The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-07-15
DepIOres Conditions That
Make Them Necessary
.ADVOCATEOF CANCELLATION
Thus Far All That Workers Have Re-
ceived Has Been Compelled Through
Organized Effort. Labors Ad-
vance Basis Of Social Progress.

Throughout the country numbers Of
men are engaged In trade movements
to Increase wages, TO reduce the hours
Of labor, to obtain improved working
conditions. With these movements has
come d general howl from the worst
elements of the pIutocratic press.
These gentry cannot understand the
s're1sonabIeness" Of the workers de-
mands nor the necessity of strikes
which are sometimes inaugurated to
achieve them.
or course no one who has given the
subject OF strikes and lockouts any con-
siderable attention can stoutly adyo-
cate recourse to them. But we ask any
fair minded man to point out definitely
what the working people are to do sit
uated ais they are.
Indeed, here and there may be found
an employer generously and consider
ately inclined who win grant not only
fair wages, but also other reasonable
labor conditions. Bet. taken as con.
crete proposition, nothing has been
brought to lsbor upon a silver platter.
| All the toIlers have achieved In mate
rial Improvement has been compelled
by sheer power OF organization, Of in
tellIgence, Of grit: by their willingness
to bear temporary burdens and make
momentary sacrifices that better con-
ditlons of labor and Of life shall be Sc
cured for themselves, for those depend
ent upon them.
Having participated in strikes as
well rs having observed them in all
their phases, we repeat that no one
can be sturdy advocate of recourse
to them. But when the American
standard OF life and with 1t manhood,
character and independence are threat
ened and no relief can be obtained by
any other course than strike, pray
what would our wiseacres of the antag
onistic press advise the working people
to do? An increase Ia the cost Of liv-
ing without an increase in wages Is
equal to reduction In wages. Shall
we wait and wait and wait until en-
ployers shall voluntarily concede in
creased wages? To follow that course
the workers might as well believe in
the notions preached TO them Of old-to
be content with their lot here on earth
and hope for the good things In the
great beyond.
"Those who would be free, them
selves must strike the blow" is as true
now as ever In the history of man,
and eternal vigilance Is as much the
price OF material advancement now as
It Is or ever was the price Of liberty.
Out OF ell the hostile abuse Of labor
in its efforts to protect its rights and
interests there is not suggestion as
to any other manner Of Safeguarding
them.
When employers refuse to meet rep
resentatives Of employees or when
they haughtlly and summarily refuse
worlmen's requests for improved CON
dltions, what recourse but the strike
is there open to the men? Much as we
deplore and seek TO avoid strikes, when
such an alternative is presented we
have no hesltancy IN declaring that the
workers would be less than men did
they not strike, and strike to win.
IN the course of the struggle for bet
ter conditions some Inconvenience are
experienced by those uninterested
This fact all deplore, but it IS also true
that these very Inconvenience In fact
or IN prospect are often the means by
which concessions to the rightful de-
mands Of labor are obtained. 1t must
also be borne in mind that no great
| movement for the material advance
/ ment Of the masses Of the people has
ever been secured without causing some
temporary Inconvenience to others, II
IS in the order Of things. 1t cannot be
otherwise. To take the situation as
/ pllilosophically as possible is the wlsest,
I sanest and safest course to pursue
Labor has little It belongs TO the
class of ''Haye Nots." It has therefore
I little to concede. The workers the
I wealth producers. have hearts and
minds. They have not only themselves.
but also wives and children whom they
lore and for whom they must provide
/ They hope to rear families Of men and
women who viii take their stand IN
life as sovereign Americans, with all
I that the term implies. The means to
the achievement Of any or all Of these
desirable results arc through the wages
they receive and conditions they secure
as q reward for their labor These
4 things labor demands and viii be salts,
fed with nothing less II employers
! will generally concede them as fast as
/ possible without tho necessity Of a re-
sort to the strike, 50 much the better
for all concerned. If stubborn and I'M
necessary refusal Is received, then
4 there ~ no other course for the work
ers than to Withhold their labor from
the employers (strike) until necessity,
the popular demand ana a higher pub
lie opinion compel a change on heart
aud Judgment which VIII cause the al.
| lustment OF controversies upon fair
terms and thus terminate strife and es
\ tablish Industrial pence.
L We have always advocated and still
firmly believe In the policy OF conclia.
ton and, wherever necessary. voun
iary arbitration OF labor disputes, But
when these are not obtainable when
employers assume M autocratlc posi-.
Zion aud refuse to yield anything to the
reasonable and Just demands Of laboM
/ We cinim that tie workers shouid