The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1914-08-21
RETARD WORKERS PROGRESS.


Workinsmen.
Three enemies the labor organization
has within It's own ranks-ignorance
malice and indifference for reasons Of
laZiness, egotism or pride. The latter
enemy is the worst of all.
Ignorance keeps u large number OF
workers away from the labor organiZa-
tions They are the victims of social
order OF things which does not suffi-
ciently 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
piried, 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
ized workers, of lickspittles and de
nunciating, strike breaking servants of
capitalism. who, at the expense OF their
fellow workers. seek to, gain personal
advantages for themselves. To GER
tain extent they are also victims OF
existing conditions, of 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
being. to injure the interests. of his
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 ignorant
and OF the malicious. would be much
less dangerous to the modern labor
movement, they would be less effee-
tive obstacle in~the path of progress, If
there did not exist another, d third
group of unorganized workers who
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 decisive factor
The members of the last named
group Of the enemies Of the labor or
ganizations are not prompted In their
actions by ignorance. The reasons
which prevail with them are of a per-
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 1t 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 1t 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 con
vinclng figures" as to how much they
will be able to save.
Others again contend-and they claim
that 1t 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 battiecry of the work
ers. They maintain that 1t is foolish
and cowardly to refrain from ordering
strike or to first weigh every possi-
bility Of winning or losing q battle
where the workers are not completely
organized.
Taken as 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 great crime against the
welfare of humanity in its entirety.
Labor would have already accomplish
ed many things, 1t would have sue
ceeded In many of its demands II 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 a movement would
have been more favorable TO the work
ers If the snlarties and big mouths had
not weakened the labor organization
by remaining away from 1t. To their
account is largely to be credited the
arrogance and insolence on the part
Of the employers. To sum up: What
EVER Is injurious to the labor move
meDt is caused principally by the in
different workers, ard 1t matters rot
what causes their indifference-be 1T
laziness, egotism or foolish pride they
are the worst enemies Of our move