davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30
SWAMP EVILS UNDER
AVALANCHE OF GOOD

From time to time social reform
ers organize societies for the ex-
termination of other societies
which have. for their object the
securing Of better conditions for
the workers.
Now 1T is perfectly legitimat t.
for the DIRECTORS to disagree with
the opponents Of particular social
theories or special programs.
Those who form the society to be
exterminated no doubt have the
same right to their personal con-
victions, especially in this coun-
try. On general principles, it is a
mighty poor policy to. organize
any society upon merely mega
tive basis. &c. "
It is far better to work construc-
lively. In any event, if a group
Of persons is opposed to the pro-
gram Of particular organization,
the best way to make that organ
ization non-effective is either to
eliminate the causes which give
occasion to the formation Of the
organization, or to advocate pro-
gram or system which will more
effectively bring about the condi-
tions which are to be desired.
The best way to- destroy the
evils in any situation is to pour
in 50 much Of the good that there
will be no room for the bad. A
vacuum is Away abhorrent. Men
do not ordinarily become enthu-
siastic on negatives. They desire
the positive note and the construc-
tive policy.-Rev. Chas.s Stelzle.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30

more than So a day, but during
the year covered by the investiga-
tons only about Z per cent Of the
men worked full time and more
than so per cent Of them lost three
months. The average earnings Of
the heads Of the 1000 or more
families investigated was found
to be $3.50 a month.
OF the $4,000 men, $4,000 were
foreign born, and nearly 40 per
cent had been in this country less
than five years.
About so per cent of the for
eign-born miners can read, and
write. nliteracy runs highest
among the Russians. Among the
foreign-born miners more than 60
per cent can speak English. About
20 per cent of the families own
their homes. The, rest live in
company shacks. The highest per
centage Of the naturalization
among them is found in the miners
from Sweden, who also lead il,
}iteracy and ability to speak Eng
| lish. H., :>>:.ls i. =. -
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30
Labor Unions Are Alright, But

the business agent in time of indus
trial disputes
The business agent, as a rule
knows better than anyone elses the
many trials and fluctuations exper-
fenced in times of strikes. He real
ICES that much Of the responsibility
Of a strike rests upon his shoulders;
that if he is unsuccessful in accom-
to do that he is liable to lose the
confidence of the membership, and
because of these and many. other
reasons he will adopt every means
possible to settle a grievance without
the necessity of calling strike.
Statistics recently published show
that nearly IS per cent of the labor
disputes in 1909 were settled without
strikes. How these disputes were
settled the report does not state. but
it can be said without any hesitancy
that this great work was accom-
plished by the business agents and
the officers of the unions affected,
who are looked upon by unfair EN-
ployers as undesirable labor leaders
The unions realize now, more than
ever, the necessity of keeping bust
ness agents in the field to look after
their interests. What few years
ago was thought only possible for
large unions to sustain, is now the
rule in the smaller unions, and much
good is being derived through keep
ing the movement in condition
that is most satisfactory to the men,
bers
Business agents, or so-called
"leaders,' may be, in the estimation
of unfair employers, undesirable, but
enough has been gained by the rank
and file of the membership, through
increased wages and improved condi-
tions, to satisfy the most skeptical
that they are fixture in the union,
and that they will remain as such,
regardless of whether they are un-
desirables to some people or not.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30

IF the trade union movement had
no leaders it would be a good thing
Is the utterance Of nearly every en-
ployer of labor. They profess much
interest for the unions, but, greatly
deplore the fact that there os 50 many
men who take active interest and who
they claim, are the real cause of all
industrial troubles through i'll advis-
ing the rank and file.
The statements are made for effect
and for the purpose of conveying A
wrong impression to the public re-
garding the movement.
An organization to be successful
must have leaders. whether it be a
fraternal order. business associa-
ton, a club. or labor union. and
that without leaders no organ:::a ion
can possibly exist.
AS a rule, there are only a few
men who take a real active interest
in any organization. The executive
officers are generally looked upon rs
the m wins spirits and the rank AMI
file, while having final voice in al.
important transactions, are satisfied
TO let the officers do the work, while
they reap the benefits
What the employers really object
to is the unions business agents. !"If
these were only out of the way
they say, the labor movement would
be one of the greatest on earth. They
are the root Of al! evil and are the
eral cause of all the industrial dis
turbances in the civilized world"
Unfair and INSCRIPTIONS employ
ers look upon them as monsters
They imagine, or at least profess tc
believe, that they are devils in
sleeps clothing, and while they hate
them, they admire them for their
bravery and devotion to their con-
stituents' interests.
We hardly believe that the en-
ployer fully realizes the position OF
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30
ONLY A FABLE.

Many thousand years ago, on the
desert, three lived tribe that
crawled IL the dust. All its mem
bers. men, women and children
crawled along on their hands and
knees. eyes fixed and the dust and
the mire. And no one had ever dared
to look UP. For, the tribe believed
that above the sky doomed a Terrible
Notwithstanding intended to
crush them-and that If a man
looked up, then he would instantly
die. ..,@.. .. 80. u... ~ 49,
One day a very old man, crawling
exhausted at full length upon the
ground. His eyes for moment were
turned to the sky In his eyes
flashed a look Of amazernent and
JOY. With a shout he staggered to
his feet. ~ -
.Brothers!" he cried. Look up!
Here is no terrible thing! Here is
only =" y" z..z.
But his speech was stopped. For
his neighhors, in blind terror at his
boldness, their eyes still fixed upon
the dust, reached up and pulled the
old man *down--and choked him till
he died. And So thu triha crawled on.
But one man; who was young and
filled with fierce revolt at the
thought of the long, weary life
ahead, a life in the nire and dust
he thought to himself Of the old
mans. cry. It was with him while
he toiled al! day, it rang in his ears
in the night. I=% s.@ 1.
At last. one dazzling morning. he
suddenly leaDed to his feet. He. threw
UP his head. gave one glad look.
burst into 4, peal Of laughter.
Els laughter vas cut off. He too
was dragged down by frenzied
hands. He. too. 4 was choked to
death. 2s ~ NJ s. fss B Il. ss
But his laughteran and the DID
man = crybegan now; to work on
the minds OF others. !. 3
Two men. By sidelong looks and
whispers, resolved to spring up to-;
gether This they did. Before they
could be dragged into the dust 8
third man had risen, then q fourth.
And soon. q score Of young men were
upon their feet shouting d z a
Brothers, look up! Here Is moth.
tnE terrible Here Is only d bright
blue sky-and q flashing sun and
air to breathe !''
|sS And from that onward the
tribS walked erect Ike men.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30
MANY EMPLOYEES HELP
ALONG LABOR's CAUSE

We have a grateful word to Of
fer certain classes Of big en-
ployers in this country, says Sam
uel Gompers in the American Fed
erationist. 1t is uttered because Of
the two methods they are now &C.
lively employing in promoting
trade unionism.
The first of these methods is
that followed by the Philadelphia
Traction company-a course Of
brutal hostility to the organiza-
ton Of it's employees, involving
opposition to fair wages, hours,
and conditions, with the imme-
diate effect that the men are CON-
PEELED to fight in self-defense, the
final result being conditions much
improved over what they were,
with the union still the chief fac
tor.
The second method is that by
which the employer voluntarily"
gives the employed better terms
for the purpose Of forestalling
union interference The latter
in the long run is the more peace
able and least costly way Of build
ing up unionism permanently.
That the case for certain union
success has been made out with
regard to the first method, recent
events have furnished the needed
evidence.
The thought upon which this
second method is based, that Of
giving employees approximately
union terms while forbidding them
to organize< has been making its
way among the employing class
for some time, and especially dur
ing the last year. It finds .ex-
preston, adequate and unmistak-
able, in the following paragraph
from the New York Music Trade
Review: ss. .s5 sss
The most ffective and prac..
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30

Every man is the builder Of his
own fortune, and he needs plenty
Of sand. .>t-. .- -:-~
When a man bitches his wagon
to a star he is going to be up in
the air a whole lot. ....: :
Living in the future would be
all right if we didn't have to pay
rent in the present. ..,
One of the reasons why women
enjoy talking so much is that they
have so little to say.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30

day to their employees. This as
ISOLATION represented that wing Of
the employers in the lithographing
industry which four years ago sue
ceeded in establishing the "open
Shop In explaining through the
press why the eight-hour day was
now granted, the secretary of the
association said:
eve have found way to keep
unionism out Of our trade. The
decision which has just been taken
by the association is not entirely
phllanthropic, as might seem to the
outsider. It is as much a question
Of policy as Of generosity. The en-
ployers are doing for their men the
very things the labor union would
USE 1OICC " OUCGlu.
"As much" policy as generosity
The gracious secretary was candor
itself in not claiming that only
generosity entered into this action
of .anti-union, employers. But if
there was policy at all, where did
it come in? Their own men, IN
organized, were powerless, the
employers association. asserts.
There need beSno policy employed
toward the helpless from whom
there can be no danger. But
there was the. union, always close
Lat hand. Some day the men might
grow FESTIVE and flock il a body
into the unions memb ership, ia
cast their fortune ii efenses 81
''sall with the Others Of their craft.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30
FRONTIER STRESS MAKES
WOMEN EAGER WORKER:

A news dispatch from Indiana
says that scarcity of farm labor
has caused the farmers wives
there to turn out to the help Of
their husbands that the harvest
might be saved. They have driven
the binders and in other ways
taken a mans place.
Tut, tut! That s nothing.
More than nine-tenths of the
hay crop Of St. Louis county has
within the past week or two been
garnered by the women and chill
dren Of northeastern Minnesota.
They just had to do it or lose
the hay. And the hay is the win
ter IS mainstay Of the COW and the
COW is the mainstay, winter and
summer, of the average settlers
family.
The men were busy working
most Of them miles from. their
families earning enough to keep
the wolf from the door until such
time as the little farm can be put
upon self-sustaining basis. So it
was up to the women, and the hay,
light crop though it was, was safe
ly harvested.
So the women Of Indiana who
rode rings around their husbands
crops last week sitting on soft
cushioned mowers and binders
have nothing on the settlers wives
Of St. Louis county who swung
scythe and rake in a valiant et-
fort to hold the wolf at bay.
It's just a matter Of environ
ment that's alias the monkey
said when he found he had climb
ed into the lions cage. e.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30
TESTED BY FIRE.

The real struggle IS not be-
tween the two old parties, Is
now constituted. T Is between
the People and Privilege; and
that contest IL really between
these contending forces within
each Of the old parties. There
the struggle will go on until one
or the other is free. Intelligent
and patriotic citizens will there.
for vote for the man rather than
the party In this strug-
gle, Privilege is bipartisan; it.
knows no party, but knows how
to use and control both. And SO
those men, known as insurgents
in the Republican Congress, who
have been through the furnace
test against Cannonism and Al
drichism, are the only men who
have really qualified to represent
the people in their struggle
against privilege.''-udge Ben
Lindsey in La Follette's.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30

Sixty convicts working on the
state road near Bellingham, Wash
ington, went on strike for an
eight-hour day and came cut vic
tors in their demand for the
shorter workday. When men who
wear the garb of criminals and are
deprived Of their liberty can win
an eight-hour day, the so-called
sovereign citizen, enjoying what
there is left of American freedom,
should feel no reluctance in con-
signing the long workday to the
scrap heap.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30
PROHIBITION POLICY ..
DOESN'T BOOST WAGES

It will probably be conceded
that the average rate Of wages
paid to wage earners is the best
index Of the prosperity Of q state
or country. ..s.. 4
Those who favor q pro hibition
policy never. lose a opportunity
10 point to the state of Kansas,
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-07-30

These figures fail to substant-
late the arguments Of the prohib-
itionists, says the Minneapolis La
Dor Review. : ~
From the table above given it
appears that the average weekly
earnings Of all wage earnerss is
lower in Kansas than any other
state in this division, except Mis-
souri, and Iowa prohibition The
figures prove that it is not safe to
trust too much to the statements
made by these orators. It is easy
to make claims but the figures Of
the federal census convince us
that prohibition wherever it has
been tried has resulted in nothing
that tends to benefit the wage
Garner, either morally or financial
ly. Lower wages, "blind TIGERS
and a general disregard for: law
are not the things that tend to
elevate our people.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24
HIS STRONGEST TRAIT.

The man whose independence is his
strongest trait is the fellow whose exam
pie we should follow to the bitter end
for with all his other faults, Aic has the
courage to hold up his head, to demand
his rights, to claim his recognition. to
compel respect and to dominate his own
interests. lie is the fellow who always
succeeds, for the reason that he has both
manhood and pluck, and that 1T is a big
undertaking to down the mortal who Dos
sesscs q proper proportion Of these price
less qualities in his makeup. The indie
pendent man is generally the sensible
man, the reasonable man and the thrifty
man. He does not rush in ''wherc angels
fear to tread hccdlcssly and foolishlv.
but with calm and deliberately planned
action makes his demands and sees that
they are granted. His very indcpcnd-
encc makes him the object and admira-
ton, not only among his fellow men, but
also with those by whom he is employed,
and who, in monetary sense, at least,
occupy a higher place the social scale
Ills employer may, to some extent. in
wardly object to his firm, Independent
demcanor, but at the same time he can
not help but admire it, and to respect
him for it. OF course, Independence
should be tempered with a proper degree
of respect for the rights of others, and
should not be arrogantly and impudent-
ly made manifest. It should be diluted
with dignity and seasoned with civility
and courtesy towards all, generally is, for
the man who has the courage of his con
victions, and who will stand by them
without fear or favor, is the man who has
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24

interest to them before the public. Make
that public larger by interesting your
friends The more people outside the
trade union movement who become sub
seribers for this paper the more strength
Will the cause have. We believe we have
shown that our work in the intercs. of
the wage earners is sincere, and We feel
that we should receive the appreciation
OF those whom we seek to assist During
the year to come, labor will need r., the
opportunity to reach the people that it is
possi Bile to obtain No better way exists
than through the medium of paper
Pledsed to labor s interests. just thl:.k
TINS over and see If you can find way to
assist the Argus in this work for better
conditions.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24
FAITH IN UNIONS.

No man, society of men, or institution
domineered by man, woman or child, will
ever reach Il very conspicuous place i'll the
esteem of humanity without IL sincere
manifestation of faith in the man. woman
or child as well as the enterprise they
have in their care Almost every man
who has had the good fortune to be in
vested with the insignia of success in life
has been blessed with the possession of
great faith in himself and the results of
his own efforts. Great characters all
through the pages of history, when intro
ducing to the world brilliant and useful
idea or principle that meant progressive
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24

ness and a revolution of Anticipated things
have been greatly embarrassed by oppo-
sition manifested by their fellowman
against the perfection of those things
that meant SO much to the progress of
the world, and even to those who were
most active in their prosecutions to con
tend with and to overcome, their posses
sion of an abundance of faith in self and
in the things that their minds We're bent
upon achieving, they forged their prin-
ciples and works to the front, and man
kind was made the happier on account
of their spirit of determination and self
faith. Thus it has been since the history
of man began. Many Il person $ efforts
have been ridiculed when developing some
of the most useful inventions known Yet
the uudaunted mind of the designing gen
ius remained firm in his convictions and
his faith in his ability to demonstrate the
correctness of the principle, and they
have made good on those things in thou
sands of instances.
So it is in all walks of life. There
must be correct principles set for the
high standards necessary for the cstab-
lishment of the greatest amount of happi-
ness in life, and then there must prevail
among all a firm faith in them. Then
will there follow works, which will bear
fruits as the reward of such faith The
same faith that urged our ancestors on to
| 4 successful realization of their fondest
hopes is now the very thing most needed
in our present day labor unions More
men of the self confidence calibre who
will not lower their head nor submit to
| anything adverse to the best interests of
the human race be it foreign foe, a
contempt decree at home, or what not are
in great need at this time. No discour-
agement should be allowed to deviatc the
course of any union man from that which
| is intended for the highest degree of
! happiness for himself and those depend
ent upon him. Union mcn who have not
the proper degree of confidence in the
principles of their moral courage and
grit to carry out their part of the fight
OF all their organization stands for, are
unworthy of being recognized as union
men. Above everything, let us determine
those things that are best for union men
and their families and each carry out his
part of the programme towards the real
| iZation of them. Lose not your faith in
the enjoyment of great things, and sus.
Saln your convictions as to the best means
of attaining them Better things are in
store for You if You do your full part
Have faith in yourself and your union.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24
WANT YOUR SUPPORT.

We ask union men to advance the in
terests of the Argus. This can be dome
"ithout any expense on their part That
IS, other than the price of the subscr:r.
'ioh. They can help if they will ent!eav-
or TO get others interested in the parcr
and talk it over with their merchants
about advertising. The Argus comnorcs
ia'oraply with all papers published in
'"e iapor held. Still it can be improved
ana proper support given will make i'm
Profements possible. In no other pancr
can union men get the matter of sncr;o1
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24
THE HIPP

There is another splendid bill at the
Hipp this week. 1t starts off with Jim
London the Comedian, who not only has
some catchy songs and good jokes, but
knows how to say them. The bar juggl-
ing of Albertus and Altus is great, and
every one wonders how they can keep
from three to six bars in the air at one
time. Schady and Schady are splendid.
the good voice of the man and the clever
acting of the girl is much enjoyed. Their
singing of the Gergan song called forth
round after round of applause, and their
Irish song is simply fine. The Five Co
lumbians are just good as they We're
last week and continue to draw crowds.
Miss Ruth Miller is very graceful and has
one of the most artistic dances ever seen
in Charleston. y moving picture that is
very amusing closes an exceptionally fine
bill.
The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24
THE POWER OF PRIVILEGE.

one OF the greatest political leaders of
the country opened one of the greatest
campaigns in our political history with
these words:
1t is the object of free government
TO promote the welfare of the people
to confer the greatest good upon the
greatest number; but that purpose is
thwarted, when private ownership of a
conceded public necessity becomes a mo-
nopoly, and that monopoly becomes a
menace to the public well -being.''
For over four centuries the English
speaking races have abhorrcd monopolies
and since the reign of the Tudors every
bill of rights has prohibited the sover-
elgn from granting any, privileges in
trade or commerce, which We're in their
nature exclusive and preventive of com
petition. There is scarcely Il constitu-
ton of 4 state of the Union which does
not contain this prohibition.
In spite of all this, monopoly is the
mightiest influence in the nation TODAY.
1t is well said:
1T is privilege that creates monopoly,
and the desire for it that gives birth to
protection, railway monopoly, of exemp-
ton from taxation, regulation or compe-
tltion that leads these influences into pol
tiles and causes nine tenths of the cor
cuption in nation, state and city. 1t is
about these privileges that the system
centers No other influences have so
constant an interest in politics. No 9TH
er business can afford to expend thou
sands and even hundreds of thousands
other influences can be so readily organ
ized.'
Monopoly controls courts, legislatures
and all institutions of power in the coun-
try.
Our ideals of government contemplate
the best men for public office. But it
has become impossible to secure the best
men to hold Office. The candidate must
be amenablc to control or meet defeat
American principles must give way to the
monopoly of privilege. The legislator
and executive are but pawns in the hands
of the agents of the ''Interests
"But helpless pieces of the game he
plays
Upon this checkerboard of nights and
days;
Hitler and thithcr moves, and checks and
Stays,
And one by one back in the closet lays
The ball no question makes of ayes and
noes,
But here or there, as strikes the player
goes