United labor bulletin., 1913-01-30

SUBSTANTIALLY iuentcA. iney are ioohs
ers OF the peace and as most regretable
lean industry.
1T will probably be a surprise to any
one In this state of mind to be told that
each of these organizations holds rad
ically different philosophy on the labor
question. and that they also difier In
the ends at which they aim.
THE aim OF the American Federation
sof Labor is constructive 1t recognizes
that the private ownership OF property
in nu evolution. II. therefore. does not
quarrel with the present industrial sys
tenn. because the Instruments OF produc
ton are In private hands. but II aims
constantly to improve the condition ol
the workers.
"All of this is equally true Of the great
railway brotherhoods in the United
States.
"The Socialist party frankly seeks to
overthrow the present organization o.
industry In private hands and TO substi
tute for II ownership and operation by
+, the state
-As TO how this In to be successfully
done: how the men are TO be discovered
with special gifts for the particular tasks
assigned to them; and how they are 70
be compelled to perform those tasks, un'
der the new order. II reluctant to do 90
the Sociaiis, party is. so far. discreety
silent
Il call the Socialists a destructive
party. ~,
The Industrial Workers of the World
have nm aim which is different from both
the Socialists and the American FEEDER
alton of Labor. Their methods are dit
ferent. The philosophy OF the /. W. w.
is that the agencies of production and
distribution should belong TO the work
inEmen, who. they claim. are the Great
workers should seize them themselves
and operate the agencies OF production
and distribution. To this end they be
-lieye in direct action. as distinguished
from political action. They propose TO
organize the workmen II they can. not
by trades. but. as they say. by indus
tries
This industrial union as they call 1t.
would be a union comprising all the en-
ployes of a given establishment. SO that
in case of a strike the entire establish
ment could be tied up.
.They favor strikes, not for the pur-
pose of improving the condition OF the
workfngmen, but for the purpose OF
breaking down the wage system. They
believe that workmen should deliberate
liz attempt to make production and dis
tribution through private agencies I'M
possible.
workers of the World is destructive. like
the philosophy OF the Socialists. because
before they commence constructive
work. they must first OF all destroy what
is.
..But their aim differs from the aim of
the Socialists. The Socialists wish 10
substitute state ownership for private
ownership, while the Industrial workers
Of the World wish to substitute owner
lpp
capitalists. Against these two destruc-
rkve programs. the American Federation
of Labor and the great railway brother-
hoods 80 far stand like rock.
80 far in America the great body OF
the American Federation OF Labor anu
OF the great railway brotherhoods are
distinctly non-Socialistic. The unceas-
ing effort OF the Socialists In America
and of the Industrial Workers OF the
World, is to change all this. II the EN-
ployers of America wish TO strengthen
themselves they can do SO by working
with the trade unionists to bring con-
stantly improving conditions for their
employees.
"Tbe Socialists and the Industrial
Workers of the World are preaching
everywhere a class struggle. and pro-
claiming from the housetops that the
workman and his employer have no In
terests whatever In common. All honor
to those American workingmen who. In
the face of such persuasion and denunci-
alton, decline to accept the doctrine OF
class struggle, rs II the citizenship OF
tho United States either is or should be
broken up into classes"
In speaking OF the pending trouble be-
tween the locomotive firemen and the
Eastern railroads, Low said:
I'm the pending controversy between
the railroads and the hremen. both sides
are willing to arbitrate all their diner
ences; but the Aremen demand that the
shall be carried on as con.
templated by the Erdman act. 80 that
witnesses may be sworn and perjury
punished II II shall take place; while the
railroads stand for an arbitration such as
was held by agreement with the engin-
eers.
4. an this controversy / think the fire
men are clearly right Whatever may be
tho defects OF the law, law is law; ana
(Continued on Page 81