The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-02-28
The LABOR UNIONS
Most BenefiCent of All Institu.
tons of Mankind.
AID THE POOR AND WEAK.
Organized Labor Has Done Much to
Free Children and Take Women
From Pits and Sweatshops-Why
Combination Is Necessary.

From Pits and sweatshops-Why
Combination is Necessary.
while organized labor is charged
with being Iswless and irrellgious and
is held up to scorn If any individual
makes any misstep, yet 1t has done
more and accomplished more for the
upift of humanity than all other insti-
tutions of today" declares James
O'Connel of Washington. vice presi.
dent of the American Federation of
Labor and the national president of its
metal trades department, in an address
before the Boston Central Labor union
Continuing. Mr.. O'Connell said:
"OrganZed labor is confronted not
alone by the employers and their ex-
tremely peculiar methods. but by a sit
untion which necessitates thought and
action.
"Orgunized labor bodies, as witnessed
by your discussions here today, are
great free forums for the discussion Of
many subjects and for a free express
sion of opinion. and even where great
difference of opinion prevails, as has
on some matters here today, the feel
ing of unity and right of the majority
and fair play rules.
I'm this free country of ours, so called
we labor ntsn and women are confront
ed with judge made laws. Laws on
the statute books which have been
dead for generations are resurrected
only to use against labor unions.
I'VE are held up to the public as op-
posed to American institutions and
Americanism and against all law. We
are painted by our enemies as the one
walking devil on EARTH as men and
organizations always seeking a fight,
always striking, always making trouble
and not always law abiding
ION the other hand, we men of labor
for some reason or other fail to take
steps to set the public and public opin-
ion right on our real motives, our real
work and the benefits that come to the
children of Gods earth solely through
the work and efforts of organized labor
I'VE are quick to find fault with each
other. but seldom do we take the trou-
BILE to tell the public of the wonderful
things we are doing and have accom-
plished and the aims and ambitions of
organized labor.
"In this age Of combina tons, trusts
and syndicates it seems useless to tell
men that they must unite The work
ingmen must unite because combina
tons are the rule of every walk of life.
No financial man. no business man, no
lawyer, no doctor, no student, can to-
day succeed without associating with
men of his walk in life or his line of
endeavor
so the labOring man, no matter how
skilled or unSkilIed. low intelligent or
uninteligent. must associate with the
men of his walk of life and his trade
or else go back.
Labor is charged with every crime in
If a man gets drunk, the union, not the
individual. is charged with it.
But if you compare our mistakes with
hose OF others we have reason to crow.
f the minister goes wrong, if the bank
+ goes wrong. if the business man goes
wrong, you do not hear a public clam
II to tear down the churches or the
,anks or the business houses. Let an
Individual labor man do anything
gainst the law and the cry is Tear
lown the unions; put them out of bust
.ess.'
1T Is done purposely and by a we'll
rganiZed and definite plan expressly
or the purpose of endeavoring to dis
lpt our organizations, the only pro-
ectiOn of the workers. want to again
all your attention to the fact that it is
lone deliberately and with deep,
hrewd motive.
Organized labor Is as much a re
igious movement as any church on
4arth. We stand for all that the church
>tands for. None have stood for the
application of the Golden Rule as does
the trade union. No institution has
stood as much abuse and as much per
Secution as ours.
II am Christian and church men,
Der and regular attendant. But | de-
cleare without fear of contradiction
that no institution In our time has done
so much to free children, to take wom-
en from the pits and sweatshops as
ours.
I'VE work slowly, but surely, and soon
we will have secured other legislation
to further benefit the world and put
more children in school. Soon we will
cleanse the statute books Of that I'M
holy law of injunction which has made
it possible for the homes of workers
to be seized and under which you right
here are suffering injustices daily"