The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-09-05
Eight Cardinal Principles Of the American
Federation Of Labor Endorsed by Theodore
Roosevelt in His Speech in Fargo,
North Dakota=== employers Liability
Legislation is Favored

designing men who seek TO control
them for their own interests, and
stimulate the desires of ambitious
leaders who may be clever, crooked
men. or who may be honest but Wis
ionary and foolish. In other words,
In treating Of labor unions, as in
treating of corporations, or OF hui
anity generally. We Will do we'll TO re-
member Abraham Lincoln's saying
that there is a deal of human ma
ture in mankind" Whether in a man
or IN an organized body or men, the
power NAV be twisted into evil;
and In proportion as the power
grows, so II becomes steadily more
important that it should be handled
Alright Just In proportion as in Its
proper function power is important TO
social progress. so in its improper
function 1t becomes fraught with So
cial disaster
Outside critics should appreciate
the necessity OF organized labor. and
understand and sympathize with what
is good In 1t. instead OF condemniDg
1t iudiscTiminately. On the other
hand, those within its ranks should
fearlcssly analyze the criticisms di-
rected against 1t and ruthlcSsly elm
iuate from the practices of its organ.
ization those things which Justify
such criticism and attack. This is
the path, not only of right, but OF
wisdom and safety Public opinion 10
the United States is daily becoming
Uore alert and more intelligent and
Iuore foTceful; and no organization.
whether trades union or corporation.
whether industrial or non Industrial.
can endure or permanently amount TO
social force if II does not harmon
ize with wise and enlightened pub
lie opinion Hitherto we Americans
have been oYer-occupied with mate
rial things. and have neglected to
watch the play of the social forces
about uS. But now VIC are awaken
ing from that Indifference, and every
form OF organization representing an
important economic. political, or So
cial force must undergo a closer
scrutiny than ever before.
Some Things to Be Guarded Against.
| think that the next quarter of a
century Will be important politically
than in the labor movement Not
only are the benefits OF labor organ
iza1ons more clearly understood than
ever before, but any shortcominG or
vice displayed in connection there
With is also more clearly understood
and more quickly resented. The pub
lie Is growing more and more to un-
derstand that, In a contest between
employer and employee corporation
and a trades union-not only the iu-
terests OF the third party-the pub
lic-must be considered Anything
like levity In provoking a strike, on
the one hand or on the other, Is
certain more and more 10 be resented
by the public. Strikes are sometimes
necessary and proper; sometimes
they represent the only way In which,
after all other methods have been
exhausted, IL is possible for the In
borlu- man to stand for his rights;
but il must be clearly understood
that strike is matter OF last re-
sort. Our social organization is too
complex for us TO fail quickly TO con.
denim those who, with levity or In a
spirit OF wanton brutality. bring about
far-reaching and disastrous interfer-
ence with its normal processes. Tho
public sympathizeS cordially with any
movement for a good standard OF liv-
Ing and for moderate hours of en-
ployment IL personally. for instance.
cordially believe In an cight-hour day
aud In one day In seven for complete
IestD Where men and women are
worked under harsh and intolerable
conditions. 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 a last resort-the
rublic sympathy Will. favor the wage.
workers: but 1t Will not favor them
unless such conditions as these are
fulfilled. Therefore 1t IS becoming
more than ever Important that the
labor movement should combine
steady far-seeing leadership With
discipline and control In its ranks
Dishonest leadership is a curse any
where In Americans life. and nowhere
ie II a efcater curse than in the la.
hor movement II there Is one les.
son which ] would rather tench 10
nv fellow-Americons Than any other
II Is TO hound down the dishonest
Ipnn-no matter wnar his condition
and 10 brush aside with impatient
contempt The creature who only dc
uounces dishonesty when II IS found
in some special social stratum. There
are dishonest capitalists. dishonest
labor leaders. dishonest lawyers anC
dishonest business men: dishones'
men OF great wealth and dishonest
poor men: and the man who Is q
genuine rcformer will decline 10 sin
gle ont any one type for exclusive de
innciatIon. but will tesrlessly attacl
tho dishonest man as such. whenever
and wherever he Is TO be found
Good and Bad Leaders.
For many years have been mor'
| or less closely associated with repre-
tentative leaders Of labor unions
Some OF these men arc among ml
close friends. whom | respect and ad
mlre as heartily as l do any men II
America. There are some OF them e
whom go as freely for assistance
and guidance, for aid and help. II