The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-09-17

seeking employment to work for
whom and at what price he will. And
| say that with all the emphasis pos
sibie, even though were / working
man. should probably deem it wise to
join union for the reasons given.
Influence Good.
"The effect OF organized labor upon
such abuses as the employment of
child labor, the exposure of laborers
To undue risk i'm dangerous employ
ments. the continuance of unjust rules
of law excmpting employers from liza
bility for accidents to laborers, has
been direct. immediate and useful. and
such reforms in these matters as have
taken place would probably be long
delayed but for the energetic asita-
ton of the question by the represent
ativcs Of organized labor. O course.
when organized labor permits itself tt
aympathize with violent methods. with
breaches of the law with boycotts a hi
other methods. of undue durcss. it is
not entitled tn sympathy. But il Is
not tn be expected that such orsani-
cations shall he perfect and that they
may not at all times and in partic-
ular cases show defective tendencies
that ought to he corrected.
One defect which has been pointed
out has been the disposition of ma
jority members In labor unions to
reduce the compensation # all r,er
engaged in "a particular trade to a
dead level and to fail to recognize
the difference between the highly
and the only less skilled and less in
dustri"us. | think there Is "a move
mcnt among trades unions themselves
to correct this dwelling tendency and
nothing could strengthen the move
ment more than the adoption Of some
plan by which there should remain
among union -workmen the impetus
and motive to he found in greater re-
ward for greater skill and greater in
dustry.
Dcplorcs Socialism.
'"rhcre is one thing to he said in
respect to American trades unionism
that It's critics are not generally alive
to. In France the trades unions are
intensely soc!aiistic. Indeed. in some
Of the later difficulties it was plain
that there was Il strong anarchistic
feeling among them and that they OPP
posed all authority of any kind. 1t
is also plain that the tendency to-
ward socialism i'll England and Eng
lands trades unions is growing
stronger / need not point out the
depiorable results I'm this country 1t
trades unionism became a synonym
for socialism. Those who are now in
active control of the federation of
labor and all the great railroad or
sanizations have set their faces like
flint against propaganda of xocialistic
principles. They are in favor of the
rights of property and of our pres
ent Institutions and of such remedial
legislation as to put workingmen on
equality with their opponents In trade
controversies and trade contracts and
to stamp out the monopoly and the
corporate abuses which are an out
growth of our present system unac-
cnmpanied by proper limitation. !
think all of us who favor the MAIN
tenance of our present institutions
should recognize this battle which has
been carried on by the conservative
and influential members of trades
uninnism and willingly give credit to
these men as the champions of a
cause which command our sympathy.
respect and support.
Undue Delay.
Our friends of the great unions at
times complain of our courts-more,
perhaps. because of the decisions in
Injunction cases than for anything
else. | have. already referred To this
mart ipu1ar nhase uf litigation in which