The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-10-11
Organization
he Power

Labor has no protection. The
weak are devoured by the stronger.
All wealth and all power center,
i'll the hands of few, and the
many are victims. In all coun tries
and at all times capital has been
used by those possessing it to.
monopolize particular branches of
business, until the vast and various
industrial pursuits of the world
laH, been brought under the im5
mediate control of a comparatively
small proportion of mankind.
Wealth is power, and practical ex-
periences teaches us thatit is power
too often nsed to depress and de
grade the daily laborer. Year
after year the capital OF the country
becomes more neentrated, and in
protection as the wealth of the
country becomes more centralized.
its power increase, and the labor
ing classes are Impoverished. 1t.
therefore becomes us, as men who
have battled with the. stern.
realities of life, to look this matter
in the face and act according to
our honest convictions
sin union there is. strength .,
and in the formation of an organ.
ization embracing every man Of
craft in North American lies our,
only hope. Single. we can
accomplish uothing;. but united,
there is no power OF wrong we NAV
not openly defy.
There IS no visionary plan, but
one eminrntly practical. Nor can
an injustice be done to our EN-
ployers. There is no reason why
they should not pay us fair price
for our labor. IF the profits are
not large ensugh to sremunerate
them for doing business, let the
consumer make up the bBlance.
We ask, Is it charitable sit
humanity? Is it honest to take
away from the laborer--who is al
ready fed, clothed and lodged too
poorly-a portion of his raiment
and deprive his family of the neces-
saries of life by common resort-a
reduction of his wages? 1t must
not be SO. To rescue them from
the condition in which they have,
fallen and to raise them to that
condition in society to which we,
as the wealth producers, are Justly
entitled, and to place ourselves on
foundation sufficiently strong to-
secure them from further encroach-f
ment and to- elevate the moral,
social and intellectual condition of
every one of our craft in the
country is the object of our organ
ization. And to the consummation
of so desirable an object we pledge
ourselves to unceasing efforts and
to untold sacrifices-the knowl-
edge, right and duty of all men to
better their condition in life, in.
which they should equally share
In the profits and comforts created
by their skill and labor, to which
their time and health are devoted,
and on the. prosecution of which
depends the happiness and con-
tentment of themselves and their
dependents. And, believing that
the rights can better be secured
and maintained by organization.
whereby the mutual interest of all
can best be made known and gov
erned through intelligent rules and
uniform laws, founded on universct
principle of equity and exaal
Justice to all, in which each and
every members interest, individu-
ally and collectively, shall be re-
spected and protected.
III you were to lose your union or
ganlzatlon, where would You be I?
If the organization of only part of
the wage-workers has proved of SO
much benefit, and organization of
the whole mass would prove of inn
measurable benefit. A man who
Is bad unionist is bad for every
other purpose. There is no half
way business about it. A man
must be man, mouse OF a long.
TAILED rat. When the latter, let nc
man trust him.