The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-10-15
CRAFT ORGANIZATION
IS WISEST after ALL
Mas Stood the Test Of Many Years And Is
Established As Basic Rock OF the Labor
Movement

mentality of the whole to the end that
prosperity. happiness and equal Justice
be the portion of each.
The thing most desired by the toilel
at this stage of development, is the as
surance of steady employment, at rea
sonable wages, and hours. Political ac-
ton alone will not supply those things
When men of labor are strong enough
to force the enactment of laws provid-
ing such protection, it matters but lit
tie. what political compilations exist, OF
whether there are any political parties
in eXistance.
If it were possible today to turn the
present labor movement in any partisan
political direction, history would repeat
itself and disintegration follow. And
the hope of the future would be in the
fact that crafts had held their identity.
and be the units upon which the move
ment would be reconstructed.
The cry in Australia, some years ago,
was political action, on the part of the
working people. and the same argu-
ments We're used there, as are being
used in American some quarters
that unions failed to fill the needs of
the workers, and that they should enter
the political field. The cry was needed,
and for twenty years political action
hnr l,nr 90. H., . H.,
exclusion of every other effort. Unions
were secondary. In fact were neglected.
with the idea that with concerted politi-
cal action, nothing further was needed.
But neglect and Indifference as to the
perpetuation and solidarity of the
unions brought disastrous results. And
the very force from which intelligent
political action must come-the unions
waited until the most insistent labor
journals, who were first to urge political
action, are now frantic in their appeals,
Back to the unions" as the only safe
guard to the reforms achieved
All animal and vegetable life is of
chemical development. Political de
velopment is also of chemical process
assuming a higher plane in proportion
to the development of human kind.
The source of development of the work
ers, both mentally. morally and politi
cally. is the trade union. 1t is most
important that all elements of whatever
political, or religious views, must be
united under the banner of unionism
Not that at any time perhaps, all will
have the same political beliefs. But
by trade union philosophy and educa
ton the great majority will evolve a
plan of political action. An attempt at
any time, to force the same political
beliefs on all the members of trade
unions, will be disastrous. As such
policy will drive necessary elements out
side, and place force in opposition to
the movement in its broadcast sense.
creating an element in opposition to our
forces in an industrial struggle. The
hope of the future is in the Trade Union.
Bringing together all the elements of
the various trades. Uniting the various
forces upon common ground. And, by
education, develop a force, gradually
throwing off the old, and adopting the
new Again we affirm the basic princi-
pie of all material development is or
ganization. The result of which is edu-
cation, cooperation, moral and political
development, hope, happiness and fra
ternity.