The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-03-06

TWO OF TOUR OACLIeSnlpS d year 10 lNo
navy. AS whole the American work.
men are opposed to large standing
army. The large army is an unneces-
sary expense and has no real use. On
the question Of larger navy there
might be a real difference Of opinion.
The abstract proposition is that we ale
opposed to other nations with large
navies, and so we must have one. This
is the opinion Of many workmen.
On the other hand. the question d
raise of wage is vital one. AS
a general proposition, in all mechani-
cal pursuits wages have not been
raised. True, wages have been raised
in instances, but as a general rule
employment conditions are not volun-
tarily improved by employers. Yet
wages have been raised and the con-
ditions of employment have been irl-
proved. Why? Because of the efforts
OF organized wage earners.
This is no reflection at all upon EN-
ployers that they have not taken the
initiative in these movements for the
increase of wages among employees.
AS matter of fact considerable and
humane employer, who desires to es-
tablish more humane conditions Of
employment. is deferred from so do
ing because of the attitude Of incoo-
siderate and reactlonary employers.
In competitive industry, as, for
example. the newspaper publishers,
one employer cannot pay larger Wages
than another. IL he does so he will
be at a. disadvantage in competition
with less considerate employers. Of
ten the Best employer is forced to
maintain the same conditions as the
worst employer in the same industry,
or sacrifice his business.
Under these circumstances the trale
union, with It's uniform wage. scale.
serves not only the interests of nfen
who labor by requiring the inconsid-
crate and graspins employer to pay
as high a wage as is demanded from
the best employer, but it also protects
the interests of the good employer.
Labor unions in the United States,
despite the opposition of open foes or
processing friends, will so forward to
d greater degree in the future than
~,
labor are going to take a stronger lit
terest in labor unions than ever they
have before. My best judgment is
that the time will come when all til,
skilled and unskilled laboring men of
the United States will be enrolled as
members Of their own trade unions.
On the other hand, firmly believe,
with equal sincerity. that the employ
ers of each industrial division will be
organized in employers associations.
The purpose Of these employers as
sociations will be to establish and
maintain trade relations with theft
assisting workmen.
Then the trade agreement which
now exists in many Industries, as,
for instance, the newspaper industry,
will become a recognized and estab-
lished process through which indus
trial peace and industrial righteous
ness will be maintained In this coun-
try.
American workmen are not incon-
siderate Of tho interests of their en-
ployers. The whole future. the pros
perity, of America depends as much
upon the workman as a consumer as
on the workman as a producer. Too
many employers in America believe
that our future depends upon produce
ton at cost sufficiently low to enable
them to market their products abroad.
Yet the best market in the world for
us is at home. This market will be
increased or decreased just as the
purchasing power Of the average Ami
erican workman is increased or de-
creased. ''' r
Take the man who is working at a
wage that enables him only to pur-
chase the absolute necessities OF life.
He adds less to the wealth of the
country than the man who is able to
provide himself with the reasonable
comforts of life.
Add IS cents a day to the wages OF
all the workmen Of America and you
will give us more riches than tho
Astors or the Vanderbilts possess!
Give the American workman the
power to buy pictures. music, books,
and you add to the wealth Of the ma
ton.
High wages are necessary to the
development of American industrial
life in the future, and not only to that
but to our social and educational life.
The greater the consumption Of the
comforts Of. life-not the luxuries-