The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-05-16

ment advances. Hemmed in on all
sides by oppression, deceit and OPP
position it makes steady progress, and
this progress, slow as it may seem to
some, is marvellous when one stops
to consider that the movement is pure
ly a voluntary one. Men align them
selves with the movement not because
of the assurance that any personal
filiation, but because they have felt
the call of humanity, because they see
the need of cooperation, the need of
unity and concerted action.
Labor unions and unionism are
founded upon the broad base of hui
manity. The principle is neither sell
fish nor narrow. To sum it up in a
word the whole principle is to make
conditions better for the whole people
of the earth and not for few. The
movement denies no one an oppor-
tunity to join it but in reality spends
time, money and energy to get the un
organized into the fold.
What this world would be today
were it not for the organizations of
labor would be sad to contemplate.
Every proposition that has had for its
purpose the elevation and enlighten-
ment, the mental and moral develop
ment of the human race has had the
hearty support and cooperation of the
organizations of labor. It has gone
even further than this. It has not
been content with pointing out con-
ditions which are detrimental to the
happiness and welfare of humanity,
but has gone further in that it has
suggested a remedy and upon nu.
tai in perfecting a permanent cure for
many Of the ills.
While success has crowned the ef-
forts of the movement and we have
travelled long way toward reserving
to ourselves more of that which we
produce still we have far to go. Much
has been attempted, much has been
done, yet there remains so much more
to do.
One of the most disheartening fea-
lures of our work is the lack of ap-
probation on the part of the unor-
ganized. Every benefit they enjoy
increase of wages, betterment of
working conditions, improvement in
sanitary ways, shorter hours, better
legislation-all were gained for them
by the organized labor movement, yet
so unappreciative are these people of
these blessings that they oppose at
every turn the labor movement which
has struggled so increasingly to benefit
them.
What wonderful thing, when one
stops to think of it, is this movement
of ours. Never yet has anyone taken
from it in a personal way one thou
sand part of what he has put into it.
What then holds us to it? What
makes men, and woment, too, give
their all to the movement from which
they neither receive nor expect any
financial return? What makes them
strike and starve and suffer and die
for the cause?
It is the great bond of brotherhood
that binds us round and holds us fast.
II is the love for fellow men. The
labor movement is the great protest
against oppression, wrong and human
suffering-a protest that is being
heard over the civilized world, and,
hearing, the great forces of capital
are taking heed
The labor movement Of the nation
has much to be proud of. The labor
movement of Washington has much of
which be proud. Every state In the
Union points to us as having accom-
plished some of the most advanced and
beneficial legislation ever obtained for
the working people of the state, and
this was accomplished through no
other source than our federation OF
labor backed by the rank and file OF
the movement.
The labor movement is now more
than two million strong. Our prob
lens are not nearly SO perplexing as
they were, and they are going to cease
to be a problem when we meet two
million strong on the political field as
we are doing now on the industrial
field, and it is my earnest desire TO
see this time come soon; when the
working people will begin to legislate
for themselves, and when this is done
greater prosperity and happiness are
ours.
WILLIAM j. COATES,
Secon& vice-President Washington
ST. federation of Labor.