The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-31
LADoR'S HIGH IDEALS
John Mitchell Explains the Trades
Union Movement.
ITS FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE
Collective Bargaining the Foundation
Upon Which Unionism 10 6uiIded.
BY No Other System May the Wage
Garner Secure Lasting Prosperity.

~ no Otner system May tho wage
Garner Secure Lasting Prosperity.
In an address at Yale university On
the Trades Union Movement" John
Mitchell said in part:
In It's fundamental principle trades
unionism is plain and clear and sim
pie. 1t starts from the recognition Of
the fact that under normal conditions
the individual unorganiZed workman
cannot bargain advantageously with
his employer for the sale OF his labor.
In the individual contract between a
powerful employer and n single work
man the laborer will secure the worst
Of 1t; such q contract means that the
condition Of the poorest and lowest
man in the Industry will be that which
the average man must accept. 1t was
to find substitute for the individual
bargain that trades unions were form
ed, and there can be no permanent
prosperity to the wage Garner. no real
and lasting progress. no consecutive
improvement In conditions. until this
principle is fully and firmly establish
ed-that in Industrial life especially in
enterprises ON a large scale, the set
Element Of wages. hours Of labor and
all conditions Of work must be made
between employers and workingmen
collectively, and not between employ
ers and workingmen individually.
1t Is frequently charged against the
union that in policy and practice 1t re-
duces to a dead level all the men en-
ployed in a given trade. This charge
IS libel and pretense. The trades
union fixes a minimum, not a maxi
mum. wage. and the employer is at
perfect liberty to reward the especial
~ efficient or ambitious workman by
paying him higher wages than are
fixed by the union. The union does,
however. object to one workman be-
ing rewarded by an employer when
the reward is extracted from the pay
envelope of another workman.
Through his organization the work
1ngman strives to secure
First.-A minimum wage which will
enable men and women to live IN a
manner conformable to American
standards. to educate their children
and to make adequate provision against
elCkneSS anu OIu age.
Second.-The eight hour workday,
which will give opportunity for the
cultivation of home life, the enjoyment
of books, music and wisely employed
leisure.
Third.-Legislation making 1t unlaw-
full for children Of tender years and
frail physique to be employed in gain
full pursuits.
Fourth.-Laws providing for the
safeguarding OF the lives and limbs Of
workers engaged in dangerous occu-
pations and for compensation for in
juries.
Fifth.-The progressive improvement
OF the sanitary. working and housing
condition Of the wage earners.
Sixth.-The preservation Of the con-
stitutional guarantee Of free speech
and free press.
Trades unionism does not stand for
paternalism, but for broad, all in
elusive fraternalism. It stands for q
fair reciprocal contract between en-
ployer and workman; it insists upon
the substantial equality of all men
and upon the right of the workers to
secure all they can consistent with
trade conditions. The ideal trades IN
ionism is that of two separate, strong,
self respecting and mutually respect
ing parties freely contracting with
each other, with no limitation upon
this right Of perfect and absolute free
dom Of contract save that which a
community in its wisdom may deter
mine to be necessary for its own pro-
lection.
1t Is frequently stated that trades
unions desire strikes because, it is al
legged, they are organized for that pur
pose. This. however, Is not true. The
trades union is organized for the pur-
pose Of securing better conditions Of
life and labor for its members. and
when necessary strike is resorted to
as means to that end. but 1t can no
more be said that trades unions desire
strikes because they are equipped for
them than that the United States gov
eminent desires war because it main
tains an army and navy. 1t is true
In general way that strikes occur
most frequently In those countries in
which trades unionism Is strongest;
that they are most frequent in coun-
tries having the greatest industrial de-
velopment and in which civilization Is
most advanced.
1t Is admitted on all sides that
strikes are to be avoided in all cases
where the object desired can be OBJ
tanned by peaceful negotiation.
II trades unionism had rendered no
other service to humanity 1t would
have justified its existence by its Of.
forts in behalf Of working women and
children. Unfortunately society does
not seem to feel itself capable Of con-
Quoting its Industries without the aid
OF its weaker members. and with each
advance in production. with each in
crease in wealth and the capacity Of
producing wealth. women and chill
dren In ever larger numbers are drawn
into the Industrial vortex Through
constant association with 1t we have
become hardened to the degrading
truth that IN our society as at present
constituted hundreds Of thousands Of
women and girls are compelled to
work unduly long hours and for beg
carly wages. The trades union seeks
to protect the woman morally. physac~
ally and industrial!y, ard IN deunudr
e.