Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-06-13
WORKINGMEN, UNITE
Learn Lesson from Worldwide Labor Movenen,
(By Morris HlIlquit)

- HE labor movement all over the
world is, one the whole, uniform
in its aims and weapons. AS
the movement itself was produced by
historic necessity; SO its weapons
were forged for it in its involuntary
struggles. But with all that, the
movement of each country presents
special and distinguishing features in
the form of it's organization and
methods of action. In some countries,
notably those of the Anglo-Saxon races
the economic organization Of the
workers predominates, in others, such
as Germany and Austria, the political
struggle is the paramount factor of
the labor movement. Belgium and in
the Scandinavian countries, .botn
movements are practically merged in
one
The labor movement of each coun-
try reflects the special economic and
social conditions of the country, and
the historical development and nation
al temperament of it's people. The
movement of each country, in spite OF
its general uniformity differs some
what in character and appearance
from that of every other country but
in NO case is the difference probably
so great as st is between the labor
movement of the United States and
that of the rest of the world.
There are certain distinct and i'm
portant featues in the labor move
ment of Europe which are absent
from our movement here.
The most notable of these features
is the unity of the movement. The
workers of Europe realize that the
economic and political struggles OF
the working class are but two phases
of the same movement, and what is
more, they recognize that the distinc
ton between these two forms Of strng
gle is more artificial than real.
Whenever workers seek to reduce
their hours of labor, or to improve
their shop conditions BY the strength
of their trade organizations, whether
by means of strikes or voluntary
agreements, they are engaged in an
economic movement whenever they
seek to attain the. same ends by
means of legislative enactment, they
enter upon the political field. The
difference between the two phases Of
the labor movement is one of form
| and degree rather than of substance
and kind. The economic battles Of
the workers are usually confined tc
one establishment or industry, while
their political struggles, as rule
extend to their entire class or some
| important division of it. But both
serve the same general aim-the bet
terment of the toilers; they are con
Quoted by the same class of people
the workers, and they encounter the
same opposition-that of the in.
ltrenched interests of the employing
classes. They are both equally essen.
tial to the cause of labor.
The workers of Europe have long
recognized this truism, and have or,
gained themselves politically as well
as industrially. In some countries,
such as England and Belgium, one
organization, a labor party performs
both functions; in others the work
ers maintain separate organizations
for the economic phase of their strug-
giles, the trade unions, and separate
one for their politics, the Socialist
parties. In the latter instance Social
ism is frankly recognized as a wing
of the labor movement equal in i'm
portance to that Of individual organi-
cations, and the closest harmony and
cooperation prevails between them.
A condition of antagonism between
the trade union movement and the
Socialist movement, such as some
times exist in this country is almost
unthinkable in Europe.
Another distinguishing feature Of
the European workers is their class
consciousness. But l do not mean
class hatred. The "class conscious
they find this economically more and