The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-04-24
TOPICS OF INTEREST !: !
FOB THINKING Men
Conditions Upon Which the Fu-
ture Of the Trades Union
Movement Depends. "
RIGHT EXERTIONS GIVE
BENEFICIENT RESULTS
Modern Usages Should be Util-
lied in the Accomplishment
of Our Aims.

From the standpoint of age the Or
gan1zed labor movement is still garbed
in its infantile raiment, and many Of
the conceptions of it's champions con-
spicuously indicate the formative peril
Cd Of its. existence. In all great efforts
Of the past these same characteristics
had a prominent place, and when it
is comprehended that our movement
springs from the immediate necessities
Of the workers, whose environment
precludes only limited opportunity as
yet to attain helpful knowledge, the
wonder Is that our activities have
yielded such beneficient results. y
Tho Perfect Unattainabie.
The scheme of nature has not, yet
revealed state of perfection, but there
is an inherent something which ac-
companies the improvement Of our
past methods. Radicalism, in it's az
cepted sense, means rapid trans
formation from the existing state to
another, and rarely accomplishes the
results predicted. This can be &C.
counted for by the fact that changes
in human affairs are controlled in
large part by the characteristic human
instinct, which Is invariably sluggish
in it's operation; The shipwrights in
the early part of the last century be-
gan an agitation for the ten-hour day,
but forty years elapsed before the goal
was reached-thus practically 10
years have elapsed in establishing par
TALLY the eight-hour day among the
tradesmen of our country. !:
Lessons Of the Past
The present day necessities, how
ever, are Of equal concern with the
achievements Of the past, and we must
predicate our future and present en-
deavors upon the experiences CLEANED
in our former efforts. It is not under,
stood that antiquated methods are ito
be employed. On the other hand, it
lis urged that modern eusages are to be.
1ltilize9 IN the acconplish Of our
aims<I - Eondit tons. which suFrvufid MS
must be carefully scrutinized and TEX
en- advantage. of. The knowledge of
the time when to act is as important
factor as the courage to act.
The successful labor official of the
future must be fortified with gen
eral knowledge of commercial condi-
t1ons, with acumen sufficient to take
advantage Of favorable circumstances.
as we'll as to be strong enough to
check any tendency toward too much
speed and radical action.
Industrial Outlook.
| The present Industrial outlook de-
mands careful study by labor men.
The tendency today in the commercial
fleld Is recessionary and no institution
formed by mankind can successfully
cnange the course of the commercial
tide when recession begins Com
! merc1al laws are as imnutabie as
natural laws. The commerce of this
country has made giant strides in the
| last decade and the momentum at
tained was of such velocity and VOL
ume so great that reaction must come
in pursuance to natural law. A horse
driven at breakneck speed is unable
to travel a great distance, but a mod
crate pace will place many miles to his
credit. Our commerce has Travelled
at high speed, and as result the
| reaction is at hand. The entire force
and ability of evry labor official, as
we'll as every member of our local
unions, should be directed toward
maintaining the conditions which now
obtain In the various crafts. The
time is not propitious for making ad-
vances, but the unions should be
steadied by closer affiliation and inter-
nal development.
| Adverse Court Decisions. $3.50.
| Our membership cannot be dismayed
| by adverse court decisions or attacks
made by antagonistic associations, TO,
Its foundation is laid too deep and
strong in tn hearts of the workers
But by unintelligent methods we may
be temporarily hampered. It is nj
sign Of organic weakness to sQuarel1
face the present outlook and take pre-
caut1onary measures. On the otf1el
hand, 1t Is an omen Of strength, TO,
II the labor organization can acquire
FACILITY In adjusting itself to chang
ing conditions it's future is secure ant
greater strides can be made in the fu-
ture than have been achieved in the
past.
Present Indications.
BY a study Of the commercial occur
rences of the past it is noted that thu
laws governing trade are naturol, {
season of great activity always beins
1ollowed by season of sluggishness
Inc period Of briskness has been ex-
experienced in recent years, and, tn,
operation of Industrial enterprises viii
now slow down in conformity with
reasons stated above. The price O.
iron Is the thermometer Of commiesrce
When iron is high in price we invar:
laply f1nd an upward trend in all othe,
commodities, with business enterprise.
expanding, but when iron begins tt
sag In price it will carry with it event
ually all other commodities. This. i,
not theory, but is sustained by his
tory. '-' : -. 4, w.
During the past few months fror
mas fallen in price, which indicates
that we are in. a period OF falling price:
u - g quite true that reductions have
a ii. =, S. = a. IS