The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-02
BASIS or UN|Oh|SM
TO PREVENT TYRANNY
High Aims of Union Organizations
is True Cause of their
Success.
Working Men Band Together to
Prevent the Tyranny of
Greed.

The tyranny Of labor is a favorite
theme with the union smashers. The
studlously conceal the real motives
underlying their opposition.
1t Is generally admitted that trades
unions have come to stay and that Or
ganized labor is an established insti-
tuition, It should also be admitted that
their remarkable growth 7 has been
possible because of the high aims Of
the various organizations and the de-
sire of members to give and receive
fair treatment.
Object Of Unionism.
A cardinal object Of trades unionism
! lis to render employment and the
means Of subsistence less precarious
by securing to the workers an equit.
able hare of the fruits Of their labor"
| In the face of the admissions referred
! to and also in view Of the laudable
objects Of the union movement, we
! are constantly being preached to by
the union smashing alliances and their
subsidized organs about the tyranny
| of labor unions" An able, defense
| from this charge is made by the
Pittsburg Leader in the following eGi-
| torial:
Position Of Union Smashers.
Pronunciation Of the tyranny of la
| Dor unions Is common. It is a favor
lite theme of those who have their own
private reasons for condemning union
ism among workingmen.
"They invariably present one side Of
the case only and offer one sided testi-
mony to support the charge that they
make against the unions That is
deemed sufficient by them, and it is
sometimes accepted as sufficient by
persons who do not take the trouble
to look upon the other side.
1T is probably true that working
men who have no sympathy with
unionism. or who object to certain of
it's rules that directly apply to them
selves have felt that the unions are
tyrannical. They may have hindered
some one from working as he pleased
for wages he was willing to accept
or as many hours as he chose to work.
He regarded that as tyranny.
But he gives no. thought to the
| tyranny there would be without the
labor union, the tyranny Of capital.
That tyranny would make him work
, DIS SO1Io OLucT 11ldu UcCTccu 11c SNOulus
for wages that he was unwilling 10
accept, but had to take or starve. and
SO many. hours that his health might
be ruined, his life shortened and lie
deprived Of all opportunity for the en-.
joyment of even the small reward of
his toll. 80 y
: J. Laws Prescribe Obedience. y.
TT is to- prevent this tyranny II
capitalists that labor unions are forced
to make rules and laws that may seem
to be burdensome and oppressive to
some workingmenz and which undoubt-
edly do restrain personal liberty to an
extent. 49, !:
but. if restraint of the liberty q CT
the Individual is tyranny then all laws
are tyrannical. IN fact, the anarchist
declares that they are and can give
just as good and convincing testimony
to prove that as does the class that
talks !. about the tyranny Of labor
unions give. to prove the unions deg:
!. potic oppression Of the workingman.
! "The labor. Union + question ts
/; whether workinsmen through their
+ own organizations shall restrict their
I own personal liberties or whether they
! VIII without rganization subject
themselves to any restriction Of those
liberties that capitalists may desire 10
Iimp pose upon Thu VI. ,t4 M ss
n I A.,d the right anew e. t. that ques-
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