The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-05-21
SAV5@858 ESS5@s99g
AN ADDRESS TO
ORGANIZED LABOR
Text of the Committees Report Sub
mitted to the National Socia list
Convention at Chicago Last Friday.

and submitted to the
Socialist National conventions:
The movement of organized
labor is a natural result of the an
between the interests of
employers and wage earners under
the capitalist system. Its activity
in the daily struggle over wages,
hours, and other conditions of
labor is absolutely necessary to
counterfeit the evil effects of COM
petition among the working people
and to save them from being re-
duced to material and moral degra-
dation. 1t is equally valuable as
force for the social, economic and
political education of the workers.
1t Does Not Dictate.
''The Socialist party does not
seek to dictate to organized labor
in matters of internal organization
and union policy. 1t recognizes
the necessary autonomy of the
union movement on the economic
field, as it insists on maintaining
its own autonomy on the political
field. 1t is confident that in the
school of experience organized
labor will as rapidly as possible
develop the most effective forms
of organization and methods of
action.
':In the history of the recent
Meyer Haywood protest, partici-
pated in by unions of all sorts and
by the Socialist party, it finds
reason to hope for closer solidarity
on the economic field and for more
effective cooperation between or
ganiZed labor and the Socialist
party, the two wings Of the move.
ment for working. class emancipa-
ton.
1.-The Socialist party stands with
organized labor in all its struggles
to resist capitalist aggression or to
wrest from the capitalists any in
provement in the conditions of
labor. 1t declares that it is the
duty of every wage.worker to be
an active and loyal member of the
organized labor movement, striving
to. win it's battles and to strengthen
and perfect it for the greater
ooi " COHIc.
Organized labor is today con-
fronted as a class undertaken a
crusade for the destruction Of the
labor organization.
SIN Colorado, Nevada, Alaska
and elsewhere law and constitution
have been trampled under foot,
military despotism set up, and
judicial murder attempted with
this aim in view. Where such
violent methods have not seemed
advisable, other means have been
used to the same end.
''Ihe movement for the So called
open shop but thinly wells an at
tempt to close the shops against
organized worl>ingmen; it is back
ed by powerful capitalsist organi-
cations, with millions of dollars in
their war funds.
Courts Always Hostile.
''The courts, always hostile to
labor, have of late outdone all pre-
vlous records in perverting the
law to the service of the capitalist
class. They have issued injunc-
lions forbidding the calling of
strikes, the announcements of boy
colts, payment OF union benefits,
or even any attempt to organize
unorganized workingm men in certain
trades and places. They have is.
sued arbitrary DEGREES dissolving
unions under the pretense of their
being labor trusts.
They have sustained the cap
ltalists in bringing damage suits
against unions for the purpose of
tying up or sequestlating their
funds. They have wiped off the
statute books many labor laws
laws protecting little children from
exploitation in the factory, laws
making employers liable for
damages in case of employees killed
or injured at their work, laws
guaranteeing the right of working
men to belong to unions.
'EWhile affirming the right of
EN- ployers to bar organized work.
1ngmen from employment, they
have declared it unlawful for
work1ngmen to agree not to pat
ronlze non union establishments.
The only consistent rule observed
by the courts in dealing with the
labor questions is the rule that
capitalists have sacred right to
1DpfifS and thot tho