United labor bulletin., 1910-11-24
BRIGHTER DAYS ARE JUST AHEAD.
Eloquent Writer Tells Of Progress Of
Union Labor In the Past and What ls
in Store for the Workers In the Near
Future. Concerted Political Action a
Step in Right DIrection.
(Bv d. Douglas WILSON,


(By D. Douglas Wilson.)
Some newly awakened, earnest souls,
full of the zeal and enthusiasm that usu-
a4.y characterizes the convert, as soon
as they come to a9realization OF what the
class struggle means, and its causes, be-
come impatient with the slowness of the
movement that will establish the cooper
ative commonwealth They demand i'm
mediate action and progress with dls-
patch. No sooner do they place their toe
to the line than they are consumed with
a desire to reach the goal at single
bound. They would soar Immediately or
at least try to, before their wings were
fully developed. Dazzled with the bril-
liancy of the divine hres that are burn
ing within them and which illuminate AL
the dark places in the social structure,
showing the monstrous inequalities and
wicked injustices that exist upon every
hand, they marvel at the blindness of
their fellow workers who have not yet
awakened as they have done and who
yet linger in lne darkness. They forget,
that is if they have even yet realized 1t.
how difficult was their own arousing and
awakening.
Sometimes, too, when the fires have
been improperly kindled, they flicker and
wane and become well nigh extinguished
and leave them in worse plight than
they were before the awakening took
place, leaving them Indifferent, callous
minded and careless of everything apper-
tanning to their class interest. Forum
ately, however, those OF them that are
afflicted that way are not numerous and
the others of them who demand immedi-
ate action become more conservative In
their radicalism and consequently more
progressive. They soon learn the truth
of the old adage, "that it is best to make
haste slowly" and learn that reform and
improved conditlons do not come as the
result of a charge, but only after long
and patient seige.
They realize that a little learning Is
really dangerous thing and that to De
successful they must absorb knowledge
to the full, if they are to assist in the
foreward movement. They must turn to
history and notice the marvellous changes
that have taken place, the difficulties
that have been overcome and the won
derous sacrifices that were made to
make the present possible. When they
do this they will see that we have not
been standing still, but on the contrary
have been moving rapidly towards the
goal upon which they have fixed their
eyes.
A glance into the past and contem.
plation of the present will bring RELIEF
and comfort to many who are distressed
edge is coming to the workers, is teach
ing them the truth, and the truth w4.l
make them free. Knowledge is elbowing
ignorance out of existence. Intelligence
is taking the place of illiteracy and has
in reality changed places with 1t, in less
than a hundred years. A hundred years
ago 80 per cent of the workers were un-
able to read or write, while today only
10 per cent of the same class Is Hitter
fhof
now plentiful, and the number with the
ability to read them has increased pro-
portionately. That is surely progress
and ought to bring consolation to the
hearts of all who are saddened because
of the slowness of our progression.
The marvellous growth of the trade
unions during the past year is an evi-
dence of progress that must not be over
looked, and the splendid successes they
have achieved in shortening the work
day, improving the conditions of employ
ment, and in securing for the worker a
greater share of what he has produced,
must not be forgotten. These are sub
stantial and tangible proofs that We are
not standing still and should bring a
need of joy to all. Besides this, the new
attitude assumed by the trade unions IN
connection with the taking of concerted
political action is a big step forward
while the abandonment of the position,
SO long and so tenaciously held by the
conservative reactionaries, welded to
the idols of pure and simpledom, cannot
fail to convince the most skeptical of
the doubters that we are indeed moving
forward, and rapidly.
A careful examination of the past and
its comparison with the present will be
all that is necessary to show the enthus-
iastic souls who are clamoring for a
more rapid advance, that the divinity
that is shaping our ends is working tire
lessly and without intermission, and that
we are making splendid headway in the
of working class emancipation.
It is coming slowly and surely, not with
a crash and instantaneously. but by the
is coming with as much haste as can be
made and no quicker than we can accept
it. AS soon as we are ready to receive
it, improvement and change are ready
for our acceptance.
The dawn of the new day is already
lighting up the top of the higher noun
tains and it is only question Of little
time when the darkest valleys will also
be frightened. Collective action, persist
ency and fuller share of the fruits OF
the tree of knowledge by the workers
will hasten the day and the rising of the
sun, and brighten the beams that will H.
Illuminate the dark places. Because of
this, we must not be discouraged or us
mayed, but keep steadily working In the
direction of the working class solidarity,
and the brighter days that are to come.
Then let us pray mat come 1t may, as
come 1t may for a. that,
That sense and worth, DER a. the earth,
may bear the gree, and a. that.
For a. that, and a. that, it's coming yet,
for a. that,
That man tn man tho wor1a o,or aho =.