The Prescott daily news., 1910-09-05

It becomes steadily more important that fl should be handled aright. Just in pro portion as in its proper function power Is important to social progress. so in its so,''nl disaster
 Ni~c Course For Original Labor.
 0 'a' critics should appreciate the Gee of or !anized labor. and under - ""d svmpa athize with what is good Egg 0strld If con ming 1t indiscrim- 'tciV O. - n'h"r Nan1 those within
 "'"' '"l1 'a'r'.t-'v analyze the
 '.1 a .r r>. t- and ruthless- ly eliminate from the practises of its or ganization those things which justify such criticism and attack. This Is the path. not only of right. but of wisdom and safety. Public opinion in the United States Is daily becoming more alert and more intelligent and more forceful; and no organization whether trades union or cooperation. whether industrial or non-in- dustrial. can endure or permanently amount to a social force if 1t does not harmon!ze with a wise and enlightened public op niOn. Hitherto we Americans have been over-occupled with material things and have neglected to watch the play Of the social forces about us But now We are awakening from that indf- ference; and every form of organization
 
 ical, or social force must undergo closer scrutiny than ever before.
 l think that the next quarter of century will be important politically in many ways; and in none more than in the labor movement. Not only are the benefits of labor organizations more clear ly understood than ever before. but any shortcoming or vice displayed in connec- tion herewith is also more clearly under stood and more quickly resented. The public is growing more and more 10 un- derstand that, in a contest between em- ployer and employee-a corporation and a trades union-not only the interests of the contestants, but the interests of the third party-the public-must be consid- cred. Anything like levity In provoking strike, on the one hand or on the other. is certain more and mere to be resented by the public. Strikes are sometimes nec- essary and proper; sometimes they rep resent the only way in which after all other methods have been exhausted, 1t is possible for the laboring man to stand for his rights; but it must be clearly under stood that a strike is matter of last re- sort. Our social organization Is too com plex for us to fail quickly to condemn those who, with levity or in a spirit of wanton brutality, bring about far-reach- Ing and disastrous interference with It's normal processes. The public sympathizes cordially with any movement for good standard of living and for moderate hours of employment q personally. for h. stance, cordially believe in an eight-hour day. and in one day in seven for com plete rest) Where men and women are worked under harsh and intolerable con- ditions, and can secure no relief without a strike, or. indeed, where the strike is clearly undertaken for things which are vitally necessary-and then only as last resort-the public sympathy will favor the wage workers; but 1t will not favor them unless such conditions as these are full filled Therefore it is becoming more than ever important~that the labor move ment should combine steady far-seeing leadership with discipline and control in it's ranks. Dishonest leadership is a curse anywhere in American life, and nowhere is it a greater curse than in the labor movement. If there Is one lesson which I would rather teach to my fellow-Amer- cans than any other; it Is to hound down the dishonest man-no matter what his condition-and to brush aside with im- patient contempt the creature who only denounces dishonesty when 1t Is found In some special social stratum. There are dishonest capitalists. dishonest labor lead CTS, dishonest lawyers. and dishonest business men: dishonest men of great wealth and dishonest poor men: and the nlau WllO IN genuine TtIOTineT VIII ue- cline to single out any one type for ex- elusive denunciation. but will fearessly attack the dishonest man as such. when ever and wherever he is to be found.
 Worthy Leaders Available.
 For many years I have been more or less closely associated with representative leaders of labor unions. Some of these men are among my close friends, whom respect and admire as heartily as I do any men in America. There are some of them to whom I go as freely for assist ance and guidance. for aid and help, In making up my mind how to deal with our social problems. as I go to the leo 'ers of any business or profession. I cannot pay too high tribute to the worth and integ- rtty of these men-to their sincerity and good Judgment as leaders. But no move ment-no leaders ship-however earnest and honest, can endurN unless the rank and file live up to their duties, and search for such leadership, and support 1t when they find 1t. If the best men in labor union leave it's management and control to men of poorer type, the effect will be just as disastrous as when good citizens in a city follow the same course as re- gards city government. The stay-at- home man in union is just as much responsi- bie for the sins of omission and commits sion of his organization as the stay-at- home man in a city is for the civic con- dtions under which he suffers and about which he complains.
 All that can properly be done should be done by all of us to help upward the standard of living and to improve the ability of the avera ge man to reach that standard There are still in the United States great masses of skilled and unor- ganized labor. whose conditions of work and living are harsh and pitiable. It is shocking indictment of our industrial con- dtion to be told In a matter-of- way in a government report that thous- ands of workers in this country are com pelled to toll everyday in the week with out one day rest, for wage of $45 month. Such a condition Is bad for them L. 4 4l.. l...a l=.. III -E O..-