The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-09-05

sires or ambitious leaders who may 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, we will dc
well to remember Abraham Lincoln's
saying that there is deal of human
nature I'm mankind"
Whether I'm man or in an organized
body of men the power to do good
means that such power may be twist.
ed into evil. And in proportion as the
more important that II should be han
died Alright. Just in proportion as in
its proper function power Is important
to social progress, so In its improper
function II becomes fraught with so
cial disaster.
outside critics should appreciate the
necessity of organized labor and under.
stand and sympathize with what is
good In 1t, instead of condemning II
indiscriminately. On the other hand
those within its ranks should fearless.
ly analyZe the criticisms directed
against II 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
= daily becoming more alert and more
intelligent and more fOrceful, and nc
organization, whether trades union or
corporation, whether Industrial or non
amount to a social force If 1t does not
harmonize with wise and enlight-
ened public opinion.
Hitherto we Americans have been
overoccupicd with material things and
have neglected to watch the play of
the social forces about us. But now
we are awakening from that indiffer-
ence; and every form of organization
representing an important economic,
political or social force must under
go u closer scrutiny than ever before.
conteet OF EmFeyer ard Employee.
/ thlnl; Tat the next quarter of a
century VII! Ge I'M ortant politically
In many ways: and Ia none more so
than In the labor movement. Not only
are the benefits OF labor organizations
more clearly understood than ever be-
fore, but any shortcoming or vice dis
played in connection herewith Is also
alnarlxs ttnHnp1tnA1
quickly resented.
The public Is growing more and
more to understand that, in II contest
between employer and employee-a
corporation and trades union-not
only the interests of the contestants,
but the interests of the third party
the public-must be considered.
Anything like levity In provoking a
strike on the one hand or on the 9th.
er is certain more and more to be re-
sented by the public. Strikes are
sometimes necessary and proper; some
times they represent the only way In
which, after all other methods have
been exhausted, II is possible for the
laboring man to stand for his rights,
but 1t must be clearly understood that
a strike is matter of last resort.
Our social organization Is too COM
Dlex 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
sympathizes cordially with any move
ment for good standard of living
and for moderate hours of employ
ment. q personally, for instance, cor
daily believe In an eight hour day
and in one day In seven for complete
rest) 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 last resort-the public SYM
pathy will favor the wageworkers,
but II Will not fuvOr them unless such
conditions as these are fulfilled.
Therefore II Is becoming more than
WV ihhPottoht tuut tnt ldDOI move
ment should combine steady, farsee-
ing leadership with discipline and con
troll In Its ranks,
Curse of Dishonest Leaders.
Dishonest leadership IL curse any
where In American life, and nowhere
Is 1t a greater curse than In the labor
movement. III there is one lesson
which | would rather teach to my fel-
low Americans than any other 1t is to
hound down the dishonest man. no
matter what his condition. and TO
brush aside with Impatient contempt
the creature who only denounces dis
honesty when II is found In some spe-
cIal social stratum.
There are dishonest capitalists, dis
hnnsst labor leaders. dishonest LAW