The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-09-11
union oPPOsERs.
Enemies That AssaiI Labor With
in Its Own Ranks.
RETARD WORKERS. PROGRESS
Types of Toilers Who Obstruct the
Modern Labor Egotism
and Ignorance Prevent Solidarity Of
Workingmen.

and Ignorance Prevent Solidarity OF
Workinemen.
Three enemies the labor organization
has within its own ranks-ignorance
malice and indifference for reasons OF
laziness. egotism or pride. The latter
enemy is the worst of all
Ignorance keeps large number of
! workers away from the labor organiza
lions. They are the victims of a social
order of things which does not sutii
GENTLY arouse their mental gifts and
which Intentionally misleadS them
The barriers thus erected could not
even be overcome by the modern labor
movement Here we have the element
which unconsciously Injuries the labor
organization. That element may be
pitied, but at the same time 1t must
be enlightened and educated.
The second group-that of the ma
licious and i'll intentioned-is composed
of conscious opponents of the organ
lied workers, of lickspittles and de
nunciating, strike breaking servants OF
capitalism, who. at the expense of their
fellow workers. seek to gain personal
advantages Tor themselves. To GER
tain extent they are also victims OF
existing conditions, of a wrong educa-
ton, which permitted their bad dis
position to develop and made them the
tool of their low instincts. They force
the weak character, the demoraliZed
! tn int, hA inf Of i-
class, just to satisfy his own selfish
ness, his own egotism. These ele-
ments are being dragged more and
more into the mire. TO protect them
selves against these elements is the
natural right, yea, the duty of all
workingmen who are fully awake as
to their responsibility as champions
of culture and civilization.
Both groups, those of the ignOran;
{ and of the malicious, would be much
less dangerous to the modern labor
movement, they would be less effec-
| tive obstacle in the path of progress. if
! there did not exist another, Il third
group of unorganized workers who
| have remained outside of the labor
movement on account of their indiffer
ence for reasons of laziness, egotism
or foolish pride. If this group did not
exist the strike breaking heroes"
would not play such an important part
| The existence of the latter group has
made out of the two other groups an
important if not q decisive factor.
The members of the last named
Dft h,. ,Npt I,, I,I,
CARNATIONS are not prompted in their
actions by ignorance. The reasons
which prevail with them are of a per-
sonal, egotistical nature. One is afraid
to incur the dislike of the boss. or he
fears trouble in his family; the other
hates to spend the few cents for dues.
and the third one deems it below his
dignity to join the organization of his
trade, He imagines that he is such a
splendid fellow that he is well able to
paddle his own canoe.
But there are others where it is very
difficult to convince them and win
them over to our cause. They consider
themselves as the smartest of all the
smarties II do not need the union
Self do. self have. Everybody must
know how to take care of himself"
Others again state in the most easy
going and simple manner that they
can save the money which they would
have to spend as members of an or
! ganiZation. and they give you the icon
vincing figures" as to how much they
will be able to save.
Others again contend-and they claim
that it is their most deep rooted con
viction-that the organization is not
revolutionary enough for them. They
| think that they have got the real dope
/ The world moves entirely too slow for
| them Through figures or difficult agi-
/ tation for the organization nothing can
! be accomplished For it and at it,
ought to be the battlecry of the work
ers. They maintain that it is foolish
! and cowardly to refrain from ordering
| a strike or to first weigh every posi-
bility of winning or losing a battle
| where the workers are not completely
organized
/ Taken as a whole they are all alike.
! They suffer from deficiency in soil
/ darity, and behind all of their talk
nothing but pure and simple egotism
/ is hidden. And they all are equally
/ guilty of a great crime against the
welfare of humanity in its entirety
Labor would have already accomplish
ed many things, it would have sue
ceeded in many of its demands If the
Indifferent workers had belonged to
the organization, which would have
given them and the organization more
strength and more respect. And the
outcome of many movement would
have been more favorable to the work
ers If the smarties and big mouths had
not weakened the labor organization
by remaining away from it, To their
account is largely to he credited the
arrogance and insolence on the part
of the employers To sum mp: What