The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-09-09
Il them have been guilty of wrong.

Of them have been guilty of wrong
doing.
Just In 80 far as they are strong and
effective they tempt designing men
who seek to control them for their
own interests and stimulate the de-
sires Of 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 do
we'll to remember Abraham Lfnc0ln's !
saying that "there Is a deal of human
nature in mankind"
Whether in a man OF in an organized
body of men the power to do good
means that such power may be twist
ed into evil. And in proportion Is the
power grows SO 1t becomes steadily
more important that it should be han
died Alright. Just in proportion as in
it's 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 under
| stand and sympathize with what is
good in It, Instead Of cOndemning 1t
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 tn the United States
is daily becoming more alert and more
intelligent and more forceful, and no
organization, whether trades union OF
corporation, whether industrial or non
industrial, can endure or permanently
amount to a social force if it does not
harmonic with Il wise and enlfght-
ened public opinion.
Hitherto we Americans have been
o~veroccupied 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: ana every form Of organization
representing an important economic.
political or social force must under
go a closer scrutiny than ever before.
Contest sof Employer and Employee.
l think that the next quarter of a
century will be important politically
in man, ways; and IN none more so
than in the labor movement. Not only
are the benefits of labor organizations
more clearly understood than eve be-
fore. but any shortcoming or vice. dis
played in connection therewith lis also
more clearly understood and more
quickly resented.
The public is growing more and
more to understand that, in 4 contest
between employer and employee-a
corporation and a trades union-not
only the interests Of the contestants.
but the interests of the third party
the .pubiic-must be considered.
Anything like levity in provoking a
strike on the one hand or on the 10Th
er lis certain more and more to be re-
scented by the public. Strikes are
sometimes necessary and proper; PM
times they represent the only way in
which. after all other methods have
been exhausted. it is possible for the
laboring mar to stand for his rights,
but it must be clearly understood that
a strike is matter of last resort.
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
reaching and disastrous interference
with ats normal processes. The public
sympathizes cordially with any move
ment for a good standard of living
and for moderate hours OF employ
ment. Il 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 c no relief
without a strike or, indeed. where the
strike is clearly undertaken for things
which are vitality necessary-and then
only as a last 'resOrt-the public SYM
pathy will favor the wageworkers.
but 1t will not favor them unless such
conditions as these are fulfilled.
Therefore it is becoming more than
ever important that the labor move
ment should combine steady, faxsee-
ing leadership with discipline and con-
troll in its ranks.
Curse Of Dishonest Leaders.
Dishonest leadership is a curse any
where in American life, and nowhere
ia 1t "a greater curse than in the labor
movement. II there ds one lesson
which I womld rather teach to my fel-
low Americans than any other 1t is to
hound down the dishorest q no
matter what his condition. and ia
brush aside With impatient contempt
the creature who only den0unces dis
honesty when 1t is found in some spe-
cial social stratum.