The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-31
TRADE UNION IDEALS
=. ARE Of LOFTY NATURE
Organized Labor is an Institution
That Has Come to Stay.-Its
Opponents Must Admit.
Methods and Tactis Of Trade
Unions Compared With Those
of America Financiers.

That organized labor is an institu-
ton that has come to stay even It's
opponents are compelled to admit.
That its ideals are high, its purposes
noble, it's history inspiring and its
achievements remarkable and praise
worthy none can deny. If now and
then some Individual or some organi'
zation proves false to its principles or
attempts things that seem incompat-
ible with it's high ideals and noble
purpose, that is no argument against
organized labor. There are men who
pose as Christians, even ministers of
the gospel, whose conduct justiaes the
assertion that they wear the livery
Of heaven the better to serve the
devil but that Is no argument against
Christianity. There are physicians and
lawyers who desecrate their profess
sion for the sake Of money, but that
is no argument against medical
science or against Jurisprudence. Or
ganized labor has nothing to fear by
comparing the conduct Of it's leaders
and members with the conduct Of the
people in any other walk of life.
When we see how corrupt are the
methods Of the financiers Of today;
how little they hesitate to destroy an
other mans business II it be in the
way of their unjust and unlawful de-
signs; how they disregard both moral
and civil law in their efforts to acquire
wealth, we cannot help but think that
our country is rapidly becoming
nation where wealth accumulates and
~
more out Of a bargain than one is
justly entitled to, and the disposition
to deny others that which they are
justly entitled to Is the principal
cause of this condition. That it is a
menace to our institutions and to the
future welfare Of our country is now
the belief of all thoughtful, we'll mean
ing men.
But years ago organized la
Dor sounded the alarm and began
the fight against those who would
make other paupers that they them
selves might be millonaires. We are
tendency to probe into the methods
of high finance" to regulate inter-
state commerce, to fix railroad rates
by law, to prevent adulteration Of
foodstuffs, etc., that we arc going to
ruin the business prospects Of our
country. 1t Is only few years since
we were told that If we did not de-
stroy organized labor it would ruin
the business prospects of the country.
Many who believed that cry now find
themselves the victims Of the same
forces that the iaboring man has been
fighting for years. They can now see
that the same unjust spirit that has
always contrived to deprive the labor
ing man Of justice is beginning to
make others-business men. farmers.
professional men and even some en-
ployers-victims Of its greed, orro-
gance and dishonest tr1ckery.
The awakening Of the people to this
condition Is sure to result beneficially
to heretofore, and will bring into CO.
operation with organized labor some
some Of the prejudice that existed
organized labor. It will break down
forces that opposed or at least looked
askance upon it In the past. Organ
lied labor will, therefore, be able to
meet the problems of the future with
wisdom and confidence, and If its doc
trine Of a fair days wages for fair
days work, its aim to have every
man, woman and child possess and
enjoy all the comforts of life, were
fully realized it would do more than
any other measure to counterfeit the
evil that results from the arrogance
and cupidity of those whose god is