The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-09-17

the times. Th> % ~ at the slightest
doubt that IL labeHi. >amained un-
organized, wages W. -ery much
lower. It 10. true that. and they
would probably be fixed Isthe law
OF supply and demand, but Generally
before this law manifests itself, there
10 period in which labor II organized
and acting together, can compel the
employer promptly to recognize the
change Of conditions and advance
wages to meet a rising market and
an increase In profits; and on the
other hand can delay the too quick
impulse Of the employer facing less
prosperous future to economic by re-
ductng wages.
High Living Standard.
There Is higher standard of liv-
ing among American laborers than in
any country Ia the world, and while
there have doubtless been q good
many other reasons for this, certainly
the effect of the organization Of labor
has been to maintain a steady and
higher rate Of wage-making such a
standard OF living possible.
Nothing j have said or shall say,
should be construed into an attitude
OF criticism against, or unfriendly to
These working men who for any rea-
son do not join unions. Their right
to labor for such wages as they choose
to accept is sacred and any lawless
invasion. of that right cannot be too
severely condemned. All advantages
of trades unionism, great as they are,
cannot weight feather In the scale
against the right Of any man lawfully
aAAkin0 t~
whom ana at what price he will. And
I say this with all the emphasis pos
stble even though the fact is that II
ably deem 1t wise to join union for
the reasons given.
The effect Of organized labor upon
such abuses as the employment Of
child labor, as the exposure Of labor
ers to undue risk In dangerous em-
ployments, to the continuance Of un-
just rules Of law exempting employ
ers from liability for accidents to
laborers. has been directly immediate
and useful, and such reforms in these
matters o have taken place. would
pro6abiy b long delayed but for the
.eReyKetic agitation OF the questions
BY the Representatives Of organized
labor: OF course when organized labor
permits itself to ssympathize with vio-
lent methods, with breaches Of the
law, with boycotting and other meth
ods Of undue duress, it is not entitled
to our sympathy. But 1t is not to be
expected that such organizations shall
be perfect, and that they may not at
times and In particular cases show
defective tendencies that ought to be
corrected.
zone notable defect which has been
pointed out has been in the DISPOSE
tfon Of the majority Of members in
labor unions to reduce the compensa-
tfon Of all men engaged in a particu-
lar trade to a dead level and to fail to
recognize the difference between the
highly skilled and very Industrious
workman and the one only less skill
ed and less Industrious. I think that
there is movement among trades
unions themselves to correct this lev
cling tendency, and nothing could
strengthen the movement more than
the adoption Of some plan by which
there should remain among union
workmen the impetus and motive to
be found In the greater record for
greater skill and greater industry.
Deplores Socialism.
There is one thing to be said in
respect to American trades unionism
that its critics are not generally alive
to-, In France the trades unions are
intensely socialistic. Indeed, in some
Of the late difficulties 1t was plain
that there was q strong anarchistic
feeling among them and that. they OPP
posed all authority of any kind. 1t
Is also plain that the tendency to-
wards socialism in England and Eng
lands trades unionism is growing
stronger and stronger. need not
point out the deplorable results in
this country II the trades unions be-
came synonym for socialism. Those
who are now in active control, the
federation Of labor and all the great
railroad organizations, have set their
faces like flint against the propa-
gandism .of3socialistic principles. They
are fp favor Of the rights. Of property
as to- put, workingmen on equality
with their opponents In trade contro-
versy and trade contracts. and to
stamp out the monopoly and the cor
porate abuses which are an outgrowth
OF, our present system unaccompanied
by proper limitations; and think
Of all Of us who are in favor Of the
mafntainance Of our present institu-
tions should recognize this battle
which has been carried on by the
conservative and influential members
Of trades unionism, and willingly give
credit to these men a. the champions
Of a cause which should command
our sympathy, respect and support.
Our friends of the great unions
ct times complain Of our courts, moro
perhaps because Of the decisions In
Injunction cases than for anything
else. have already referred to this
particular phase of litigation IN
which they have an interest, but. when
the subject of courts is mentioned
II suggests to me q larger field for
complaint and reform In which all
citizens are interested and have .
right to be heard. Isl, =
Crimdnal Law Reform. IS.
There is NO subject upon which I
feel % deeply 90 upon the necessity
SSSvs