The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-09-09

criticism ana attack. This - the pain.
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 forcefui: and
no organization whether trades union or
corporation. whether Industrial or non-in-
dustrial. can endure or permanently
amount to q social force IL II does not
harmonize with q wise and enlightened
public opinion. Hitherto we Americans
have been over-occupled with material
things. and have neglected to watch the
play of the social forces about us. But
now we are awakening from that indif-
ference. and every form Of organization
representing an important economic. polit-
tcal, or social force must undergo . closer
scrutiny than ever before.
/ think that the next quarter OF .
century will be important politically In
many ways: and In none more so than In
the labor movement Not only are the
benefits OF labor organizations more clear
ly understood than ever before. but any
shortcoming or vice displayed In connec-
ton Herewith II also more clearly under
stood and more quickly resented. The
public IL growing more and more to un-
derstand that. In q contest between en-
pfoyer and employee corporation and
trades union--not only the interests OF
the contestants. but the interests Of the
third party-the pubiic-must be consid-
cred. Anything like levity in provoking
strike. on the one hand or on the other.
Is certain more and more to be resented
by the public. Strikes are sometimes nee
essary and proper: sometimes they rep
resent the only way in which. after all
other methods have been exhausted. II II
possible for the labo-ing man to stand for
his rights: but II must be clearly under
stood that a strike Is n matter OF last re-
sort. Our social organization Is too COM
pick for US to fail quickly to condemn
those who. with levity or In spirit OF
wanton brutality, bring about far-reach-
Ing and disastrous interference with Its
normal processes. The public sympathizes
cordially with any movement for good
standard Of living and for moderate hours
OF employment. Il personally. for In
stance. cordially believe In an eight-hour
day. and In one day in seven for COM
plete rest) Where men and women are
worked under harsh and intolerable con-
ditions. and can secure 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 sympathy will favor the
wage workers: but Il will not favor them
unless such conditions as these are full
filled. Therefore II is becoming more
than ever important that the labor move
ment should combine steady. far-seeing
leadership with discipline and control IN
It's ranks. Dishonest leadership is a curse
anywhere In American life. and nowhere
Is II a greater curse than In the labor
movement. II there Is one lesson which I
would rather teach to my fellow-Ameri-
cans than any other; II Is to hound down
the dishonest man-no matter what his
condition-and to brush aside with I'm
patient contempt the creature who only
denounces dishonesty when II is found In
some special social stratum. There are
dishonest capitalists. dishonest labor lead
ers. dishonest lawyers. and dishonest
business men; dishonest men of great
wealth and dishonest poor men; and the
man who Is a genuine reformer will de-
cline to single out any one type for ex-
elusive denunciation. but will fearlessiy
attack the dishonest man as such. when
ever and wherever he Is to be found.
Worthy Leaders Available.
For many years I have been more or
less closely associated with representative
leaders OF labor unions. Some of these
men are among my close friends. whom I
respect and admire as heartily as do
any men in America. There ARE some of
them to whom I 90 rs freely for assist
ance and guidance. for aid and help. In
making up my mind how to deal with our
social problems. as go TO the leaders OF
| any business or profession. cannot pay
| too high tribute to the worth and integ-
| rity of these men-to their sincerity and
| good judgment as leaders. But no move
ment-no Observation-Disclosures earnest and
honest. can endure unless the rank and
| file live up to their duties. and search
for such leadership. and support It when
they ind IT, II tho best men In a labor
union leave Its management and control
| to men of poorer type, the effect will be
| just as disastrous as when good citizens
In city follow the same course as re-
CARDS city government. The stay at home
| man In a union is just rs much responsi.
BILE for the sins Of omission and commits
sion Of his organization as the stay-at,
| home man In n city Is for the civic con.
dtions under which he suffers and about
/ which he complains.
All that can properly be done should
be done by all of us to help upward tho
standard of living and to improve the
| ability OF the average man to reach thai
standard. There are still In the United
| States great masses of skilled and unor
| ganized labor. whose conditions of WORK
and living are harsh and pitiable. It IL 9
shocking indictment Of our Industrial con
| dition to be told In matter of-cours,
| way In q government report that thous
| ands of workers In this country are com
PEELED to toll everyday In the week. with
out one day rest. for a wage of 34s
month. Such q condition Is bad for them
| and. In the end. bad for all of us. Ou
commercial development should be hear
THY encouraged: but II must not be al
lowed to eemmercialize our morals.
II In not merely the duty of the wage
Garner. but II is also tho duty OF the gen
eral public. to see that he has safe an,
healthy conditions under which to carr,
on his work. No worker should be com
PEELED. AZ a condition Of earning his dali,
bread. to risk his life and limb. or b
deprived OF his health. or have to wori
under dangerous and bad surroundings
Society owes the worker this because I
owes as much to itself. He should no
be compelled to make this a matter o
contract; he ought not to be left to fgh
alone for decent conditions In this respect
His protection In the place where h
works should be guaranteed by the law o
the land. In other words. he should b
protected during his working hour
against greed and careiessnass on the par
| OF INSCRIPTIONS and thoughtless employ
ers. Just rs outside OF those working
hours both he and his employer are pro
tected In their lives and property agains
the murderer and thief
| Far Behind Other Nations.
This opens vitality important field o
legislation to the National Eovernmen
and TO the state alike. 1t Is humiliatinl
| to think how far we Of this country ar