Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-08-28
THE motive
Fuller, Purer and Happier Lives
for ToiIers Through the
Strength Of Organ
iZation.
> HE climax of the spectacu'

0 lar is the parade.
The elimination of the an
niversary OF celebration is
the long train of marchers
rejoicing over victories. The most I'M
pressive tribute to a Man is the march
with him to his tomb. 4
Labor has victories to celebrate,
gains to rejoice over, tribute to pay.
The work of the labor movement has
been mainly along three lines: ln1u-
encing of public opinion, legislative
| effort. and the direct Improvement of
the labor conditions Of its members.
This last line of work has absorbed
most of it's time and energy, and its
success has been gratifying, though
not SO great as it might have been had
its efforts been directed against the
causes instead Of the effects, writes
Henry Sterling, in Joe Chapple's News
Letter.
Nearly every humane measure on
any statute book in any land Is the
outcome Of intense, ~protracted strug'
gle. Each was suggested first by Ia
boring men and women, generally IN
a labor union. Churches have pre-
pared men for another world, but labor
unions have sweetened life in this
The press, the politician, the court, the
philanthropist have all worked inrtheil
own way for the uplift of humanity
the unions have taken millions of chill
dren from blighting toll and sent then
to school, and that is the only effectua
means of uplift.
Low wages, and fear of idleness ant
want, drive men to long hours OF labo.
that exhaust them physically, moral!
and spiritually. Again, fear OF loslnl
a job induces a species of servility,
submission to petty tyranny and exac
tons, that is wholly foreign to a mar
ly spirit. Ready, prompt, cheerful
obedience to proper orders is a virtu
that becomes a man., but he who's
necessities compel submission to IL
dignity and imposition is a pitiable OF
ject indeed.
4Retter wages. hours and labor col
ditions are the things essential for
better civilization. The union make
no mistake when 1t demands them.
The unions have said that wages al
too low to live properly; the result
: an increase Of a million dollars a da,
They said that the working day wa
I too long, that we lacked TIME for e
| ucation or recreation. The hours
e labor are being rapidly reduced, NJ
t only for union men, but for all men.
= The conditions, sanitary and othe
wise, under which humanity toiled, 6
ways inhuman, often indecent =
boris protest has brought about son
Improvement, and promise of NOR
il Laws to protect labor, especially CHI
r and woman labor, and to promote
8 welfare, now fill volumes. Fifty yea
i. ago a small pamphlet would affo'
a space for them all.
r. This year we have made provisl'
for the care Of every man injured
o his work, and for the support Of !
family. When we consider that the
is at least one worker killed In Mass
chusetts at his labor every day, a
nearly two hundred injured, we &C
a. ceiye that we have done a great wo
d in assuring them against want.
], These are some of the things Will
70 we have accomplished, and 1t is fifth
that we should set aside a day to ce
brate victories, rejoice over our gal
and gather renewed strength a
m cheer for future battles.
ID But all these achievements are SIN
rs compared to one now becoming me
~ and more apparent. VIZ are conqu
r. ing public opinion. awakening the c.
4. science of the people to the justice
our demand for greater means, mn
leisure and better conditions Of lab
We in order that we may enjoy larg
fuller, broader, happier lives.
The largest, freest opportunity
at the humblest worker to bring out
~ best that is in him, absolute just
the full product Of his labor. equal
OF opportunity--these are some Of
aims Of organized labor, and La
W, day, with its parades and rest, G.
I'm brates their partial attainment
he May the Labor day soon come wi
those who live without labor 81
he realize that they Ave upon labor!