The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-08-28
THE UNION PRINCIPLE
Foundation Of An Successful
Government.
GOOD OF THE MANY ITS AIM.

Ooprtvo the Individual OF Liberty 10
Unsound-Thsy Secure and Maintain
the Rights Of Workers.
On Sunday evening. April 3, the Unit.
"a Trades and Labor council OF East
Liverpool. D.. together with members
Of other organizations of that city and
Weilsville. attended services at the
First Christian church Of Wellsville.
o.. on the invitation Of the minister
q. 8. Morrison. A. NJ. a former printer
In tho course OF his sermon the minis
ter asserted that the statement of e.
w. Post thar only 10 per cent Of labor
was organized was false statement
that more than 20 per cent OF the
workers Of the country are members
OF trades organizations. He declared
that Christ. the Son Of God. constant
3y dIgnitcd labor and ''in pointing the
way to victory stated the principles
Of uni0nism As the chief means TO the
end" The Rev. MIR. Morrison said In
part:
The labor union IL not only legitimate
institution, but is OF great economic. ed
ucational and moral value. acting upon
principle or right recognized by both dl.
vine and human law. Il is not denied
that In the evolution OF labor uniontsm
mistakes. wrongs. even crimes. have been
committed but these are not to be charged
20 the principle and purpose OF the union.
but to misguided members Nor IL the
labor union alone In these dark vicissi-
tudes Of development. Civilization. gov
ernments. even the churches. are not one
whit behind In these matters. M history
we'll shows. But are they to be con-
l. ak-l. -.
misguided advocates were guilty OF gross
wrongs and crimes? Neither should We
condemn the labor unions as such. They
like other great movements for huma n
uplift. have struggled up to higher ground
and broader vision and will continue 10
do 20. would condemn wrongs commit
ted by union men not only because II IL
inherentiy criminal. but also because II Is
contrary to the principle and purpose OF
unionism and brings rcproach upon II
"n,assiy. However y.s srsevous . the wrons vra
make q right" The whole purpose OF the
labor union 10 TO better the condition and
life Of laboring people generally. II Is
absolutely unselhsh. II II not q worthy
purpose?
Nonunion labor should not condemn the
unions. but should come into them. that
the house Of labor may not be divided
against itself and may stand to secure its
rights. not only OF wage. but OF better.
ment OF all conditions. Union principle II
the foundation OF all successful co-opera-
ton and government. The objection to
unions that they deprive the individual OF
his liberty TO act Independently OF the
whole body or governing authority II not
sound In social. material or political econ
omy. for that very principle II the
strength OF our form OF Eovernment-he
votes and abides tho majority rule. Lib
orty really only becomes possible through
combination on the basis OF majority rule.
The relation OF the member to tho union
u like that OF tho citizen to the republic
q secures and maintains his rights.
IL 10 charged II stirs up strife. What
government was ever established without
strife? What wrong was ever righted
without strife? In the union wholly to
blame? II the corporation that refuses to
negotiate fair? II In a fact that. dealt
fairly with. the union decreases strife.
II 70 charged against organized labor
that u excludes nonunion workers from
employment. This Is not an object. but
Uimply an effect. OF organization for their
own good and the general good OF labor
people
A popular objection TO labor unions IL
that they oppose strike breakers In order
20 force them into the unions. This IL a
stock argument from the capitalists. Yet
che Same principle Is the reliance Of the
ambitious capitalist to force out compe-
tition.
Contrast the motives of the two. Even
u the principle be not the best. tho mo-
tive Of the labor union In the best for II
10 TO build up all laborers. while tho mo-
tive OF the other In to crush all less for
vunats competitors. However doubtful.
therefore. the method. the moral credit Is
all on the side OF the labor union.
Merchants often combine In written
agreement to control prices and hours OF
business. A cut rate merchant steps In
and not only sells his commodity lower.
but works longer hours. The organized
merchants try TO induce him to join them
on prices and hours. and if he refuses on
~ he plcases the combine does not hesi-
tate to punish him vigorously. even to the
extent OF putting him out OF business.
What 10 their motive? The good OF the
many? No: simply the benefit OF the few
-themselves only-and there is no public
outcry.
When the labor union invokes the same
principle from n more worthy motive. the
good OF the many. there Is q great cry
raised against IL rs wrong. Why this dts
elimination? Because all too many pco-
pie are willing to fawn upon the rich and
powerful and sneer at and condemn the
less fortunate.
Mr.. Morrison concluded with the
statement that the principles Of union.
lsm and Of Christianity were identical
and inseparable; that the Bible point
ed the way to trades unionism and the
solution Of all troubles. labor and 9TH
erwise.-Typographi Journal.
Labor Strikes.