Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1911-07-27
Plate Workers International PROTECTIVE Association d Al

! condemnation of the manner and
Ethis opportunity to express my utter
methods used b1 the United States
that believe The steel corporation
its employees, and say right there
Steel corporation in its treatment of
has made a fetal mistake in fighting
as it has the Organizations of It's men.
saThe ideals of trades unionism is to
combine all the men employed at q
given trade INTO single organiza-
ton. and to secure for them uniform
wages. even hours of employment and
better working conditions. By this
we do not mean an equal wage for all
men. but wage forsall commensurate
with labor performed. Labor union
ism stands for.
First wage enabling men and
women to live according to American
standards.
eSesond All eight hour day.
"Third sfslation against child
labor.
aFourth Laws providing for safe
guards to laboring men employed at
DANGEROUS work. and proper compen-
sation for those who are injured
while SO performing their duty.
aFifth Sanitary living conditions
"Sixth, and last-A guarantee of our
constitutional rights az American
citizens, of the fundamental rights of
trial by jury, 8 free press, and free
dom Of speech and conscience.
"The first amendment to the consti-
tuition Of the United States of Am err
lea provides and guarantees us free
! dom OF conscience and the right to
each man to worship God as he shall
see fit, And warn you, that if at
tempts are made now to infringe on
this right of free speech and a free
press. attempts will be made eventual
" to subdu free conscience.
gree speech, as we mean and un-
derstand it, does not mean that a man
shall not be held responsible for what
he says nor that as writer shall be
held blameless for what he writes, but
that il they are called to account, that
they shall be balled constitutionally,
and shall be giVen fair opportunity for
their defense.
Taii<s Sn Strikes.
sIn CHS connection, wish to make
few remarks concerning 4 matter
in which / am personally interested
and which personally concerns myself.
Gompers, Morrison and myself nave
been led into court to defend ourselves
on a charge Of contempt Despite the
fact that the supreme court OF the
Unitd States has stated that we have
won our. case and won our contention,
we must go again before court upon
the same charge. I say right here
that shall not yield my constitutional
and fundamental right to speak ~ de-
Tense Of labor, regardless OF what
tribunal shall attempt to infringe up
ON or deny that right.
ssTo understand what is meant by q
strike and justifiable strike, it is
necessary that you understand what
a strike is. A strike is merely q
method Of bargaining. It is beneficial
bargaining, for by those means, labor
not only gains what it demands and
secures what 1t asks, but labor and
eaDital are brought more in touch one
with another, and this intercourse
leads eventually to a better under
standing between both employed and
employer,
ssThe principle Of strike simply Is
that until wages and conditions under
which men shall work are fully un-
derstood by and agreed upon by EN-.
ployer and employed, by capital and
| bv labor. the wheels OF an industry
shall not turn.
nThe statement is often made, and
YOU hear it advanced as a stereotyped
argument against strikes, that the laD-
oring men lose more In month, dur
| ing q strike than they can make IN
years. This belief and argument is
inherently wrong, because it is incom-
plete. 1t is anuapplication of the rule
and doctrine and dollars and cents to
matter of living and earning. 1t is
merely the monetary consideration IN
| volved.
ssThe American revolution was a
strike. If it had not been for that
| strike. Wheeling and the Ohio Valley
would today be celebrating the coro.
nation Of a king of England. instead
81 celebrating the anniversary OF the
declaration Of Independence.
uThere is more to strike than a
mere matter of wages or conditions.
The main point at issue is principle.
Even IL a strike is lost, a principle
has been won.
Couseis Peace.
sOf late there has grown up wide
snread belief that riots and disorder,
| injury and bloodshed are necessary
adiuncts to a strike. If such acts are
committed, whether they be by labor
or by its sympathizers, they should be
and are visited by the disapproval OF
| the public. If I believed that success
ST 4 strike in which / was involved
depended on violence, would not hes
tate a moment in severing my con.
nection with the organization that
condoned such. hold the fundamental
lbeIief that violence in connection with
: strike should not be cOndoned by Ia,
boring men, but condemned, and IN
| the strongest terms.
st is necessarily admitted on al
sides that strikes are attended BY
great loss and sacrifice, and by great
suffering, but as to developments TO
labor unions and the ultimate advance
= $50 - so .Ts.i,rnin1as advocated they