The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-06
LABOR AND PROGRESS.

try has such a future for genuine good
as has organized labor. From weak
and misguided and unintelligent ef-
forts the labor unions have arisen TO
powerful and intelligent vehicles for
the public good.
Those who have traced the history
of the labor unions from their early
beginnings in the fifteenth century as
craft guilds; those who have studied
the forces which led to the dissolu-
ton and discontinuence of these same
craft guilds. And those who have
followed the rise of the trades union"
in 1880 to the present time have come
to one conclusion. Briefly the con-
clusion is that all efforts of the union
must be intelligent and in perfect
fairness. The elements of downfall in
the past have been entirely along
those lines.
The future Of the organizations OF
labor are~indeed bright and splendid
if the brilliant record be maintained
which has already been set. But it
must be remembered that the solid
contributions to the welfare of the
country and the cause of labor have
been constructive rather than destruc-
tive, they have been peaceable rather
than violent and educated rather than
prejudiced. All work land there is
much yet to be done) must be accom-
pIished along these lines. 1t is great
ly to the credit of organized labor
that in these latter years the major
ity of the members have acted upon
these principles and as long as they
continue to do so they will have the
confidence, the respect and the SYM
pathy of the people.
The demands of labor for the aboli-
ton of child labor, the fair share of
profit, the liability of employers in
dangerous pursuits and the shorten
sity come to conclusion which is
satisfactory to labor. Much has been
done already-the questions must be
dealt with quietly and intelligently
until the object is attained.
1t was only a few months ago that
that most conservative and time hon.
ored institution, the English church
startled all England in it's declaration
that "the church had not only taken
up the cause of labor but was respon-
sible for the condition of laboring
men. Moreover the time must come
when each man must have a share in
the dividend of the occupation in
which he is engaged" Coming as it
does from this source it should be an
indication Of which way the straws
are blowing. Cooperation when con-
Quoted on sensible principles has been
successful and paying investment.
We can not now see the time. nor the
means. But the means will be at
hand at the proper time and the ar
rangement filled with extreme justice.
The labor unions have happily come
to see that labor and capital have in
the main the same interests any an
tagonism of labor by capital or of cap
ital by labor is not beneficial to the
common veal. The arbitration of la
Dor disputes which are bound to arise
is a most hopeful sign. The strike
although it has it's just uses is an
economic waste. With the introduc-
ton of education into unionism things
have gone for the better
| An authority on economic history
says: so in the history Of trade
unionism as men learned to read and
think, although the objects which
/ they stood for were the same as in
the past-the spirit was more clear;
| hence the power brought to bear was
stronger and compelled the govern
ment to consider them as source of
power not to be disregarded.''
Such must more and more be the
case in the future. With an intelli-
gent grasp of the situation the union
will be more powerful-not powerful
in a selfish way but powerful for the
good, for the right and for the bet.
terment of all
Long ago trade journal gave the
same good advice; get knowledge
| and in getting knowledge you get
power. Let us earnestly advise you
to educate, get intelligence instead OF
alcohol-it is sweeter and more last
ing" That trade unions have acted
on this is matter of common know
ledge. Their future seems brilliant
and certain OF success.
Clear thinking and education will
bring the trade union into realm OF
power and respect which can be as
far ahead of what today seems great