The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-06-19
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them. Our unions are open to all
worthy craftsmen of whatever creed,
nationality or condition, and none
should expect or be allowed to direct
ly enjoy unopposed the fruits of our
organized endeavors without Joining
the organization and bearing a due
proportion of it's burdens.
In Defense of Unions Methods.
What would be thought of an army
of conquest that, while marching or
fighting especially while on short ra-
tions received into it's ranks and fed
from its meager supplies host of
camp followers who did nothing to-
wards winning it's victories Or clear
Wing the way for it's advances who
simply subsisted on it's bounty and
helped to eat out of it's substance? 1t
would be wasting it's supplies with
out augmenting it's forces and Destroy
ing itself by cherishing an enemy
within it's own camp. Our position
with reference to fellowship in labor
with non-union workmen is similar
to this. Our unions, by means Of
their collective force, secure agree
ments with employers providing for
higher pay, shorter hours and better
conditions. If they then allow the
opening of these advantages to out
siders, and permit them to be placed
on an equal footing with themselves,
they simply weaken their own power
and diminish their own opportunities
to profit by the conditions they have
brought about. More than this, they
encourage non-unionism by placing a
premium upon it. For what need is
there for a man to join union and
pay idues toward keeping it up, if he
can secure all its benefits without do
ing so?
I have dwelt upon this subject be-
cause during the year the labor move
ment has been severely criticised in
high places, and censured in some,
where juster views were to be expect
ed: for it's attitude in this respect: Its
intolerance Of having the non union
worker employed by the. side Or it's
own members, or in place of them,
has been denounced with varying de-
grees of bitterness as tyranny and
gross injustice The other side of the
question must needs frequently be
stated in order that it may be fully
understood; and at all events, the
stand Of the unions is in this phase
of their activity must be unflinching-
ly maintained.
Industrial Education.
Without meaning to go into this
subject deliberately, Or discuss in de-
tail systems, methods, or the imme-
date means of accomplishing desired
ends, I cannot forbear expressing my
great qualification over the awaken
ing the public mind has had in recent
years with reference to it. For CEN
turtles the American people have
boosted and not unjustly, of the value
of their Immense educational forces,
and have relied with we'll founded con-
fidence on their public schools as the
sheet anchor Of the ship Of state. But
this is the most practical age of all
human history. Its searching analysis
goes through all institutions, customs
and conditions. The examination of
each is thorough, the vivisection is
complete, the results are boldly pro-
claimed. The process has brought
about a very general conviction that
in some essential particulars all our
educational systems are defective,
They seem in most cases, to be a sort
of Procrustean bed-excellent for
those whom nature has just adapted
to it, but very different thing for all
others. And there has been an in
creasing demand that they shall be so
adjusted as to follow the natural bent
OF the pupils and develop them ac-
cording to that. making them skill
full, as we'll as knowing, handy as well
as long -headed; that they shall be
based on the fact that a benign Crea-
tor has embodied the mental casket
they deal with. which needs not to be
pressed and fashioned. but simply de-
ve4oped; and further, that it shall be
developed into something of practical
utility and self-sustaining capacity
And hence has arisen the almost uni
versal discussion Of Industrial train
0f al
general schools.
= Not Mere Sentiment.
This is not mere sentiment or the
orizing. The industrial education OF
the poor, for instance, is matter OF
the very hi CHEST. and most pressing
social concern. Hundreds on every
side of us are toiling their lives out
Tor some beggarly per diem, and
barely existing in want and wretched-
ness on that, when Others intrinsic
ally no wiser or better than they. earn
three times as much, and live in COM
paratlve ease and comfort. This i'm
mense disparity has its origin in the
slight and unregarded circumstance
that the one class was in youth so for
tunate or so provident as to be enab-
led ITO acquire trades or call1ngs in
which labor has a chance to be fairly
we'll rewarded, while the others have
grown up at random, doing what came
handiest, OR rather, that which. in the
general scramble was left to them:
and now they are qualified for only
such employment as none besides
them will take.
This is manifestly wrong and a
great deal Of evil and unnecessary ex-
pense to the public. 1t is a fostering
sore <on the body polite that breeds
crime.as we'll as pauperism. And the
remedy must be supplied in our edu-
cational training. With more wise
prevention there need be less severe
punishment, with better schooling and
1ess hanging, with direct and 5sygte-