The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-07-05
EVIL OF FACTIONS
Division of Forces WeakenS
Cause of Labor.
STRENGTH ALONE m UNITY.

Splits In Workingmen's Organizations
Cannot Be Logically Justified-Ois-
sensions Only Aid the Enemy-SeIf
! Preservation Demands Solidarity.
OF course every faction seeks to keep
in stock a shop worn set Of alleged
excuses for its failure to get in line
with the big family of unions, but none
Of them will stand analysis, because
no logical reason can be given TO Just1-
fy any split in labors ranks.
Quarrels over personal opinions or
ambitions are personal affairs and
should not affect the attitude of the
workers toward the labor movement,
nor should they prevent the workers
from fully realizing the value and the
necessity of unity.
The moment a group Of workers an
nounce their independence Of the gen
eral labor movement they convict
themselves of being either ignorant or
filed with selfishness of the narrow
type that hopes to secure some tempo
rary trivial advantage for a select few
at the expense of the many.
The desire to hold office Is perhaps
the most common cause Of factions
among unions, but it is not a good rea-
son.
The labor cause is of vastly more i'm
portance than any individuals in it,
and when any alleged labor man ad-
vocates division Of the forces of labor
it is pretty clear that such a man holds
his opinions and selfish interests as of
more Importance than the cause and
that be is unworthy of support
Such differences Of opinion as may
exist between members of labor I'M
ions as to correct union laws or policy
should always be settled within the
union and never be made pretext for
factionalism.
When differing opinions are discuss
ed within the union the discussion is
educational and beneficial because the
constant grinding of one intellect
against another is broadening in its
effect, serves to put the adherents on
probably will result in correct action.
But If the union splits, each faction
being composed of men who think
alike, it deprives both factions Of the
educational effect which can only come
through debate, Thus there is lost not
only the unity essential to success, but
also the broad educational influence of
discussion based upon divergent opin
ions.
Imagine that members of a union
seek to make some change in union
rules or laws and when defeated they
secede They were very sure they
were right, but when they seeded they
took all the adherents of their pet re-
form out of the union and left the IN
ion to the unreformed. Now, assum-
ing they were really right, If they had
stayed in the union they would surely
prevail in the end Thus secession or
factionalism not only tends to render
the union weak, but to deprive it of
the benefits of suggestions Of reform,
some of which might be valuable and
might finally be adopted
And labor needs unity now more
than ever before, in spite of the prog
ress that has been made, because our
opponents are becoming better organ
lied and because the pay envelope is
not keeping pace with the increased
cost of living.
The old saying that there is a time
for everything" does not apply to
splits in the forces of labor because
there is no time appropriate for labor
to split.
Bear and forbear in the discussion
of your differences, but preserve unity.
Say to yourself, to nonunionists and
to independent factionalists that labor
has no time to spend in factional dis
cussions except to unite the factions
that have already been created and
that the time to unite is now.-Amal-