The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-06-13

reasons for complaint against work
men: for seeking wholesome wages by
combinations, when they themselves
are using the same means to advance
interests already in the foreground?
The employers combine under ad-
vantageous conditions of trade-they
should not complain, against work
men combining to resist disadvantage
Gus conditions. :: & -.
Must Uphold Standard
The workman stands on slippery
incline. Many: men are below him Of
inferior productive power and lower
standard Of living sgradualy leading
to utter destitution.= For instance, If
intelligent and Industrious workmen
were left to themselves they could
easily maintain their own ground; but
as q matter of fact they are exposed
to the undertaking of all beneath
them: His<life is thus turned into a.
fearful struggle, not so much for to
attain success as it is.to avoid failure.
Here the trade union comes to- his,
relief. It lightens.!' the. downward
pressure and the workman is placed
in possession Ief himself. Political
economy. seeing these cunfavorable
conditions of labor under free compe-
titfon, and not willing to reject the
competition, predicted for the work:
man a constant approach to extreme
poverty certain number more or less
standing on the verge of life. Labor
has thus been assigned; in this world
position ;of constant feebleness, Of
appalling danger: The workman has
therefor invoked the aid of trade
unions egainst the warfare of fate.
With collective activity we have taken
our fate in our own hands and in
stituted resistance, on the one hand
against the, aggression of capital. on
the other against the weakness of our
fellows.
As a trade union we simply say
that such conditions cannot be toler-
ated. We wage our battles, push
back the defeat prepared for US, and
plant ourselves on labor's own record
and will suffer no man to evoke it at
his pleasure Not only is the trade
union a benefit to the welfare of the
workman. but also to the welfare of
the community. doubt that the past
hundred years can show any other
organizations of equal influence in
shaping the future.
Poverty has increased
Look to our large cities; see the ac-
emulation Of wretchedness, vice and
misery so conspicuously shown
through slum districts. Civilization
hitherto has miscarried. If prosperity
has increased, poverty has increased
with it. -:
OF course we do not suppose that
we have found trades unions rem
edy for such conditions. There are
too many evils scattered among or
through the sources Of humanity for
such a thought. let vice. ignorance,
extreme poverty $40 together and
strengthen each other, though no one
of them is the sole: cause OF each
other: Poverty inSfeases the motives
to vice and occasions misfortunes
which sweep mon away in masses.
In human history to stand for the
unfortunate Is to stand for ourselves.
To stand for ourselves Is to stand for
the unfortunate. -,
The trades unions have found this
to be true. Ever and anon. conditions
in the struggle OF life have given US
experience from which we. have
learned the lesson. It.. may. take
centuries to settle the reasoning, but
the time to come will be occupied
with it until it is settled.