The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-12-19

$500 per day, and the hours of labor
have been reduced from ten to eight
hours These, improved conditions
were not handed to US on silver plat
tiers; we had to fight every inch Of
the way for them. Now that we have
secured so much through organization.
is it not the moral duty of every
man employed at that trade to sup
port the institution which not only
made 1t possible to secure the pre-
| vailing improved conditions, but
which through periods of depression
| is sustaining them.
Vindieation Of Principle.
The principle might be taken from
our government. While it is not in
cumbent upon every resident Of the
country to become a citizen, yet he
cannot escape bearing his share of
the cost Of supporting the nations
free institutions, and you and I have
very little respect for the person in
our neighborhood, who takes advan-
tage of the blessings of this free gov
eminent, without becoming a part Of
| 1t. His industrial obligation as a
workman to the union, which is Sc
curing for him more economic free
dom is no less important than his
civic duty to the country which grants
him political liberty.
There IS no dispute about the non
union mans right to work, but the
union mans right to quit work for
any reason or no reason is lust as
sacred.
The economic necessity for the or
ganization of labor, often compels the
individual workman to voluntarily ex-
change his contractual rights for the
blessing Of collective bargaining.
Philosophy Of Movement.
The whole philosophy Of the trade
union movement is based on the hope
| Of minimizing competition among the
laboring classes. Is it not true that
American labor is called upon to face
competitive conditions decidedly un-
fair and degrading?
| Do you know anything about the
status of the horde of immigrants who
| come to our already overcrowded in
dustrial centers from certain portions
OF Europe, and whose ideas of life
and society are far below those of
the American workingman? Our
laborers are progressive men. The
advancing wage scale, and the shorter
hours Of labor-the achievements of
their trade unions much to
increasing their purchasing power.
American workingmen and their wives
dress better than the working classes
| 0f ~ i
In our homes we have more comforts,
and our desire for more things grows
with our advancing intelligence. We
have fine pictures on our walls, pretty
carpets on our floors, comfortable
furniture in which we may rest, and
even a piano for our children. The
standard Of American living has been
established, and when we are called
upon to compete with men who do
not live up to that standard their
competition Immediately becomes IN
just and injurious.
DeplorabIe Standard Of Living.
Not long ago visited in the mining
camps Of Northern Minnesota. I re-
member scene in a cabin inhabitated
by number Of Austrian miners. It
was small shack with hunks three
tiers high built around the walls OF
a solitary room. There was a table
In the center with narrow passage
way between it and the hunks Over
the table and suspended from the cell
ing, were more hunks, and here 80
men ate, slept and lived. What q
different picture this is from the ideal
home of the American workingman
It is against this standard Of living
that the trade union has set it's oppo-
sition, which furnishes another reason
for establishing the minimum scale
under which we protest against the
operation Of the so-called law OF
supply and demand.
The trade union seeks to gain for
the woman wage Garner her full
economic freedom. We held to the
idea that woman is entitled to the
same wage as a man for doing the
same amount of work. There is both
a social and economic virtue in this
contention.
Women Wage Farmers. -" !.
It was wholly in accord with the
commercial spirit of the. day for in
dustries. because of the keen compe-
titive conditions ever confronting them
to supplant working men with work
ing women, and later to invade the
home and the school room, takins
therefrom mere babes and forcinf
them into the factories and work shop.
in place OF the woman II e E
The intro uction Of new 1laachiner,