The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-27
THE WESTERN FEDERATION OF
MINERS.

of this organization from a knowledge
thereof acquired at long range. it,
objects are expressed in it's published
constitution, bylaws, etc., are merl
torious enough, and convey no intina
ton whatever, that it would for mo-
ment give countenance to any course
of conduct that would not be in strict
accord with the principles of law, or.
der and good government.
Men and organizations, however, are
judged by what they do, and not by
what they say. There must be har'
mony between speech and action. The
best Of constitutions can be abused,
and their letter and spirit perverted,
when their enforcement is entrusted
to unworthy hands.
At the present time the organization
is certainly under very dark cloud
in the states where it originated.
Whether or not it is deserving of cen
sure is a question upon which many
good and candid men materially differ.
For ourselves our deliberate opinion
/ sthat the organization has been more
sinned against than SHINING in the Col
orado struggle. 1t seems nevertheless
to be the under dog in the fight tn the
Western states.
AS we understand it the organ1Za-
ton acquired foothold on the ranges
about three years ago, and has been
ever since It's expressed purposes are
legitimate enough, viz to promote the
moral, intellectual and financial we'll
being of it's members, and as factors
contributing to the attainment Of these
ends, wages, hours and sanitary con-
ditions are accorded their rightful
prominence.
Not all miners on the ranges, how
ever, are affiliated with the organiza-
ton. It seems to have been from the
start, more acceptable to miners of
socialistic tendencies, than to those
imbued with the principles that find
expression in the philosophy of union
labor and trades unionism.
Why that is so, and why the organ
ization has kept itself aloof from
unionism and has never manifested
any disposition to affiliate with the
American Federation Of Labor, are
questions we shall not undertake 20
answer, lest in our devotion to union
ism we might do the Federation in
justice.
A sense of fair play constrains us to
say, that ever since the coming Of
the Federation to Minnesota, there has
been nothing, SO far as we know, in
the actions or utterances Of It's agents
or members to which any fair minded
individual could take any exception.
We ourselves are not an advocate OF
Socialism. We are not prepared to
say that it would not be right in q
society where the true spirit of uni
versal brotherhood was supreme but
we are prepared to say that it is
wholly impracticable and visionary
and nonsensical, while human nature
remains as it is. 1t is conditions that
confront us, and these conditions are
not ripe for Socialism, and from pres
ent indications they never will be-
According to the contention of mem
bers of the Federation the range com
panies led by the Oliver Mining com
pany were hostile from the start te
the coming Of the Federation, and mer
We're discharged without cause as soor
as their utilization with the society
became known to the management.
The men further contend that the
company's objection to the Federation
Is, that it enlightens the minds o.
these foreigners, and fills their head
full Of American ideas of life ant
methods Of living, and consequent dis
satisfaction with low wages and low
modes of living.
They further contend that recent,
the wholesale discharging of me1
without cause became so obnoxiou,
! and intolerable, that 1t was the las
fl straw that broke the camels back
! and they concluded the time was rip,
q to insist upon wages at least sufficien
to purchase the necessaries of lif,
and enable them otherwise to live a.
v becometh human. beings. The man
III agement refused to comply, hence tn,
ai strike.