Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-07
Arthur Fitzgerald.

est of Augustus young men, was the
next speaker and his audience were
completely taken by surprise by the
brilliancy of his address. Hewas heart
lily cheered at the conclusion. He
spoke as follows:
Il wish to state at the outset that in
the brief time at my disposal. while
speaking as a trade unionist, in justi-
tication of the general trade union
movement, that wish it were possible
that what | am about to say might
be said directly and especially to that
great class of wel-intentioned but lit
tie thinking people who fail to appre-
ciate the trade unions because wrong
fully informed as to what they are,
what they are trying to do and how
they are trying to do it.
Trade unions are associations of
wage earners who have stopped to
think. Thought is the greatest force
known to man because it is invariably
followed by action, and every time the
unionist stops to think still more
progress is made. In thus stopping
to think he finds obstacles in his path
which he cannot surmount alone,i and
he soon recognizes the need of CO.
operation with his associates. Every
union meeting with it's exchange of
thought brings progress and promotes
Intelligence.
Every local union is the clearing
house of the troubles in that trade in
that city, and every convention of the
American Federation of Labor is the
clearing house of all the labor troubles
in, iy1,f
host of workers is composed of in
dividual units who have stopped to
think Labor troubles come as the
result of advancing civilization. So
cial unrest is a sign of social progress.
There are no labor troubles in dark
est. Africa. What is making all this
fuss is the fact that so many workers
have acquired the faculty of thinking.
Thought is the evolutionary force
that has brought labor from it's ancient
condition of slavery, with it's back
barred to the lash. onward and upward
through all the dark centuries, step by
step adding to the store of human
rights and privileges, gradually emery
ing from the secret caves of proscrip
ton, until finally labor has arrived at
full fedged manhood. asserting its
right to voice in all human affairs.
And this fact is fast forcing its own
recognition. for not only has labor
stopped to think, but it has made 9TH
ers think.
I'VE have in the civic federation a
body composed of prominent clergy
men, eminent scholars and publicists,
financiers, and masterful captains of
industry, whose association with
representatives of labor in this fedora
ton is due primarily to the fact that
labor has stopped to think.
THE Federal Council of Churches of
Christ in America, recently in session
at Philadelphia, specifically endorsed
demands for which the trade unions
have been~and still are fighting. 1t
expressed approval of the unions which
have worked for arbitration, for the
right of all men to employment, for
the abolition of child labor, for the
suppression Of sweat shops. for pro-
vision for the aged and injured and
for the most equitable division of the
products of industry that can ultimate
" be devised.
Speaking before the National Civic
Federation in New York President
Taft said: The man who objects to-
day to the organization of labor
should be relegated to the last cen
fury, where he belongs He said:
The organization of labor has done
marvels for the laboring man. and it
will do more; it has done marvels for
he employer and it will do more
In Chicago the other day. President
Taft also said: There is not the
slightest doubt that if labor had re-
manned unorganiZed. wages would
have been very much lower and that
he regards the organization of labor as
one of the strong factors contributing
to the high standard of living among
American laborers. Such testimony
from such sources cannot be ignored
Where once unions of labor We're pro-
hibited now they are welcomed. Where
once refusal to labor was punished by
death. now the strongest influences
and the brainest men seek to prevent
strikes by the trade agreement
Because of thought we have man.
hood suffrage and consequently some
voice in the electorate The education
which attends organization is fast
| qualifying the thinking workers for
| intelligent political action.
Evolution has not gone on strike;
| on the contrary labor has just begun
to think If there are any who fear
for the future let them look back
through the past. let them note the
| progress of labor step by step from
ancient slavery to the present day.
Great as have been the achievements
| of labor. they are as nothing to those
| the future has in store
MANY large employers of labor to-
| day welcome organization among
their employees. for experience has
| taught that it is safer and better to
deal with an organization than to deal
with individuals. The Individual may
break his bargain and escape the con-
sequences. but to the credit of the
trade union movement there is hardly
a case on record where an organization
| has failed to carry out its part of a
| bargain. This is a statment that can
not be contradicted. Trade unionism.
! properly understood, is not alone pro-
| tective to it's own members. but a po-
| tent factor in securing better condi-
tons for all, even for the non union