The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-10-06
MORE HOPEFUL TIMES
FOR AMERICAN LABOR
Trade Unionism Stands Today as a
Protectorate Over Liberties
of Man,
Those Achieved by Centuries Of
Sacrifices Would Have
Been Destroyed.

Been Destroyed.
OF all the issues that confront the
republic today there is at least one
that has every reason to be cOnsid-
cred as paramount. 1t is the issue
popularity spoken of as the labor prob
lem. Amid scores Of important issues
always before the public, this question
pertaining to the struggling masses"
has never been pushed to the back
ground but, standing always to the
fore, it today confronts us just as in
the past, as matter which concerns
most deeply the nations destiny.
But with all of this agitation and
calling attention to the unfavorable
position of labor at the present time,
there is no getting around the fact
that slowly, though Enthusiastically GER
tain, the cause of men who toll is tri-
umphing. In no country is this more
evident than in America. To say it
has been brought about by the natur-
al trend of civilization is but speaking
loosely. There can be found a more
definite reason for accounting for the
victories that the American working
man is winning. Briefly 1t is this,
American labor is organized, and Or
ganized much better than in any 9th
er country in the world. With the
coming of organizations of working
men into groups which are known as
trade unions, a great change has been
wrought. The days of homespun, the
matched roof and black bread have
been banished. And organized labor
hoo ~ ho IN hri,,
ing about these long needed reforms.
Today unionism not only stands as a
protectorate over the liberties that
have been achieved by centuries of
bitter struggling, but it champions the
cause of larger liberties, of greater
freedom and of broader and deeper
fraternity. So successful has been
the forward movement all along the
last few years that America at this
time enjoys the distinction of stand.
ing first among the nations of the
earth in the number of trade unions.
And in no country upon the globe are
workingmen paid better or is their
standard of living higher than here
in America. Despite what the enc
mics of unionism may say, the truth
remains that most of these victories
that labor is achieving in the present
century are made possible In a very
large measure by the endeavors of the
trade unions.
The vast importance of organized
labor, it's power for good and particu'
larly it's bearing upon the industrial
peace of the world is not matter to
treat with lightly. It's concern is Sc
| rious. It's influence is worldwide.
Many years ago these things were
| pointed out by philosopher of nc
lesser note than Carlyle, who said:
This thing they call organized labor
| is the universal vital problem of the
world" The power of good in union
ism and it's relationship to our ma
tional prosperity was clearly seen by
the great Gladstone, of England when
he declared that trade unions are the
bulwarks of democracies."
Wendell Phillips, Americas fore
most advocate of human liberty, when
slavery was swept from our soil, once
said: II rejoice at every effort work
ingmen make to organize. l hail the
labor movement. It is my only hope
for democracy"
! With all of the Endorsement of emf
nent statesmen, noted scholars, an(
with thousands Of right thinking me1
behind the cause of organized labor, i
is, unfortunately, still treated as thu
object of more adverse and severe
criticism than any other one move
ment of Importance before the nation
A portion of the public, too busy t
examine into real conditions, hal
shared with some critics the fals'
representation they have dealt union
ism.
It, is no secret that public opinion
has very often been in the balance
cropping for evidence before castin,
sympathy one way or the other.
is plainly evident right now that Their
is a decided need for the spread o
the teachings, or, in other words, TO
on evangelization of the public in tn
true principles for which organized
labor stands. Far too many peopl
have formed their opinions of union
from mere newspaper reports O
strikes, riots, other Objectionable an,
uncommendable features that hav'
sometimes accompanied the move
ments of certain radical union lead
ers. The public, if it would learn tn
exact purpose and position OF union
ism, cannot free it's mind too Quickl
of such false notions. Violence witt
labor organizations, just as violence
with law abiding citizen, is Away
the last resort. Labor unions no NOR,
stand for disorder, lawlessness or vic
lence than political parties do, or an
other societies which operate on
platform of principles. On the othe
hand, all Of these uncommendabl
things are bitterly denounced an,
strongly discouraged. violence de
feats its own purpose" says Joh1
Mitchell in his noted work on organ
lied labor. 1T is better to lose strike
rather than win by use of force.
welcome the most sweeping denun
Citations that may be given them ii
the press"
Then what does organized labo
stand for? comes the inquiry from
one unfamiliar with the principles O
unionism. This question Mr.. Mitchell
has very fittingly answered in thes
few words, Labor unions are agains
no one. They are for the workingma1
| TO dirr 'f0,. Hhorfv Por oo,,o1sk,, 80.