The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-05-27
DUFFY NAMES FOES Of
THE LABOR MOVEMENT
Says Ignorance, Indifference,
Selfishness and Dishonesty
Are Deadly.
Advocates that Public Be Inform
ed on All Questions of In
terest to Labor.

Ignorance, lnQlHerence, SelnSnnesS
and dishonesty are the foes Of organ
ICED labor. These elements, however,
find their expression in various ways
Through ignorance and dishonesty or
ganized labor is misrepresented before
the public; through selfshness its men,
bers are required to organize and de-
monstrate their united strength in or
der to secure sufficient compensation
for their labor to allow them to clothe
and feed themselves and families in a
comfortable and respectable manner;
and through indifference it's power and
strength is weakened because Of the
folly of some workmen in refusing to
unite with their fellowmen in trade I'M
ionism.
Organized labor is not yet understood
by the public as it should be, nor as it's
leaders would have it understood. Many
people honestly understand the labor
movement; while many others deliber-
ately and maliciously misrepresent it
before the public in order to foster an
unjust prejudice that will aid them in
their fight against organized labor.
Therefore, we should strive by voice
and pen to have our movement properly
understood by the people.
The people love justice, but they do
not yet define long hours and low
wages to be an injustice; they have
liberty, but they do not define the de-
pendence of the laborer on his employ
er as oppression. Though organized
labor fights for justice and freedom, the
people define the policy of labor unions
to be unjust and oppressive, and by a
strange paradox condemn the unions,
totally missing the historical justifica-
ton and actual necessity, as we'll as the
beneficial achievements of them. The
public is more a slave to it's defina-
lions than we imagine"
Let us, therefore, take advantage Of
every opportunity to inform the public
what we stand for; let us give them
our reasons why we think those things,
against which we complain are wrong,
and point out the injury and Injustice
such conditions have been doing to the
people.
In my opinion there is no deeper
student nor safer authority on social
and economic questions than Rev. w.
j. kerby, Phi. D. Listen to what he
says along this line:
1T is remarkable that the public can
be as ignorant as we know it to be Of
vital social facts, and that, inspite Of
universal education, participation in
public lffe cheap newspapers and mag
az1nes, and an all but general habit of
reading. There are strong, Intelligent
men and women who do not know what
a sweat shop is; who have not the
faintest notion of the process Of in
concerned; who know nothing of the
work of children in factories, or of the
vice and filth of crowded and unsani-
tary homes; who do not kno whether
motormen or hack drivers with whom
they daily ride work eight hours a
day or eighteen"
Should this not demonstrate that an
important part of our duty is to inform
the public of our aims, methods and
history? We can make much progress
in breaking down walls Of prejudice
in this manner.
The true object of organized labor
and women who toll Happiness does
not depend absolutely upon economic
or industrial conditions there are 9TH
er things that are as essential to hap
piness as high wages and fair condi-
tons; but it is the duty Of society to
strive to bring about such conditions
that no worthy man will be victim
OF low wages and oppressive condi-
lions. Give man high wages and fair
conditions and it will be his own fault
if he does not develop and enjoy those
better things which are the fruit of
right living and the result Of the full
fillment of ones duty in it's truest con-
ception.
Organized labor is not only striving
to bring about a condition under
which man can wear better clothes,
eat more wholesome food and give his
children better education; but it also
striving to improve man himself as
we'll as mans circumstances. 1t would
not only have its members stand be-
fore the world as the best and most
progressive workmen; it would have
the mthink the highest thoughts, feel
the truest love and perform the noblest
deeds of heroism and kindness; it would
have them stand before the world as
the highest types of manhood, the mod
Ell fathers, the faithful husbands, the
dutiful and loving sons---the true
friends and helpers of their less for
tunate fellowmen. Man does not live
by bread alone" and often it happens
that where bread is most plentiful,
where luxury and plenty abide, there
happiness is unknown. Happiness does
not come from full stomach as much
as from pure heart, a clear conscience
and bright and cheerful mind There
fore, our object, when rightfully un-
derstood, is to place food and clothing
within easy reach of man so that he
will have time and means to cultivate
those higher things of life-to dream
with the philosophers and sing with
the poets; to improve his own inner
self, his heart, his mind, his conscience;
and to help his fellowman to do the
same. And if we could but see and
understand the truth it is the lack Of
these things that causes all our evils,