The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-03-06
JOHN MITCHELL
ON CHILD LABOR
The Child Labor Question is
More Important Than is
a Very Big Navy.
Best Thing For Labor is to
Have More Workmen in
Legislative Positions.

WAT is tlle Gutnfe OF american I'd
Dor? What is the ideal condition OF
the American workman? When shall
we reach this era?
l have been asked to say something
in answer. But to fulfill them in the
ideal way is quite another matte,
writes John Mitchell in the n. s.
World.
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
to reach it.
The American workman wants an
eight hour day. He wants a half holi
day on Saturday. He wants Sun
day of rest and recreation. He wants
e home. He wants comfortable sur.
roundings. File wants an income sntf1-
cient to clothe his family and feed
them. He wants to educate his chill
flren. And aside from that he wants
ar income which, with reasonable
frugality. will be enough to provide
for maintaining hf1n in sickness ana
old age.
That is the ideal of every average
workman. When every average worx
man-I am not speaking of workmen
whose natural talents will raise them
much higher than this--has reached
this status. then we shall have in
dustrial contentlnent. and not before.
Laboring men in this country have
always been divided in political opin
ion. Nevertheless there is this modi-
ficaton sentiment is crystalliziny
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 inter-
p1eted by the courts.
1t would not be- at all surprising to
find in future elections that the An1eri-
can workmen arc acting in greater
concert than they have done hereto
fore.
Trust law, which was originally i'll
tended to prevent combination in re-
straint of trade, to prevent combina-
tons among producers OF the neces-
saries 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
decision the labor organization has
been declared a combination in re-
straint OF trade. This decision, IL APP
piled to all labor organizations. would
so hamper them in their perfectly
proper functions as to destroy thei,
usefulness in very large measure.
Then again, when the extension VI
the use of the writ of injunction ~
denied in labor disputes, whereby tie
workmen are refused actions winch
are Of themselves legal and constitu-
+ tional, it makes it imperative that
f there be some legal limitation upon
the courts in tho exercise of their
equity powers.
These two demands-relief from the
abuse of. the Injunction and exemp-
ton from the action of the Sherman
Antitrust act-are absolutely csscn-
tial to the rational development of e.
trade union movement. And these Two
issues are today doing more to cement
the interests of the workn1en Of Amor
political question.
If the wage-earners divide their
power they will have little to do with
the control of political parties. And
what would not their power be if they
voted as a, unit?
While the right to vote is Of the
greatest possible Importance. the con-
troll of the political machines by work
men is in large degree what is nee
essary. Unfortunately they do rot
control.
WE nave dllONeO Hlo1l 10 IndKo
business Of controlling political parties.
They are exercising that very import-
ant political function to our detri.
ment. It seems to me that there are
many important indications that work
men who desire the best possible gov
eminent in the future will take larger
interest in the control of the parties
of which they are members. This will
brighten the future outlook for labor
in America. They can then take a
kand in the disclosures of political
plots. And they can determine whetk-
er or not they will continue with their
present political affiliations.
= The best thing for labor in the fu-
ture will be to have mere workmen
elected to legislative positions.