Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-09-09

ly eliminate from the practises Of its or
Sanization those things which justify such
criticism and attack. This Ia the path.
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 forcefu: and
no organization whether trades union or
corporation. whether industrial or non-in-
dustrial. can endure or permanently
amount to a social force II 1t does not
harmonize with a wise and enlightened
public opinion. Hitherto we Americans
have been over-occupied 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-
ical. or social force must undergo closer
scrutiny than ever before.
I 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 Is also more clearly under
stood and more quickly resented. The
public is growing more and more to un-
derstand that. in a contest between en-
ployer and employee-a corporation and
trades union-not only the interests of
the contestants. but the interests of the
third party-the public-must be consid-
cred. Anything like levity in provoking
strike. on the one hand or on the otSer.
is certain more and more to be resented
by the public. Strikes are sometimes nec-
essary and proper: sometimes they rep
resent the only way in which. after all
other methods have been exhausted. II IL
possible for the labcrinK man to stand for
his rights: but 1t must be clearly under
stood that strike IL matter of last re-
sort. Our social organization IL too COM
pick for us to fail quickly to condemn
those who. with levity or in Q spirit Of
wanton brutality. bring about far-reach-
Ing and disastrous interference with its
normal processes. Tho public sympathixes
cordially with any movement for q 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 arc
worked under harsh and intolerable con-
ditions. and can secure no relief without
q strike. or. indeed. where the strike 10
clearly undertaken for things which arc
resort-the public sympathy will favor the
wage-w workers: but It will not favor them
unless such conditions rs these are full
hlled. Therefore II is becoming moro
than ever important that the labor move
ment should combine steady. far-seeing
leadership with discipline and control In
its ranks. Dishonest leadership Ii . curse
anywhere in American life. and nowhere
is II greater curse than in the labor
movement II there Is one lesson which
would rnther teach to my fellow-Amen-
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 IL found in
some special social stratum. There are
dishonest capitalists. dishonest labor lead
err. dishonest lawyers. and dishonest
business men: dishonest men Of great
wealth and dishonest poor men: and the
man who II q genuine reformer will de-
cline to single out any one typo for ex-
elusive denunciation. but will fearlessly
attack the dishonest man a. 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
respect and admire as heartily as I do
any men in America. There are some Of
them to whom I 20 as freely for assist
nnce and guidance. for aid and help. in
making up my mind how to deal with our
social problems. as 70 to the leaders Of
any business or profession. I cannot pay
too high . tribute to the worth and inteR-
rity Of these men-to their sincerity and
good judgment A. leaders. But no move
honest. can endure unless the rank and
fle live up to their duties. and search
for such leadership. and support II when
they hnd II. II the best men In . labor
union leave its management and control
to men Of a poorer type the effect will be
Just as disastrous as when good citizens
in a city follow the same course As re-
cards city government. Tho stay t-home
man in q union is Just A. much responsi-
bic for the sins Of omission and commits
home man in n city II for the civic con-
ditlons under which he suffers and about
which he complains.
All that can prop,riy he done should
be done by all of us to help upward the
Of living and to improve the
ability Of the average man to reach that
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 pItiabie. 1t is n
shocking Indictment Of our Industrial con-
dition to be told in n matter-of-course
way In n government report that thous-
nnds of workers in this country are COM
pclied to toll everyday in the week. with
out one day rest. for wage of ss n
month. Such condition II bad for them.
and. in the end bad for all of us. Our
development should be henr-
THY encouraged: but II must not be al
lowed to commerciaiize our morals.
II II not merely the duty of the was~-
Garner. but II In also the duty of the gen.
eraI public. to see that he has safe and
healthy conditions under which to carry
on his work. No worker should be COM
pelied. as a condition Of earning his daily
broad. TO rfst his Ffe and limb. or he
deprived OF his health. or have to work
under dangerous and bad surroundings
Society owes the worker this because Il
owes as much to itself. He should not
be compelled to make this a matter Of
contract: he ought not to be left to hvht
alone for decent conditions in this respect.
IIis protection in the place where he
works should be guaranteed by the law Of
the land. In ether words. he should he
protected during his working hours
J gainst greed and cnrciessness on the part
Of unscrupulous and thouRhtiess employ
srs. Just ns outside of those working
hours both ne and his employer are pro-
tccted in their lives md property against
The y,urderer and thief