The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-02
unions SEE more Than 1
. ONE SIDE Of QUESTION

UNI 5|Ut VI QUt5IlUh
STRIKING ARTICLE FROM. THE
PEN OF JOHN B. LENNON ON
LABoR's VIEW OF THINGS.
FAIR AND IMPARTIAL REASONING
THAT OUGHT TO CONVINCE
THE MOST sKEPTICAL.
John B. Lennon, treasurer Of the A.
F. Of L.. and general secretary Of the
Journeymen Tailors' union, contributes
the following fair and able article to
the labor men of the country;
Recently in reading a newspaper,
came across what was alleged to be a.
discourse of a preacher, delivered in
the city Of New York, wherein he
seeing but one side of the economic
ested.
Patterson. of Colorado, at an banquet
rendered the officers Of the American
Federation Of Labor, present somewhat
the same idea. He did not assume the
responsibility for the assertion that
the labor organiza tions are unwilling
to see but one side, but stated that
such was the opinion of the capital
lists and employers In the state of Col
orado regarding the labor difficulties
which were then in existence and had
been for more than a year past.
1t seems strange that men who have
had the advantages of education and
environment that comes to most preach
ers should be guilty Of making so I'M
truthful statement, whether it be a
deliberate falsehod or a m1sconception
based on the fact of their ignorance
Of the labor organization and it's prin-
ciples and policies. I have been met
with this same assertion In dealing
with employers, also in talking with
professional men, business men, and
many others who may not be termed
to belong to the class now known as
! wage workers.
The statement that we hear but one
| side and take no cognizance Of the
rights or ethics Of both, I know to
be unqualifiedly false. The men who
| are in leading positions in the trade
! union movement are more than ca
pable OF holding their own in the dis
| cussion Of all the essentials that per-
tain to both the side of the employer
| and the employe in any Of the great
| industries of the country.
In fact, the experts regarding both
| sides of nearly every trade and calling
in our nation are to be found among
the wage workers and not among the
| employers. The constitution Of my or
ganization contains a section that is
essentially the same in the constitu-
| ton of every trade union Of which I
have any knowledge. This section
states that when any difficulty arises
between the members of their organic
alton and their employers that the
union shall APPOINT committee of three
members to investigate the case, in
terview the employer with whom trou-
BILE exists, and attempt a settlement.
do not know of a constitution OF
any employers organization which pro-
vides for anything of this character.
do know that in most of their organ
izations, which have recently come into
existence, their policy is the extreme
opposite to this. They say there is
nothing to talk with the committee
about and refuse either Cancellation or
arbitration. This has been so often true
with my own craft, and I have heard
| 50 much Of it in others within the last
year, that it seems to me that it is
nearing the time when the labor organ
izations can truthfully charge the en-
ployere of the country with being the
ones who refuse point blank to hear
both sides Of the case.
The history of the human race has
demonstrated that the only progress
the world has made, and this mean in
its broadcast possible application, is that
progress which has come through what
are known as the working classes. No
other class has ever made for progress,
and this Is naturally true because at
any particular period in the history
of civilization those who have the best
conditions and the best. environments
are entirely satisfied to let conditions
as they then exist alone. They are
the ones who oppose changes of any
| kind. It is the working people, and
| they only, who are sufficiently discon-
tented with the conditions that sur
round them to make a decided and
continuous and sane effort for progress
and better conditions. Consequently,
it is only through their efforts that the
wheels Of civilization can possibly move
| forward. know this is sometimes
| denied, and; examples are called to
our attention Of men, and women as
| we'll. who were born with gold spoon
in their mouth, and, who, it is claim
ed, have done much for the progress
| of the race; but in every one OF. these
cases perhaps none is more striking
than that of Wendell Phillips. We find
that his work for the progress of man
kind when effective was at the periods
| when. he left the class in which he was
born and reared and cast his influence
with the working class. There is no
single example that I am aware Of
! in the history of the world where this