The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-05-09

What is the future of American la
Dor? What Ia the ideal condition of
the American workman? When shall
We reach this cra7
have been asked 10 say something
in answer to these questions. They
are not hard 10 answer. But to fulnll
them in the ideal way is quite another
matter
Briefly. let me- say. the ideal future
OF American labor concerns the ideal
future OF the average workman He
has before his eyes a certain definite
social and industrial status. He wants
to reach IT.
The American workman wants AN
eight hour day. He wants half holi-
LAY on Saturday He wants Sunday
OF rest and recreation He wants
home He wants comfortable sur
roundings. He wants an income suffl-
cient TO clothe his family and feed
them He wants TO educate his chill
dren And aside from that he wants
an income which. with reasonable fru-
gality, will be enough to provide for
maintaining him in sickness and old
age
That is the ideal of every average
workman. When every average wor-
mani am not speaking OF workmen
whose natural talents Will raise them
much higher than this-has reached
this status, then We shall have indus
trial contentment. and not before.
Laboring men In this country have
always boon divided in political opin-
ion. Nevertheless there is this modi-
fcation-the sentiment Is crystalizing
that remedial legislation should be en-
acted either for the protection OF the
American workman or for his relief
from some OF the statutes as interpret
ed by the courts.
1t would not be at surprising 10 find
in the future elections that the Ameri
can workmen are acting In greater
concert than they have done hereto
I fore
For instance. the Sherman antitrust
law, which was originally Intended 10
prevent combinations In restraint OF
trade, to prevent combinations among
producers of the neceSsarlcS OF life.
/ to prevent monopolies In the products
of labor. has now been interpreted by
| the courts as against the labor unions.
! This Is indicated by the decision In
the case Of Lowe against the United
Hatters of North America. In this de
! cisIon the labor organization has been
declared a combination In restraint OF
trade. This decision. II applied TO all
labor organizations. would so hahmper
them in their perfectly proper func,
tons as TO destroy their unsefulness In
a very large measure.
hon ~ Inn af
the use of the writ Of injunction Is de-
MED in labor disputes. whereby the
workmcn are refused actions which
arc of themselves legal and constltu-
tional, II makes II imperative that
there be some legal limitation upon
the courts in the exercise OF their
equity powers.
These two demand5-rclief from the
abuse of the injunction and exemption
for. the action of the Sherman anti
trust act-are absolutely essential Ia
the rational development of a trade
union movement And these two is
sues are today doing more TO cement
the interests Of the workmen of Amer
lea into one solid body than any other
political question.
If the wage-earners divide theil
mower they VIII have little 10 do With
the control OF political parties. And
what would not their power be III they
voted as a unit
While the right TO vote is Of the
greatest possible Importance. the con
troll of the political machine by work
men is In large degree what IL ne
cessary. Unfortunately they do no
control
We have allowed men to make {
business OF controlling political par
ties. They are exercising that ver'
important political function to our det
rIment. II seems to me that there are
MANY important indications that work
men who desire the best possible gov
eminent I'm the future Will take large
interest in the control OF the parties o
which they are members, This VII
brighten the future outlook Tor labo
in America. They can take hand II
the disclosures Of political plots. An
thev can determine whether or no
they will continue with their presen
political Affiliations.
, The best thing for labor In the iutur
will he 10 have more workmcn electe
, to legislative positions.
The American workmen. lor 1T
stance. Is much interested
, the laws relating TO child i;
. bor than he IL concerned VII
big navy He doesn't car
: whether the United states ADDS Nv
o or four battleshlps year to the nav!