The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-09-05

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doing.
dust IN 50 I'M MS they IRE strong ana
eliectiye they tempt designIiig men
who seek to control them for their
own intetests and stimulate tho de-
sires Of ambitions leaders who mayi be
clever, crooked men or who may be
honest but Visionary and foolish. In
other words. in treating OF labor
unions. as in treating Of corporations.
or Of humanity generally, I'VE VIII do
well to remember Abraham I.ilgoin's
saying that there is a deal Of human
nature in mankind
Whether In n man or in an organized
body OF men the power to do good
means that such power may be twist
! cd into evil. And in proportion as the
power grows so It becomes steadily;
more important that It should be han.
died Alright. Just in proportion as in
/, its proper function power Is importance
to social progress, SO in its improper
function 1t becomes Sfraught withsso.
cial disaster. 3y5
Outside critics should appreciate the
necessity Of organized labor and under:
stand and sympatliizc with what Is
good in 1t. instead Of condemnlng It
Unfortunately. On the other hand,
those within its ranks should fearless.
" analyze the criticisms directed
against 1t and ruthlessly eliminate
from the practices of its Organization
those things which justify such CRIT
icism 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
corporation, whether Industrial or non
! industrial, can endure or permanently,
amount to n social force II It does not
/, harmonize with n wise and ienlieht-
cned public opinion.
Hitherto We Americans have been
oyeroccupied With material things and
/; have neglected to watch the play OF
the social forces about us. But now,
/, We are awakening from that indilfcr-
ence; and every form Of organization
representing IN important economic;
political or social force must UNDER
/. 60 n closer scrutiny than ever before
Contest of Employer and Employee.
I think That the next quarter OF n
century will be important politically
In many ways; and In none more 50.
Z than in the labor movement. Not only
IRE the benefits of labor organizations
more clearly understood than ever be-,
fore, but my shortcoming or vice dis
played in connection, herewith Is also
more clearly understood and more
quickly resented. $ss3 ff !.
! The public is growing more and
more to understand that. i'm h contest
between employer and employee n
corporation and trades union-notj
only the interests Of the contestants.
but the interests Of the third party
the public-must be considered.
/ Anything like levity in provoking n
strike OIL the one hnnd or on the 9TH
or Is certain more and more to be re-
scented by tile public. Strikes are
sometimes necessary and proper; some
times they represent the only way In
which, after all other methods have
been exhausted, 1t Is possible for tho
laboring man to stand for his rights.
but 1t must be clearly understood that
a strike Is a matter of last resort.
] Our social organization is too COM
plex for us to fail quickly to condemn
those who, with levity or in spirit
Of wanton brutality, bring about far
reaching and disastrous interference
with Its normal processes. The public
sympathizcs cordially with my move
ment for n good standard Of living
and for moderate hours OF employ
ment.. q personally. for instance, cor
daily believe in an eight hour dry
and in one day In seven for complete
rest.) Where men and women are
i worked under harsh and intolerable
conditions and can secure no relief
+, without q strike or, indeed. where the
strike is clearly undertaken for things
| which are vitality neccssary-and then
only as dslast resort-the public sym.
;pathy Will favor the wagcworkcrs,
but 1t will not favor them unless such
conditions as these are fulfilled.
Therefore 1t Is becoming more than
ever important that the labor move.
ment should combine steady, farsee-
ing leadership, with discipline and con.
troll In its ranks.
Curse of Dishonest Leaders.
Dishonest leadership is curse any
where in American life, and nowhere
is 1t greater curse than In the labor
movement. II there, is one lesson
which would rather teach to my Eel
low Americans than any other It Is tc
, hound down the dishonest man, no
! matter what his condition, and tc
brush aside with impatient contempt
the creature who, only denounces dis,
honesty when It is found IN some spe,
J cial sociai stratum sitt - y