The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-05-20
LABOR MAk|hG GREAT -
GAINS IN Bis FIGHT.
Trade Unions Will Reap the Re-
ward Of Honest Endeavor
When Fight is Over.
Bandit Wealth Gan on Longer
Crush Amerioanis1n Out Of
the Wage Farmers.

Inc wage 6HI
That determined was 10 being waged
against trades unionism today from
every influential point Of combining
manufacturers cannot be doubted or
denied. Their lawyers are trying to
outlaw labor. their judges are judg-
ing against 1t, their press Is knocking
against it, and their preachers are
preaching against it with all their
might. At no time within our men,
DRY has trades unionism ever been SUBJ
jected to such crucial test. It IL
likewise true that some OF the weaker
soldiers In the cause OF trades union
ism, weary OF the struggle have con-
cluded that the price Of freedom from
industrial slavery Is greater than they
can pay but on the other hand there
are those sturdy optimistic giants up
on whose shoulders every reform Of
the past has rested, who still declare
that the ends justify the means. and
that tho struggle must go on and on
or the workers will sink to a condi-
ton far worse than they ever dreamed
Of before. As the fight progresses a
gradual change Of sentiment takes
place, and when the smoke Of battle
has cleared away it will be seen that
trades-unionism has emerged stronger
and moro deeply rooted than 1t has
ever been before. Just ten years have
elapsed since tho Pullman strike. 1t
was thought by many that organized
labor had at that time received q
death blow. but 1t has since developed
that although the American Railway
Union went down to defeat and dlsso-
luton In tho Pullman strike, it only
paved the way for more powerful
trades-unions. the like Of which had
never before been seen. Therefore,
we are justified in drawing the con-
olusion that when history repeats it.
self, tho present struggle against labor
unions being more bitter than that Of
1894, 50 will unionism come again with
greater force than ever before. Union
lists who remain unionists throughout
these trying times may In years to
come point to that fact with pride,
when tho labor union movement has
grown 50 strong as to absorb practic-
ally all Of the workers.
There are others more experienced
who seem to share these views. Frank
Foster Of Boston, Mass, unionist
of the old school, in season and out Of
season. addressed the Chicago Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor recently as follows:
when saw the tremendous wave
Of organization In the city q few years
ago, I feared that history would re-
peat itself, that the movement would
be subjected to the universal law, and
that the tide would surely ebb. It now
appears that this is just what has hap
pened to the movement in Chicago.
I'VE in the labor movement have
much to learn, through this fact IL
often disregarded. In the scientific
organization of crafts much good will
be accomplished for the working
people, but the inspiration and SEN
timent which lead men to organize
must be crystallized into practical
form. The organization movement
must be directed by Judgment and
the principles Of common sense must
be applied or the inspiration alone
will not carry the movement to ul-
innate triumph.
'The happy optimism Of the people
who join labor unions, with dreams Of
accomplishing great things in a hurry,
soon spends itself and reaction results
Because results are not accomplished
men thing tho organizat ions are worth
less and are dissatisfied because tho
dollars invested did not bring them
fortunes.
II have watched the ebb and flow
of tho tide Of organization for many
years, and, Notwithstanding the many
times that unionism has had to re-
treat, there comes to me an assurance
that no power on earth. not even the
gathering force Of Parryisn, nor the
weakness Of our own movement
that We all know exists-can prevent
the slow but certain improvement Of
tho working people through craft or
ganization. Don't draw any lesson Of
disbursement because there ID an
ebb In the tide. The labor movement
Is N evolutionary ono. Great gains
have been made in the past and will
be made In the future.
Henry Abrahamson. secretary Of Bos-
ton Central Labor Union, says:
I'VE trades-unionists are to sec
three OF the hardest years that have
been viewed in the history Of trades-
unionism.
I'VE will emerge from the struggle
a great deal stronger than we have
ever been. The effort OF capital to
crush labor unions has always result
ed in our being better organized as an
ultimate conclusion.
1.-THE labor movement is like all
~ - hoa
OF prosperity and decline. It must he
admitted that this 10 the crucial period
of trades unionism
THE open shop 10 nothing new.
means the non-union shop, with its
long hours. low wages and child labor.
1t means the employer IL the only one
that can and should decide what wage
his employees should receive for what