The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-11-09
|SOClAL CONDITIONS AND TRADE UNIONS
BY CHARLES STELZLE.

The trades union is always judged by
its worst deeds; and, not only that
1t Is judged by worst deeds Of it's
worst enemies, although these enc
mics may be found within the ranks
of organized labor itself. ..~->>
In all fairness the labor union
should be permitted to present its
own ideals. The obligation taken by
the man who becomes q member OF
the trade. union is as follows: I'VE
are pledged to the emancipation OF
our class from poverty, Ignorance and
sel1shness; to be respectful in word
and action to every woman; to be
constderate to the widow and the or
phan, the weak and the defenseless;
and never to discriminate against a
felloW-wOrker on account of creed,
scolor or nationality. To defend free
dom OF thought, whether expressed
by tongue or. pen. To educate our
selves and our fellow-workers in the
history Of the labor movement. We
promise that we will never knowingly
wrong brother or see him wronged,
If in our power to prevent it. We will
endeavor to subordinate every selfish
impulse to the task of elevating the
material, intellectual and moral con-
ditions of the entire laboring class"
In an address delivered before the
Commercial clubs of Chicago, ST..
Louis, Cincinnati and Boston, Frank
lin MacVeagh, large employer Of
labor in Chicago and formerly secre-
tary of the treasury, said: 'Unionism
SO so much power for good and SO
many possibilities of evil that it must
not be dealt with by employers as
a mere enemy. It is childish to think
that We can abolish labor unions. The
public opinion of all nations has ac-
copied them as fixtures. We must de-
velop, not abolish, them. And the
responsibility anywhere in the world,
must assume distinct share Of the
responsibility for the increase of their
usefulness and for the correction OF
their faults. And we come long way
toward progressive unionism when
ever employers deal with them as
friends. The chief requirement. after
all, is that We shall believe that la.
Dor unions are indispensable to the
advancement of mankind and the
growth of civilization, for therein
lies their profoundest claim, and that
is why the labor movement must
not rest wholly upon the shoulders
of the workingman, but is a RESPONSE
biltty of yours and mine.''
It cannot be conceived that mod
ern industry will be carried on sue
cessfully If employers assume that
they have g. right to offer whatever
wages workfngmen must be given u
right to bargain with the employer in
these matters. 1t is manifestly i'm
possible in the present stage of in
dustrial development for each indi-
vidual workingman to make his own
bargain. The workers must deal COL
lectively with the corporation. AS
conditions Of trade and methods OF
work have been so thoroughly stand
it will; be to the advantage of
the employer as we'll as TO the men
If the Representatives of all the men
can bargain with the representatives.
Of all the employers.
The trades union is eager to have
employers form strong organizations
of their own, 50 that they may deal
with responsible persons in their
business transactions. The labor
problem resolves itself into question
Of the equitable distribution of the
products of industry. This is dis
tinctly a moral issue; and for this
reason, the church must have an i'm
portant part in its solution.