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,
in the hands of a few, and the
many are victims. In all countries
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
llaF* been brought under the i'm
mediate control of d comparatively
small proportion of mankind.
Wealth is power, and practical ex-
pericnces teaches us thatit is power
too often nsed to depFess and, de-
grade the daily laborer. Year
after year the capital of the country
becomes more concentrated, and in
protection as the wealth of the
country becomes more centralized
its power increase, and the labor
ing classes are Impoverished. It
therefore becomes us, as men who
have battled with the stern.
realities of life, toslook this matter
in The face and act according to
our honest convictions
I'm union there is. strength, ,,
and in the formation of an organ
izttion embracing every man of a
craft i'll 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-
ployels. There is no reason why
they should not pay us fair price
for our labor. If the profits are,
not large ensugh to :remunerate
them for doing business, let the
consumer make up the bglance.
We ask, Is it charitable Is it
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.s 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
a foundation sufficiently strong to
secure them from further encroach-
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
lzatlon. 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
III 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
'N"'S NC ihclSlc hllO" Ill gov
'rned 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.
IL you were to lose your union or
Sanizatlon, where would you be-
ii the organization of only part of
me wage-workers has proved of SO
much benefit, and organization OF
'he whole mass would prove of i'm
measurable benefit. a man who
IS bad unionist is bad for every
other purpose. There is no half.
way business about it. A mar
must be a man, a mouse or a long
tailed rat. When the latter, let nc
man trust him.