The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-03-21

Hc iollo"iiS cACeFpUS from an
address of John B. Lennon, trea-
surcr of the A. F. of L., present
many interesting facts
While take it that this society
deals particularly with that phase
of the purer life generally known
as chastity, yet it must be admitted
that any and everything in the
world and in the efforts of men and
women to make life generally purer
and better must be conducive to
chastity.
No doubt there are many citizens
who have been led to believe that
the trades-union is not one of the
worlds forces that tend toward
purity, their opinion being based
Oh what they read in the daily
papers and magazines antagonistic
TO our organization and written by
the enemies of substantial progress.
believe that a Methodist can best
state what Methodism stands for. I
am sure that il citizen of the United
States can best present the founda-
mental principles of this Govern
mrnt. And if this is true in other
walks of life, it must be- equally
true that Il trades -unionist can best
represent what the trades union
really stands for and is.
In its full scope the industrial
question is not altogether a class
question. 1t has to do with all
manner of causes and effects. 1t
aSpires to the highest social heavens
and digs down to the substrata to
the lowest social and industrial
hclls. Princes and paupels, palaces
and novels, and every possible
phase Of human life making up a
part OF the wonderful structure of
What we call civiliZatiOnIlave some
part and exert some influence in
the great social problem, which is
hut another name for human life.
with all IS passions, impulses, hopes
and deSpairS.
Viewing the industrial question
from this broad scope, the trades
union contends that the organiza-
uon OF the wage-earning class into
class organization is an absolute
necessity, i'll order to promote the
industrial moral and social in
lerc>ts of this class as a whole.
we, the wage earnels, have dis
covered, as have the great capital
ISL that the strongest stimulant to
concert of action is identity of in
'ereSt or approximate identity,
and as wage-earners we have in the
effort for higher wages, less hours
ana better conditions of labor an
identity of interest that makes our
trades unions absolutely in
ueStructible. Although often
beaten in conflicts for better condi-
lions, the gain from decade to de-
cade is exceedingly perceptible,
ana each 10 years finds the picket
me OF the trades union occupying
line IN advance of that held 10
Years previous, and this as true of
The ethical side of the social ques-
tion as upon it's industrial side.
Livery advance materially has been
accompanied by an equal advance
morally, as in no small degree is
me success of the trades union de-
pendent upon continuous develop.
ment OF the virtues of temperance,
fraternity and mutual help, and
such an organization. attempting
ana performing such work in the
world, cannot but help in promot-
ing the cause of virtue, and does
not and cannot violate the princi-
pies OF abstract ethics.
since the earliest dawn of human
history there has been continuous
struggle between those who have
ana those who have not the materi
al Things of life for a greater share
Vi what labor produces, as well as
greater degree of liberty and op-
portunlty. The rebellion of the
1hl!dren of Israel in Egypt against
.heif taskmasters, who compelled
mem, according to the Bible story
10 make bricks without straw,
take 1t IS but a representation o.
'he TACT that the Children of Israe
were essentially slaves, and were
compelled to work practically with
OUT recompenSe and without any O.
.he necessary conveniences to max,
thelr labor congenial. In Rome