Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-07
Friday, December 2, 1906.
RENEFIr on 1ABoR UNIONS.

TT WOtILD not be surprising If the National
A Association of Manufacturers of America
would depose its president, John w. Van Cleave
for the very remarkable speech he made last
Monday at the opening Of the convention OF the
Citizens Industrial Association at Chicago
Among his many truthful utterances, he said;
"As an ally in combating the extrem-
;sts who would revolutionize society and
assail the individuals property and social
rights all good citizens should welcome
such cooperation as the labor unions
afford For this reason the employer
who would like to strike down all labor
unions indiscriminately is blind to his
own interests as we'll as fathless to his
duty to the general public
The most radical labor unionst could not have
made stronger expression TAIN that, and con-
ing from not only manufacturer but the presl-
dent of national association OF manufacturers, II
IS particularly forceful Such an opinion will APP
near almost as a heresy to the ant-labor union
newspapers and many manufacturers OF this city.
President Van Cleave deserves great praise for
SO bfavely and frankly expressing his views ON
the labor union subject He is unquestionably
right. The labor unions are blessing and not
curse to the country Were it not for them
the condition of labor would be such that there
would be the greatest discomfort among the
working classes Unorganized labor would be
at the mercy of capital and the employers would
force wages to the very bottommost limit The
average manufacturer is for himself and pays his
,vorkingmen as little as possible. If he starts
with capital Of $4,000 he aims to accumulate
several hundred thousand dollars, and to do that
he adopts the policy of the less he pays to his
employees the more he has for himself II is
constant study with him how little he can pay
his men and how much he make out of their
toll When times are bad the very first move
he makes is 10 reduce wages, but when times are
goodhis last move is to increase wages.
To some extent organized labor has been able
to force from the greedy employer some consid-
eaation for his workmen. Standing together, the
employees. in an establishment can make request
with some chance of having it granted. For one
man to demand an increase OF wages would mean
his instant discharge ........
It is surprising that there is any branch Of
worIingnefi not organized. It must be that they
do not realize the benefits and advantages that
ORGANIZATIONS would be to them. Considering
the increased cost of living and the profits now
being made By the manufacturers, the average
wages in this city are at least IS per cent less
than they should be. If the workingmen were
we'll organized the matter of the disparity o.
wages with the employers profits could be con
sidered and an effective demand made for AN
and reasonable increase of wages. Without sucf
organization the employees can neither determine
what is Justly their due nor make any effective
demand for it. So long, therefore, as the work
ingmen are unorganized and their interests no
united will they be at disadvantage in their de
sire and effort to get fair return for their labor