Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-24

pal PACNSSo LIGNAA " SOSASl- AIN AZ
dustrial justice and specifically to
work increasingly for effective legisla-
ton looking TO the prevention of occu-
pational diseases, overwork, involun-
tary unemployment, and other injuri-
Gus effects incident to modern in
dustry' but nowhere in that long
and comprehensive platform, neither
in its nobly phrased statement Of prin-
ciples, nor its general recommends.
tons, nor in its enumeration of spec
itc measures, can there be found
one word approving the fundamental
right of labor 10 organize, or even
recognizing this right without which
all other grants and concessions for
improvement of the condition of the
workingman are futile. The platform
promises social and industrial justice,
but it does not promise industrial
democracy. The justice which it Of
fers is that which the benevolent and
wise corporation is prone to admins
ter through its welfare department.
There is no promise OF that justice
which free American workingmen are
striving to secure for themselves,
through organization. Indeed, the in
dustrial policy advocated by the new
party would result in the denial of
labor's right to organize.
The new party stands for the per-
petuation and extension of private
monopoly in industry-that private
monopoly from which the few have
ever profited at the expense of the
many, and for the reinforcement Of
which the people have, in the past,
fought so many valiant battles. That
cursed product of despotism, the new
party, proposes to domesticate in our
republic, proclaiming: We do not fear
| commercial power Certainly organ
lied labor has had experience with the
great trusts which should teach all
men that commercial power may be
so great that it is the part of wisdom
to fear it."
The above declaration was made by
Louis d. Brahdeis before the conven-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor, Massachusetts state branch,
at Fitchburg, Sept IS.
Mr.. Brandeis emphasizes the fact
that the coming presidential election
| is of supreme Importance to the work
| ingman, for it is he who suffers most
| from existing abuses. Therefore a
| grave responsibility rests upon the
workingman just now, the duty of con-
. siderthg well for themselves, their
wives, their children and their com
munities what each political party has
to offer. He shows there is one issue
of fundamental and overshadowing
Importance to the workingman-the
question of industrial liberty, or in
dustrial despotism shall there be pri
yate monopoly or competition?
TIL. question Mr.. Brandeis forcibly
/ discusses as its affects the labor prob
lem, and he says: las the real con
test is now between the democratic
party and the new party, shall limit
my discussion to the differences be
tween these two parties OF this is
sue" He declares that the demo
cratic party stands for liberty anC
justice the new party attempts to Sc
cure" He urges a careful study oil
the new party platform, particularly
rs effect upon labor noting not only
what it contains, but what it omits
adding: when you make that exam
ination you will find that there is {
significant omission; and that thi'
skillfuLy devised platform takes from
labor more than il gives"
Mr.. Brandeis then proceeds to lay
bare the labor record of the trusts
declaring that great trusts the
steel trust, the sugar trust. the sca
trust, the tobacco trust, the smelte
trust-and a whole troop of Jesse
trusts-have made the exterminatiul
of organized labor from their factor
les the very foundation stone of thei
labor policy. The ability to defeat la
boris right to combine seems to rs,
been regarded by the trust magnate
as a proper test of the efficiency o
their capitalistic combination"
Mr.. Brandeis shows that in 1879
during the Colorado smeters' strik
the American Smelling and Rehnial
company closed its mills where Ia
strikers had been employed, and trans
ferred the work TO other mills, thu
breaking the strike. The Unite
! States Steel corporation had simiIa
success in 1901 with the Amalgamate
Association of Iron and Steel WORK
ers. Had the association been dea
ing with competing employers, the re
suit would have been different. Tn
: United States steel trust was promp
: in introducing this economy. Jun
Il, 1901, six weeks after it bega
its operation, its executive committe
|, passed this vote which was offered b
Charles Steele, a partner Of Georg
". Perkins in the firm of J. P. Mol
gan & Co:
That We are unalterably oppose
TO any extension of union labor an
. advise subsidiary companies TO TAX
: firm position when these question
come up and say that they are nc
going to recognize it, that is, any e.
tension Of union in mills where the
: do not now exist"