The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-01-27

embrace all industry and govern 1t from
a centralized head is unsafe and un'
sound Employers prefer as well TO deal
directly with men thoroughly convers'
ant with their own industry. And we
must deal with employers. There are
those who think possibly that employ
ers have no rights that labor is bound
to respect Theories again, and very
dangerous ones. When the day comes
and may it hasten-when the workers
shall collectively own the means OF pro-
duct ion and shall receive the product
of their toll, we shall solve this ques-
ton of the rights of employers; but as
long as the present profit system pre-
walls and we must sell our labor to who
ever will buy, We shall find employers
imagining at least that they have rights
and very insistent on their recognition.
Where craft autonomy brings best bar
gains with employers and best harmony
of action among the workers, cling to
it; where an industrial form of organ
ization will yield the best results to the
workers, let rs adopt it.
Personally. ! believe that our indus
try would be better protected and our
organization stronger if we extended
our organization to include every man
who works in and around a single mill.
With the single exception of the engi-
neers--and our international has today
a working agreement with the 1nterna
tional Union of Steam Engineers-not
an international union in the country
would offer single objection. But it
is foolish to decry all craft unions be-
cause some of our unions need to in
dustralize. D the building trades in
my own city need to industralize =?
Through their Building Trades Council,
every building craft. from the one that
carries mortar to the one that paints
AM papers the finished building, works
in harmony. When a job becomes un-
fair to one craft. every craft in the
building industry in our city lays down
its tools.
The Western Federation of Miners,
after nearly Il score of years of the
most gruelling industrial warfare ever
waged by men engaged in organized in.
dustry. has recognized the fact that
there is but one great labor movement
in America. Are We wiser than they?
If | have encroached upon your time
and patience with this lengthy report
| crave pardon. My heart is in the
cause of the man who tolls for his daily
bread in summer heat and winter snow,
and receives as his portion but 1.-THE
of what he produces when to him by
every moral right belongs the whole.
1t is not in a bitter spirit have touched
upon this vital question of organization
and affiliation, for | have no bitter
feelings toward those who honestly diff
fer with me. The good sense and 10y
atty of the members of our craft may
be depended upon to meet every crisis.
All that is needed is to earnestly and
candidly analyzc conditions as they
arise.
Tn conclusion ! want to thank the
members of our organization for a sec
oni time bestowng upon me the high
honor of representing them at the an
nual gathering of labor's great army
trust that We in this convention will be
actnated by desire to do always the
right things, with charity and forbear-
ance for those who disagree with our
personal views. Men have right to
their own opinions and a right to hon
estly differ. As The year of 1911 rolls
by may it find us still united, still ag-
gressive. still doing our share in this
great movement for the moral, economic
and physical betterment of the race.
Fraternally submitted,
r. p. MARSH.