The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-01-20
ORGANIZATION PRO7EC-
TIVE NOT AGGRESSIVE
Justice to Others and to Itself
Is Labor's De-
mand.
Trades Unionism, Based on the
First Principle of
Right.

ments that are destined to live.
Through cause and effect, supply
and demand, commercial and in
dustrial activity is inevitable.
Organization is protective rather
than aggressive, however. much cap
ital would assume the defensive at
titude. Organization has been as
bitterly opposed by the capitalistic
element as ever medical science has
fought the plague, but In spite OF all
organization has spread like con-
tagion until all lines Of industry are
infected Yet labor compels respect
from the favored few.
Although men are prone to regard
riches first and make principle a seq
ondary consideration. God and the
angels rejoice over the man Of true
principle who passes in the path of
duty incorruptibly through l1fe's
temptations.
The world pays homage to the sue
which he obtained success. but the
man who Is true to duty, faithful to
whatever task he ENCOUNTERS, wins
the smile of the Master.
Labor worthily performed is only
duty, and duty faithfully rendered
glorif1es God.
Whether our workday falls in the
pleasant and love lit season of SPRING
time or our task requires us to en-
dure the mldsummer's withering
heat, whether our work is done in
the radiant glory Of autumn splen-
dor or amid the harsh chin of mer-
ciless winter, an honest days work
deserves the appreciation of men and
angels.
An honest days work does not ne
cessarily mean working at high pres
sure from ten to thirteen hours
day.
The impression is strong in the
mind of the employing class that
men are to be treated as the cheapest
part of the machinery in every bus
mess. The masses realizing the ef-
fects of long hours are making Wig
orous efforts to establish universal
system of the eight hour day. Treax-
ing men as unimportant attach
ments to the real machinery has be-
come the rule, especially in the large
woodworking establishments and,
other importa4ts-n nlanufa ana
ployed in great numbers. High pres
sure is the rule. individuals are
not considered at all in regard to
their welfare, but simply as to their
capacity for endurance. When men
wear out and cannot accomplish tn
requirements OF the high pressure
system they are discharged. The
supply usually exceeds the demand,
and there are men enough always
waiting for every vacancy. Eight
hours for honest labor ought to sat
isfy even the most exacting employ
er. More than that Is unreasonable
and sooner or later the strain will
tell in the quality and quantity of
results produced Eight hours OF
honest toll are of more worth to the
employer and far more satisfactory
to the employed than twelve or
thirteen hours of inferior effort
could possibly be. Then why is such
struggle necessary to secure rea-
sonable conditions for labor?
Selfishness answers the question.
Selfishness limits the mental horizon
Of the employer until he almost, if
not quite, loses sight of the en-
ployee's interest in contemplating the
advantages 70 1lmself.
In art 1.-The farther we get away
from an object the smaller it ap-
pears" The farther way our ex-
perience carries us from a fact or
condition the more difficult it is for
us to realize the actual proportions
of that fact or condition.
Imperfect perspective characterizes
the in6vStrio1 ~P poo7
ern progress. Selfishness in capital
and, though we may not be able to
sec 1t from labor's standpoint, sell
hshness in labor create a difference
of opinion that is difficult or adjust
ment. Capital seems as conscience
less in sacrificing the smaller in
terests in its own ranks as in it's
merciless methods with labor.
Labor is Worship hence the laws
that govern labor should be in ac-
cord with justice and the Christian
law OF love, do unto others as we
would have others do unto u.s."
Justice to others and justice to self
is the aim of organization in labor's
demand for the eight hour workday.
organization based on the first
principle of right, justice and honor
must eventually convince all opposi-
tion even to its antagonist. organized
capital, which labor is tempted to
regard as concentrated iniquity" or
organized injustice.
labor is Worship and by or
Eanized effort only can labor II
up to the foundation principles of
Anionism
A man can work eight hours a dav
and do as much and as good work the
eighth hour as he did the first. but
no man can give his best physical
powers during twelve or thirteen
hours day at work.
Capital seems to resent the fact
that organization has taught men who
labor to regard themselves as in
dividuals rather than so many tools
to be used, worn out and thrown
aside by those who control them.
Labor is Worship therefore if
must not become narrow and selfish
In dealing with the faults and mis-
81 . -. I'D T.