The Springfield herald., 1909-06-18

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therefore he seeks strength in associa-
tion. Has labor the right to organize
itself in unions? Undoubtedly it has.
AS the individual laborer has the right
to secure justice to himself, so have
associations of laborers the same right,
as do also interpretations and syndicates
without which, many great projects
would be impossible.
The earlier organizations. or trades
unions, were composed chiefly of un-
skilled worfmen, and were organized
into seperate trades or crafts. These
seldom acted in unison and did little
for unorganized or unskillsd lobor as a
class, but endeavored to promote their
own interests only. Later organiza-
tions, as the Knights of Labor, seek to
better the conditions of both skilled
and unskilled labor. They also show
more of disposition toinsritute politi-
cal movements in behalf Of their class.
Recently the trade unions have estab-
lished the American Federation of Lab
or, which q national combination of
trade unions. These two organizations
have not as rule worked in harmony.
The objects Of labor organizations
are many, and too extensive to chronicle
in this brief sketch, hut nevertheless,
we feel safe in venturing to say that
its objects accrue equally as many bene-
fits to the industries of our country as
it does to the labor organizations them
selves.
Occasionally disagreement EXISTS
as 70 the fights Of the employer OF en-
ployet, and asa consequence a strike
ensdes. Some of the more somon caus-
es that lead to strikes are low wages.
long working hours, unsanitary con-
ditions. danger of life from SONG de-
fective machinery, employment Of nom
union men and some times through
sympathy with other strikers.
Those who critIcise labor organiza-
tions SO freely for their use Of strikes
and boycotts, often overlook the fact
that during a period of thirteen years
ending July L. 1894, there were over
six thousnd establishments in the Uni
ted States that closed their doors,
throwing nearly four hundred thousand
people out Of employment, in order to
coerce them into compliance with GER
tain demands. and there is no device of
industrial warfare more contemplate
than the "blacklist'', which is practiced
by some Interpretations to this day.
The success or failure Of a strike de-
pends largely upon the strikers in pre-
venting the employment of floating
non-union tradesmen- The employer
If obstinate, will also resort to all kinds
of devices in winning his cause. If he
be conservative, usually an amiciable
settlement is effected and the strikers
return to work. Occasionally the en-
ployees, or their representatives re-
main obdurate, and the result is equal
" as disasterous.
There are several plans that have
been invoked in an attempt to prevent
threatening strike and also to adjust
a strike that has already been declared.
They have proven successful in some
instances and again they have accom-
plished nothing. depending, perhaps,
on the ability Of ARRIVING at copsen-
sus of opinion. Among these arbitra-
Jon is the most important. There are
Two kinds of arbitration, mutual and
compulsory. Arbitration is good where
both sides can be brought to agree to
it. If one side objects, it is, of course,
impractical. Compulsory arbitration,
however, has proven to imply an in
vasion of the rights of both capital and
labor and therefore, has proven imprac-
tical. Although voluntary arbitration
cannot enforce its decisions, it has
helped, to a very great extent, a rec
onciliation between capital and labor
and has succeeded in adverting many
strikes. Although its application in
the present Denver strike has been
Intellectual.
Other proposed remedies for labor
diputes are profit sharing and other
schemes for identifying the interests
of the employers and employed. Ex-
perience has shown that even this does
not do away with strikes, nevertheless,
it has promoted better understanding
between the principal and agent, but
it has accomplished less than its
most ardent supporters have ex-
pected. 1t seems, then, in the light of
all facts obtainable, thata true solution
of the labor question remains unsolved
and the chasm that exists between
labor and capital, instead of receeding
as it should in this enlightened age,
remains adamant, and if anything, is
broadening.
A ruling has just been handed down
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