The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-27
.LABOR's WORST FOES
WITHIN union RANKS
Unconscious Foes None the Less
Deadly Because They Are
Unconscious.
Qualifications For Leadership
Should Be Carefully analysed
BY Unions.

Mesaba and Vermilion iron ranges af-
lords organized labor Of Duluth an ex-
cellent opportunity to observe the diff
ference between the union which de-
sires to. treat with capital on concilia-
tory terms, and the organization Of
workingmen which declares for the
determination Of capitalism with ono
breath, and in another deflantly de-
manding an increase in wages and an
improvement in working conditions
without having previously asked for a
conference with employers to ascer-
made without the painful necessity OF
resorting to. a strike.
All labor must learn that: strikes
should only be declared as a last re-
sort whenever other means for secur-
ing an adjustment of difficulties shall
have failed. The trade union plan Of
Joint -bargaining,t as declared by the
American Federation Of Labor, and
adhered to BY, most of the internation-
al trade: unions affiliated, is proving to
be- a sane. and sensible plan Of patch
Ing. UP differences between capital and
labor. It lessons strikes. 1t prevents
an interruption. Of industry in the
middle :of busy season, and fewer in
nocent parties depend upon the sue.
cess Of capital and labor are compelled
to suffer. =:
With labor's increasing influence
through organization, and it's growing
power to make or destroy It must as
sumo a responsibility frequently over
looked. If 1t has the power to cause
a cessation Of industry, In any one Of
its branches, and thousands in other
departments are tnvoluntarily forced
into idleness as a result Of the action
Of the first, then its duty is to respect
the rights and considerations Of 9TH
ers. We are in sympathy with every
righteous movement Ut labor for the
bettering Of it's condition; and it is our
desire to have. workingmen attain their
ends along such Just lines as will Sc
cure the best results by imposing the
least injury upon any. Capital too,
has the power to make or destroy, and
It's duty to the public is no less i'm
portant than that Of labor.s. Both
must be impressed with the RESPONSE
bility they owe the public.
Much is being written on this ques-
tion by learned students Of economic
conditions. The real foe to labor is he
who will advise labor to do a wrong.
There are many in the unions, and
the sooner they are relegatcd to trade
union oblivion the better it will be for
all.
We were impressed this week with
an article from the pen of James sey-
monds, writer on trade union matters,
and we have determined to print por-
tions OF It in this issue Of the Labor
World because we believe 1t contains
such good advice which ought to be
Needed by every workingman. It is
as follows:e -~,-~~-,.t .....-' -.
mot ALI the. destructive foes of
unionism are outside it's ranks. Labor
unions are inpeded; in their work by
internal conscious and unconscious
foes, who,e to@a greater or less degree,
are exercising their power to destroy.
The .'unconscious foes are none the
less: deadly because they are uncon-
.scious:s They comprise the hot headed
H:s@AAOs.@ SAON9A. SuSy may OS
honestain their. purpose are wrong in
their reasoning. They think little,
but talk much. They want the whole
earth, and they want It, now, and
without any regard to oSlocal or general
or special trade or industrial ;condi-
tIons. .. go. ... !: -. .ss. .%s7 j.
This history Of unionism records
instances where organization proceed
ed at q rapid rate and promised
speedily to-, remedy many pf labor's
wrongs. but all progress was stopped
by q sudden epidemic Of premature
wage disputes, followed by illegal
The redeen1ing feature Of this class
is that, their motives being sincere,
many Of them learn ,sbyi experience to
avoid the dangers 81 illogical radical
methods and polictes ~
80 go a few however. sra aduate or, more
propenly speaking, . degsnerate, from
this class IS tho ciass 81 conscious foss
within the ranks. 80
The consciotsS fOsS Within tho ranks
.cqmprise those personal
sjti e tos aI - ,;s
1Il,i -