The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-29
BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.


leader in this country, and one of the
vice presidents of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, delivered a splendid
address at the chautauqua last even
ing, his subject being THE Philosophy,
Purpose and Ideals of the Trade I'm
ion Movement"
And, Notwithstanding the terrific
storm which preceded his appearance
and whose effects were something of
a handicap-for Mitchell had a tre-
mendous audience, the largest of this
year-he held his hearers with the
force of his convincing arguments for
the maintenance of the integrity of
the labor union.
Edward Stein, president of the local
Central Labor Union, introduced Mr.
Mitchell after DR.. Davidson, the chau-
tauqua platform manager, had paid
an eulogistic tribute to Mr.. Mitchell,
as man and leader, emphasizing the
fact that Mitchell had done more to
dignity the labor union and to bring
| the employe and employer to realiza-
ton of their inter-dependence than
, any other one agency.
ITO properly understand the pur-
pose and ideals of the labor union
movement" said Mr.. Mitchell in his
start, 1--WE must understand the his
tory of modern industrialism.
'In early times distribution was not
a great factor. Not until the inven-
ton of machinery, the use of steam
and the establishment of the factory
were those conditions created whose
solution has taxed the ingenuity of
society.
"In early times the family produced
everything for it's own use. Today So
ciety is organized on basis of the
interchange of commodities. Through
the agency of money, consumers can
now secure whatever they need or
want. All produce for all instead of
each producing for each.
Changed Business Methods.
"The history of mankind has been
more vitality affected by the changes
in its own methods of doing business
than through any action of govern
ment.
is bad is due to these changes. The
whole evolution from the monotonous
ly simple to the complex and intricate
life of the day is due to the workings
of industrialism.
Whether for veal or woe these
changes were inevitable, and reforms
can only be found in further develop
ment.''
That a separate wage earning class
with separate wage earning ideals
formed the basis of trade-unionism
was the declaration of the speaker.
And that it was essentially a mod
ern manifestation since nothing, with
the exception of the guilds of the mid
die ages, had previously existed to
correspond to this institution.
Modern trade-unionism must. there
! fore, be considered as a product of
modern industrialism and the direct
offspring of the factory system" said
Mr.. Mitchell, going on to say that the
average layman misunderstood it's
purposes from the bewildering array
of rules and regulations through which
it's varying branches were known to
the public.
Since, on account of it's existence in
such a diversity of activities, there
must be a variety of bases of opera
! ton.
! THE complexity of trade unions,
however" continued the speaker, sis
merely the completely of human life
! hox civ nj ho do nj
al principles of an organization, its
rules become complex on account OF
the complexity of present day society,"
The combinations into trade unions
the speaker stated, naturally followed
these complex conditions which made
it practically impossible for the labor
err to act individually and make an
advantageous arrangement with his
employer for the sale of his labor.
Labor, which the workman sells,
said Mr.. Mitchell, lis unlike any other
commodity. And there can be no per
manent prosperity among the wage
earning classes until the principle i!
firmly and fully established that, il
industrial life, the settlement of wag
es, hours of labor and conditions under
which work is done. must be made
between employers and workmen col
lectively.
ut is my firm conviction" stated
!, Mr. Mitchell, at this point, "a convic
ton based upon a lifetime of study
of the industrial system of our coun
try, that the ideal of trade unionisn
u will be attained when a strong organi
cation of labor will find itself face tt
face with an equally strong organiza
ton of employers. The two will thel
meet upon a basis of approximat,
" Inequality. And the equitable contrac
will follow"
- Combination the Idea.
The idea of trade unionism was, tn
speaker stated. to combine in organi
! zation all man emnloyad In ofye,