The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-08-27

trade conditions. The Ideal traues uh-
ionism is that of two separate, strong
self respecting and mutually respeo,
ing parties freely contracting WIN
each other, with no Limitation upon
this right Of perfect and absolute Tree
dom of contract save that whlcn
community in its wisdom may deter
mine to be necessary for its own pro-
lection.
1t is frequently stated that trades
unions desire strikes because, 1t Is ai-
legged, they are organized Tor that pur-
nose This. however, is not true. Inc
trades union is organized Tor the pur.
nose of securing better conditions OF
life and labor for its members, ana
when necessary a strike is resorteu u
as a means to that end, but It can ho
more he said that trades unions desire
strikes because they are equipped loi
them than that the United States gov
eminent desires war because II lhaih-
tains an army and navy. 1t Is true
in a general way that strikes occur
most frequently in those countries Ill
which trades unionism is strongest
that they are most frequent in couh'
tries having the greatest Industrial de-
velopment and in which civilization Is
most advanced
If is admitted on oil sides that
strikes are to be avoided In all cases
where the object desired can be op-
....al L.. ,,oocaf1l DnUOtia tiOn
If trades unionism had rendered no
other service to humanity 1t would
have justified its existence by It's eI'
forts in behalf of working women ana
children. Unfortunately society does
not seem to feel itself capable of con
Quoting its industries without the AID
of its weaker members, and with each
advance in production. with each IN
crease in wealth and the capacity OF
producing wealth. women and emil
drpn in ever larger numbers are drawn
into the industrial vortex. Through
constant association with it we nave
Income hardened to the degrading
truth that in our society as at present
constituted hundreds of thousands OF
women and girls are compelled TO
work unduly long hours and for beg
carly wages The trades union seeks
TO protect the woman morally. physic-
ally and industrially, and in demand
| ing equal pay and healthful surro Ind
ings for women the union not only
protects the woman and the home. but
! it also protects the standard of living
for all wage earnerS.
1t is hard to reconcile the humanity
and vaunted intelligence of this era
with the wholesale employment OF
children in industry. Childhood SHOULD
be a period of growth and education
1t should be the stage in which the
man is trained for future effort anC
future work. and with each advanc,
In civilization the period of childhood
should be extended in order that tn,
men and women of the next genera
ton may be mature and developed. Ii
the factory the spring of the child;
life snaps and its spirit is completed,
broken. The outlook upon life of.
child emerging illiterate and listes
from live to six years of work at dead
ening and monotonous labor is not ii
all encouraging. and it is not to b.
wondered ut that many children witt
such task develop into tramps an,
criminals. The policy of extractin;
work from children and exploitin,
their slow growing strength is vicious
and pOtirpIv Snlf daS+ructivo II SCAN,
almost an absurdity. reelection upoI
our intelligence, that women and chill
dren are compelled to work whil
strong men chafe in idleness.