The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-07-06

thanks for the proof of your pam
Dhlet and the expression of your
confidence in my fairness. L haye
read the outline OF the work and
PLANS Of your Federation with great
interest. particularly those portions
which relate to the attitude of your
organization towards the labor move
nent and its problems, and as you
rightly predicted. it does not meet
with my approval.
1t would be difficult to find two
other movements SO diametricalIy
opposed to each other in principle
and methods as are those represent
ed by the National Civic Federation
and the Socialist Party. Both move
lrents have their inception in the
struggles between capital and labor.
but here their similarity ends. The
Socialists consider these struggles
as inseparably inherent in the pres
ent form of industrial organization.
They contend that under system o.
private and competing Industries
there is and always must be con-
llict OF economic interests between
the workers and their employers
The smaller the workers. wages, the
larger the employers profits, hence
the employer in the natural course
Of business always strives to secure
the utmost labor for the leas: pay.
while the worker as naturally
strives to sell his labor for the larg-
est price obtainable. This strife is
a chronic social disease, ever present,
ever active. The Labor Union and
the Employers Association are it's
permanent organized forms; the
strike and the lockout, the boycott
a"d the blacklist are only the synrp-
toms of it's acuter phases. IT IS a
fight to finish and one of the two
-tcntending sides must ultimately win
ou-. The final victory of capital
would mean universal enslavem mt
and national dccadence, the TRIUMPH
or labor would mean social harmony
and progress. The Socialists, there
fore, frankly and unreservedly ally
themselves with the forces of labor
in all its struggles against capital
They seek TO increase the fighting ct
fic;eJ ry of the workers by educating
them to a sense of their class Soli-
larity and by organizing them 1n.o
4 compact. independent and class
conscious body, industrially aad po-
ILLEGALLY.
The National Civic Federation
en- the other hand, regards the st-Tg-
giles between the workers and their
employers as purely incidental, as
results of deplorable misunderstand-
ings. Its social philosophy is base
upon an assumed harmony of in
tt' ests between the two classes to-
gether, to patch UP their differences.
to cover up their struggles. This is
the express function Of your Indus
trial Cancellation, Industrial Eco
monies and Employers Welfare De-
partments, and the implied pur-
pose of your annual harmony din
nerS.''
The game played by the Civic Fed
Grafton is the shrewdest yet devised
by the employers of any country. 1t
takes nothing from capital it gives
nothing to labor, and does it all with
such an appearance of boundless
generosity. that some of the more
guileless diplomats in the labor
| movement are actually overwhelmed
by it.
Take your stand on Workmen :
Compensation. 1t is characteristic
of your federation. The pamphlet
| of which YOU have been kind enough
| to send me the proof, summarizes
| the SUBJECT in the following language:
ITO all employers of labor it is
| of the highest Importance that q
fair and equitable compensation law
be placed upon the statutes of oul
various industrial States in place o.
| the present liability laws. IF THIS
| is NOT DONE. THE WORKING
| MEN WILL. INSIST ON LEGISLA
| TON WHICH WILL SWEEP AVA
ALL THE DEFENSES OF THE EN-
| PLOIER. leaving him at the mere!
| of jury decisions in suits pressed b.
| shyster. ambulance-chasinE law
| yers.''
What is really meant by this elo
quent and touching admonition i
| about this: The workers of thi
country have recently begun to shov
lsiens of revolt against our barbara
system of law, which practicall
gives them no redress for injurie
sustained in the course of their EN-
ployment. They are discussing an
Terminating demands for radical leg
islative reforms on this subject. an
there is danger that this Agitation
may give rise to powerful labo
movement along Socialist lines T
forestall this dire possibility tn
| watchful Civic Federation has ra Fl