The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-09
LABOR NOTES or
WIDE INTEREST
The Road To Betterment.

The greatest power making for in
dustrial peace is a strong organization
lof the workers. union working for an
Immediate, definite, constructive pro-
lgram, able to make agreements with EN-
lployers and responsible for their enforce
ment. Social betterment, economic bet
Iterment, human betterment are not some
vageu ideal, some visionary existence de-
tached from all existing conditions, but
are a definite goal toward which all
progress tends. While the goal is form
ulated for to-day and tomorrow, it is
constantly changing, growing, as we are
able to conceive of better things and
greater progress. An organization, well
conducted, elf-disciplined, moves stead
| lily, definitely onward, impelled by a
healthy discomfort Such movement
not only makes sure that wrong ex-
lists, but makes sure that the tactics
and policy adopted to remedy this will
result in some permanent gain. Such
an organization does not rush into,a con-
test which merely rouses resentment and
bitterness and leaves the workers brok
en- and crushed in spirit, heartsick and
perhaps desperate, each to make what
terms he or she can with the employer
Permanent betterment can only be at
tanned progressively by aiming at GER
tain definite ends, realizing these and
then from this vantage ground striving
for yet more and more.
There is no more pernieious theory
tran that by which some leaders are
trying to poison the minds and hearts |
of workers wha trust them-the theory |
that nothing can be gained except |
through violence and destruction; that |
the old order must be oyerthrown before |
changes of any value can be effected; |
that benefits come from dreamland amt
cloud material and are not of the real
stuff of life. These leaders who thus
betray those whose confidence they have
won, roam abroad in the land, bent upon
stirring up useless strife and violence
and infiaming the passions of those
wronged to inaugurate reign of ter
ror that will put fear of the workers
into the hearts OF the employers. Now
there is fear that is wholesome, but
4 is not OF this origin. 1t is fear found
ID on just, sane principles and honorable
iealings. 1t is what a well known pub
icist descrbrh tiais: Fear will often
let as a corrective of the purely self !
~H Impulse 10 tdkt advantage VI lut
,ther fellow. 1t makes an employer far
ess likely to grind down his labor, 1t
makes the leaders of labor far less like
v to be other than conservative in their
demands. The fear of God is fine thing
n the hearts of all men tie fear of
rade agreement is fine thing in the a
carts of all employers and the hearts
1 all employed a
Often have we heard the non-union t
sorker say, Labor unions never did h
ne any good Well, isn't it just as
Dnsistent for the unionist to say, "Non-
nionists never did me any goodP If =
nythng, isn't il true and far more fore 3
BE to charge the vagrant element with !.
eing the hirelings of Others to break !,
ne power and good of organized labor :
oes that element ever aid and assist 5
he families Of those who are in battle !.
gainst industrial oppression Is not !
union card better friend to either 7
transient or resident worker who APP :
sals for employment or the necessaries y
life than the one who steps in to :,
,cept and barely subsists upon meager Z
ages and Yields to the denial of con !"
itutional social, political, civil and in - =,
istrial rights! :,
Maryland Governor Goldsborough has !,
pointed c. Norman Stiegelman mem ~ -
i Of the Baltimore Typographers' un- - -
n. as well as member of the Balti- =
ore Federation of I.abor's legislative g.
mmittee: Frederick w. Wood, presi- =, -
Mt of the Maryland Steel CO.; David J. " ~.
wis. representative from the sixth = =
aryland district, a coal miner; and -
,orge Whitelock and J. Walter Lord, ~
to serve upon a commission =
to investigate the subjects
employers liability and workmen's
mpensation. ST.
Co
The threatened strike of miners en- Co
Eyed in the New River coal field, West stl