The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-06

now we are awakening from that lndif-
ference, and every form OF organization
I representing an important economic po-
litical or social force must undergo a
closer scrutiny than ever before.
Critical Time Ahead
think that the next quarter OF a cen
lury Will be important politically In
many ways; and In none more so than
In IN the iS.l labor movement, MOI only are the the
clearly understood than ever before, but
any shortcomlns or vice displayed IN
connection herewith is also more clear
~ understood and more quickly resented.
The public is growing more and more to
understand that, in contest between
employer and employee corporation
and trades union-not only the inter
ests OF the contestants. but the interest
of the third party-the publlc-must re
considered. Anything like lcyity in pro-
voking n strike, on the one hand or on
the other. is certain more and more to
be resented by the public, Strikes are
sometimes necessary and proper; some
times they represent the only way in
which after all other methods have been
exhausted, il is possible for the labor
Ing man 10 stand for his rights; but IL
| must be clearly understood that n strike
is matter of last resort. Our social
| organization is too complex for lis TO
| fail quickly to condemn those who. with
levity or in a spirit Of wanton brutality.
bring about far-reaching and disastrous
| Interference with It's normal processes.
The public sympathizes cordially with
| any movement lOF n EOOn SlaNOuEu Oh
living and for moderate hours Of en-
| ployment. q personally, for instance
| cordially believe in an eight hour day,
and In one day In seven for complete
| rcst)
Justifable Strikes.
Where men md women are worked
| under harsh and intolcrable conditions,
| and can secure no relief without strike.
| or indeed. where the strike Is clearly un-
| dertaken for things which are vitality ne
| cessary-and then only as last resort
the public sympathy will favor the wage
workers; but il will not favor them e,13,Mnl nn-
Therefore ii is becoming more than ever
important that the labor movement
should combine steady. far-seeing leader
ship with discipline and control in It's
ranks Dishonest leadership is a curse
anywhere In American life. and nowhere
Is IT n greater curse than in the labor
would rather teach my fellow Ameri-
cans than any other IL is to hound down
the dishonest man-no matter what his
condtion-and 10 brush aside with mpa-
tlent contempt the creature who only de-
nounces dishonesty when II Is found in
some special social stratum There are
dishonest capitalists: dishonest labor
leaders dishonest lawyers. and dishonest
business men; dishonest men OF great |
wealth and dishonest poor mon: and the
man who is a genuine rcformer VIII de-
elusive denuncation, but Will iearlessly |
attack the dishonest man as such, when |
ever and wherever he is To be found.
Friend of Labor Leaders
For many years | have been more or |
less closely associated with representative
leaders OF labor unions, Some OF these |
men arc among my close friends. whom l
respect and admire as heartily as l do
any mct in America. There are some OF
them 10 whom ] 90 as freely for assist
ance and guidance for aid and help In
making up my mind how 10 deal with
our social problems. as ] go to the lead
ers OF any business or profession. l cam
not pay too high a tribute TO the worth
and integrity OF these mcn-to their sim
cerity and good judgment as leaders But
no movement-no leadership-howeVer
rank and file live up 10 their duties, and
search for such leadership, and support
II when they find IL. II the best man in
n labor union leave its management and
feet will be just as disastrous as when
good citizens in city follow the same
course as rcgads city government The
stay at home man in n union is Just as
much responsible for the sins OF omission
and commission OF his organization as
the stay-at-home man in a city is for the
civic conditions 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 the
standard OF living and to improve the
There are still In The United
States great masses of skilled and an
labor, whose conditions OF work
anu living are harsh and pitlable. IL Is
/ shocking Indictment of our industrial
condition TO be told In a matter Of course
way In a government report that thou
to toll every day in the week.
without one day rest, FOR wage OF $40
month, Such condition is bad for
hem, and, In the end, bad for all Of lis.
Dur commercial development should be {
heartily encouraged, but IL must not he !
allowed TO commercialize our morals. !
Rights of Workmen,
II is not merely tho duty OF the wage
Garner. but IL is also the duty of the |
General public, TO see that he has safe {
md healthy conditions under which 10 7
AIRY on his work. No worker should be '
as condition of earning his I
laily bread. to risk his life and limb, or
,e deprived OF his health. or have to
work. under dangerous and bad surround
ngs. Society owes the worker this be- 7
ause il owes as much TO Itself. He q
natter OF contract: he ought not TO be
eft to fight alone for decent conditions 1
n this respect. His protection in tho i
lace where he works should be -guaran
eed by the law of the land. In other :
words, he should be protected during his
working hours against greed and care
essness on the part OF unscrupulous and
houghtless employers. just as outside OF
hose working hours both he and his en-
oyer are protected In their lives and
property against the murderer and thief.
This opens vitality important field of
egislaton TO the national government
nd TO the state alike. II Is humiliatIng
o think how far we of this country arc
chlnd most OF the other countries I'm ,
uch matters. Practically all civilized
ountries have. for more than a decade
rohibitcd by the strictest regulations the
ofsonous match industry; yet we had not
one anything al all until very recently
ible danger The national government
made an investigation a year ago into
his industry, which showed Il condition
4 things unspcakably shocking and re-
oIting. Legislation TO prevent these
buses was introduced in congress. which
vas not passed. Since then the compa-
les In fault have ostentatiously an
ounced that they have done away with
he Objectionable conditions. / hope so;
ut whether they have or not a law
hould be passed In stringent form to
revent any possible backsliding.
Employers Liability.