The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-06-15

selecting easy subjects, shall attach
ton to my efforts, shall choose my topics
a from the category of hard problems,
"no oeg1n with the subject of strikes.
.,. Labor's Heroic Remedy.
1t Is now practically conceded by
al ADVANCE thinkers on Industrial and
tion m questions that the applica
clearly eomm NM Sniy } IN properiy in.
a Oh a,aa - cases; And although labor or
tribute of infallibility, yet the number
OF instances where they are chargeable
w M1'n na, error in resorting to- this form
fe% nde gdeed wien ana IT is
imembered that trade unionism, upon
us present basis of organization, is
GGomparatlvely in its infancy, the wis
t1on to Its activities cannot help but
cnaiienge the admiration of the
general as legitimate means to the
only differences in opinion that can
arlse among the friends of labor to-
t tay are confined wholly to considera-
ZION OF expediency in particular cases.
.. Strike is Not Labor Question.
me strike Is not the labor Ques-
ton, 1t Is the result Of the labor ques-
fairs during the past fifteen years in
a al 1eyond the question Of doubt
that trade unionism has tended to les
sen Sc strikes Labor organizations and
nations deplore war, but sometimes
ooth become necessary. There are
something's worse than strikes, and
one Oh them Is depraved manhood
.r, Labor and Capital.
If employers showed the same in
cnnat1on in dealing with unions, as
unions have with employers there
would be no necessity for strikes. for
L
pioyers and representatives of en-
p ro,3nG +s Gould be brought about q
e eben1,t oe reached If both sides were
other; l have no sympathy with those
VINO mold that the interests of the en-
ployer and employee are diametrical-
ly opposed to each other. So long as
our present industri al system exists,
Where there are capitalists on the one
mana, and wage earners on the other,
W ynefe must nus b. be meetng ground. and
ciprocated. Labor and capital must
t pom learn to recognize this truth. for
, .ntfe can never be industrial peace
until 1t is recognized.
The Apprentice Question.
my fellow delegates, for my years,
l have long been actively connected
w, Win the labor, movement, have stood
ny It's colors through thick and thin,
as much In the progress of it's growth
ana ITS work, as a devoted member of
a family does in the welfare and hap
plness Of his brothers and sisters. He
will be jealous of their good name and
Iame. and sorely grieved by anything
that casts a reflection upon either.
Such is my mental attitude toward our
common o1,n1.o3 cause and that is why 1 feel
constrained to touch upon the appren-
tlce question at this time. We must,
by deserving it, retain the confidence
ranks 1 always admired the first
sentence OF the Declaration of indie
pendence with its announcement, that
a decent respect for the opinions of
clare to the world the causes which
impel us to separation
Advises Supplementary Action.
on+ me time :.i has come when the pres
applied by some of the unions, are
subjecting US to criticism from those
who are, and who would like to con-
fully persuaded that the time is ripe
for those trade unions which prohibit
apprentices to enact some wise sup
Elementary PIER ntty regulations on the subject.
layed already too long.
The rule was tnaugurated with good
intent when times We're hard, and
prentices in great numbers with it,
tie regard for the protection of the
trade The step was taken, too, to
fo11T f the young ;2 man that it would be
y oyer-crowded. to find himself on
the threshold Of manhood with a trade
and no place to work at it. The action
OF the ,t unions that were; forced to pass
original purpose well, but no one ever
contemplated that it was to be main
tanned indefinitely, or that it was de-
sirable to do so.
Trade schools, not of our creation,
and non-union towns, which we can
not control, are usurping our prero-
gatives, just because we have been too
slow. in protecting ourselves-with the
result that the boy living in a union
town is denied the privilege accorded
to the young man in a town where
ton one of pressing Importance, and
hope that the Federation will go on
record in favor of trade unions adopt
and against the prohibitiye Measure
now In vogue In not a few Of the
trades. Some labor organizations must
take the lead in this matter, and the
tunity to do SO at this time. ~
The Child Labor Problem.
"Conce1v1ng as I do that trade I'M
ionism stands for the: maintenance Of
GUS integrity, and for the suppression
of all vices that endanger the perpetui-
ty OF our country, I would consider
myself direlect in duty, did not,
with all the energy Of which my nature
is capable, seek to arouse, my coun-
trymen in general: and more particu-
larly my co-workers in this cause, to
that most monstrous of all infamies
the forced employment and degrada-
ton of the little boys and the little
girls of this Republic in mills, factories
and sweat shops, to crafty the in
satfate NAV of avarice and greed
Can it be possible that certain Of our
so-called captains of industry have
become so drunken with the lust Of
gold, that their senses have become
stupefied to every consideration Of
patriotism and humanitarian? A dis
tinguished clergyman Of New York
whose word no one can gainsay, in
emphasizing the fact that money mad
ness was the key note to New York's
sermon in that city that in the sweat
shops of New York, you see over TWEEN
ty thousand little children, gaunt
wtld-eyed, tottering wrecks, driven
by the lash of inhuman masters, as
never were the slaves in the cotton
fields of the south, even in the darkest
days Of slavery And, mind you, this
is a city where such cold blooded en-
ployers can pay s500,00) for tapestry;
their wives 900 for dresses, and
$4,000 to decorate a poodle dog There
are no children in such homes, God be