-
ton in position to compete with any
opposition. :.