The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-03-07
The LABOR UNIONS
Most Beneficent of All lnstitu.
lions 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.


Free Children and Take Women
From Pits and Sweatshops-Why
Combination Is Necessary.
while organized labor is charged
with being lawless and irreligious and
is held up to scorn If any individual
makes any misstep, yet 1t has done
more and accomplished more for the
uplift of humanity than all other insti
tutions % today" declares James
O'Connell 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'Connel said
Organized labor is confronted not
alone by the employers and their ex-
tremely peculiar methods, but by sit
uatiun which necessitates thought and
action.
Organized labor bodies, as witnessed
by your discussions here today, are
great free forums for the discussion of
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.
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 OPP
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.
We 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 combinations. trusts
and syndieates it seems useless to tell
men that they must unite. The work
ingmen must unite because combina
lions 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.
80 the laboring man. no matter how
unintelligent must associate with the
men of his walk of life and his trade
or else go back.
Labor is charged with every crime In
the calendar Ifa striker is arrested,
if a man gets drunk. the union. not the
individual. Is charged with it.
But If you compare our mistakes with
those or others we have reason to crow.
II the minister goes wrong, If the bank
ar goes wrong. If the business man goes
wrong. yon do not hear a public clam
n TO tear down the churches or the
Banks or the business houses. Let an
individual labor man do anything
against the law and the cry is Tear
down the unions; put them out of bust
UeSs.
1t Is done purposely and by well
organized and definite plan expressly
for the purpose of endeavoring to dis
rupt our organizations, the only pro
| lection of the workers. | want to again
call your attention to the fact that it is
done deliberately and with Il deep.
Shlewd motive.
"OrganiZed labor Is as much a re
ligious movement as any church on
earth We stand for all that the church
application of the Golden Rule as does
the trade union. No institution has
stood as much abuse and as much per
secution as ours.
Il am Christian and church mem
Der and regular attendant But ! de-
cleare without fear of contradiction
that 10 Institution in our time has done
so much to free children. to take WON
Ell 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
1t possible for the homes Of workers
to be seized and under which you right
here are suffering injustices daily"
Discontinue of Mr.. Post.
There can be no doubt that the suit