The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-04-25
BEGINNING OF A BETTER ERA.
Organized labor's Campaign For I'M
proved Conditions Already Bearing
Fruit-Sucoess Attending Work of
American Federation of Labor.

proved Conditions Already Bearing
Fruit-Sucoess Attending Work of
American Federation of Labor.
The story of the steel worker has
been told again and again until all of
its lurid horror and pathos has been
brought home to those who would lis
ten. Even the traveller passing one Of
these great Industrial centers catches
glimpse Of scenes that might serve
as illustrations for Dante's Inferno"
The twelve hour day, the seven day
week, the grinding, killing toll, the
wages that, while they do not starve
she worker, condemn him to a misera-
BILE existence and old age that creeps
upon the workers at forty have been
the burden of many stories Though
there Is most obvious need of improv-
Ing conditions among these steel work
ers, the problems involved In any plan
are many and tbmplex. SO wisely
have the managers Of the steel corpo-
ration planned to prevent cooperation
Of workers that the assemblage In their
mills is like the meeting Of many ma
dons-a most complete execution of
their publicly declared policy In favor
of foreign workers. This modern tow
er Of Babel breeds confusion and isola-
ton of workers because of the separa-
ton arising because Of many tongues
These strangers TO our land take such
employment as is offered them, often
accept conditions intolerable to Ameri-
can workmen and live In way abbor
rent to American standards. They do
the drudgery, risk the hazards of In
dustries, sacrifice health, life or limb,
that wealth may be increased. Their
ignorance Of our language and GUS
toms makes them the involuntary vic
Tins of predatory interests. When
these conditions become established,
customi and practices fixed and ac-
cep.ed, a mighty wrench and Jar are
necessa y to cause the individuals to
break loose and assert themselves, the
Srst step necessary for betterment
Impelled by the necessity to improve
the conditions which the steel workers
have too long endured and recognizing
the necessity to jar loose and readjust
the relations Of the steel workers to
the corporation, the purpose Of the first
stage of the organizing campaign inau-
gurated by the American Federation
of Labor was to attempt to rouse them
90 realities, to make them feel the
power that is theirs IL they will but
use 1t and to make them measure the
difference between present conditions
and those prevailing In better organ
ized industries. Ambition must be
reused and the spirit quickened before
these oppressed toilers will demand So
cial and industrial justice. before they
realize what are their rights.
In different ways organized labor has
been carrying the message OF liberty
and independence to those who recent
ly came from lands where these con-
cepts were unknown industrially, po-
litically or socially The organizers
concentrated on the field are chosen
from many races. The special litera-
ture for the campaign has been trans
lated into many languages. AT the
different steel centers the work has
been quietly, persistently and steadily
carried on. Steadily and insistently
the agents and forces of trade union
ism have been bringing the steel work
ers into contact with American ideals
and American practices. Organized la
Dor now, as always, is the one fnstttu-
ton that aims and tends to convert
foreign workmen into American citi-
zens. This campaign is already begin
ming to give evidence of gratifying re-
suits, although not quite a year has
elapsed since our warning to the steel
producers to rouse them from dreams
OF peace and absolute conquest of la
Dor organizations. Recently came the
break-the first outward manifestation
OF the rift in the old regime At Ran
kin and Braddock the men exercised
their rights as free workers and struck.
In the strike that followed the steel
corporation managers were true to all
their old time practices and methods
for crushing any indication Of inde-
pendence on the part Of the toilers.
Then, realizing the seriousness Of start
ing movement that might cause an
upheaval and a revolution in the In
dustry throughout the length and
breadth of the land, the employers
granted" an increase In wages. In
the mills affected the men went back
TO work.
The increase In wages Is but the be-
ginning of better era It is the ini-
tial benefit resulting from the cam
paign Of agitation, education and or
ganization. Without that campaign
the increase would never have been
granted AS individuals the workers
are incapable OF maintaining their
rights against the great corporations.
In their organized capacity even the
corporations recognize that unless JUS
tice and honest dealings are accorded
q time of reckoning would surely come
upon them.
The campaign continues apace In the
steel industry. But this is only part
Of the greater movement to educate,
srganize and uplift all foreign labor
within the country. The American
Federation of Labor is entering upon
the 1iaantic yet necessary taglkanf