The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-01-02
ROAD TO SUCCESS
Trade UnioniSm Profted by Its
Early Mistakes.
LESSONS OF EXPERIENCE.
Only the Bitter Pangs of Defeat Show
ed Organized Labor Wherein It Erred.
Hasty and I'll Advised Action Brought
Its Own Reproof.

Hasty and III Advised Action Brought
Its Own Reproof.
From its beginning the trade union
movement has witnessed the launch
ing of other types of labor organiza-
tiOns, which enthusiastic and ineXperi-
enced men expected would replace 1t
and enable the workmen to secure the
full measure of industrial and eco
nOmic justice through one rapid and
revolutionary stroke. There has al
ways been something connected with
the eXtravagant promises and the nov
city of the doctrines and policies of
the leaders of these movements which
attracted the uniformed and those
who were naturally inclined to allow
others to do their thinking for them.
and more than one such movement has
gained considerable temporary head
way before disaster overlook it and its
leaders proved their inability to make
good, which while not any proof of
the correctness or error of their doc
trines. was at least evidence that they
lacked the ability and capacity to apply
them successfully.
Through all the years that the trade
union movement has existed it has had
to contend daily with forces which
were bitterly opposed to its existence
and to encounter the problems created
by the Introduction of machinery and
the rapid changes taking place in meth
DDS of production.
1t has been forced to be constantly
on the alert, like an army continually
in the field facing the possibility of
battle on every day of its march. 1t is
these experiences which have made the
trade union movement practical in its
affairs above all other things and de
veloped men who are trained by eX-
perence to assume responsible posi-
tons
Experience and not theory has been
the teacher of the men and women
who form the backbone of our move
ment and it is the lessons learned in
this school, the lessons learned from
hasty and ill advised strikes, failure
to consider problems fully before IN
dertaking their solution. overlooking
the necessity for discipline and sound
financial systems which has kept
them from being carried away by the
noisy appeals Of those who have en-
deavored to lead them into other labor
movements in the industrial field.
Great oaks do not grow from acorns
in a day; neither do men acquire
knowledge without study and expert
ence. What we have as policies and
methods in our trade union move
ment were not formed overnight; nei-
Their did they spring fully developed
from the mind of some genius. They
are the result of years of experience
on the part of millions Of workmen
who have been continuously engaged
in an effort to improve their condition
and who from the beginning have been
forced to deal with practical questions
which affected their daily labor and
their standard Of living. Gradually
and steadily they have been building
up their organizations. profting by
their experience. Many of the lessons
they have learned have been expensive
ones. but they have been worth the
price paid for Them great as ii may
have been for they have learned to
carry on their movement along such
practical lines that it can no longer be
endangered by passing efforts to or
ganize other industrial organizations
founded on visionary schemes.-Mold
ers' Journal.