The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-02-14
The Trades Unions Stand for Freedom and Ius-
tiCe For All Alike
DEMOCRATIC CONDUCT OF ALL INDUSTRIES
n government and Free Speects For the Dignity and Self
Respect OF the Workmgman and for the Natural
Esteem of Capitalist and Wage Garner.

In fits fundamental principle
trade union iS plain clear and
simple. II starts from THE ircogni-
ton oil the Tact that under normal
the Individual, uuorran.
lZe0 workman cannot bargain ud-
with the cmploycr
'or the sale of his isIi.er. Since the
"ofklhsnan has no nuney in re.
>'r'" and must sci! labor immedi-
aiely, sine II" has no knowledge of
"hc market und ,n Skill in bargain.
ing. sii.>- hmally he has only his
own labor to sell. while the en-.
pl"yer engages hundreds OF even
thousands OF ncn and can easily do
without the services OF particular
individual, the worSingnian, if bar.
gaming on his own account and for
himself alone, is at an enormous
disadvantage. Trade unionism re-
cogniZe the fact that under such
conditions labor becomes more and
more degenerate, that the condition
OF the worst and lowest man in tho
industry will be that which the
best man must accept. Hence,
from first to last, always and every.
where, trade unionism stands un-
alterably opposed to this individual
contract. 1t is upon this principal
the absolute and compile prohihi-
ton of contracts between employers
and idiyidual men-that trade un.
lontsm is founded. There can be
no permanent prosperity to the
working classes, no real and lasting
progress no consecutive improve
ment in conditions until the princi-
pie Is firmly and fully established
especially An enterprise on large
scale-that conditions of industry,
the settlement of wages, hours of
labor, ETC., must be adjusted be-
tween employers and workingmen
collectively and not between en-
ployers and workingmen individu-
ally.
Labor unions are for the work
tngman, but against no one. They
are not hostile to employers, not
lnimical to the interests of the gen
eral public. They are for a class
because that class exists and has
class interests, but the unions did
not create and do not perpetuate
the class or it's interest and do not
seek to evoke class conflict.
There Is nos necessary hostility
between labor and capital. Neither
can do without the other; each has
evolved from the other. Capital is
labor saved and materialized: the
power to labor is in itself a form of
capital. There Is not even o founda-
mental antagonism between the
laborer and the capitalist. Both
are men, with the virtues and vices
OF men, and each wishes at times
more than his fair share. Yet,
broadly considered, the interest Of
of one Is the interest of the other,
and the prosperity of the one is the
prosperity Of The other. Where
wages are high, capital and the con-
duct of business are not without
their reward; where the industry
OF the country is carried on by
broad minded, far-seeing, adven-
turous leaders, the remuneration of
labor increases, even to the COM
mon laborer on the streets.
The trade unions stand for the
principle of united action and for
the policy of living wage earned
under fair living conditions. In
union there is strength, justice, and
moderation; in dis-union nothing
but an alternating humility and in
science, a state of industrial depot
ism tempered by futile and passing
revolutions. The trade unions
stand for the right of association,
self-government, and free speech; !;
for the dignity and self respect of
the workingman; for the mutual
esteem of ofcapitalist and wage Garner,
and for wide, open minded, demo
cratic conduct of industry.
''There are at present from two
and a half to three million trade
unionists in the United States.
The great new fact of American
labor is its organization The work
ingman has risen from his knees
and now stands upon his feet; he