Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-08-13

are entering the field sof industrial
competition.
During this same period the pro
cesses of production in most indus
tries have entirely or very consider
ably changed. Complicated. highly
~killed hand processes have been re-
solved into series of mechanical loper-
fqtions and machines providing to do
ffhem. Corporations and trusts have
taken the. place of the. small factory,
and along with consolidated manage
! ment have become more arbitrary in
the demands upon their employees, and
I'M many places. the craft unions in
yolved have become little more than
a name, Some of the more highly
! skilled trades have succeeded better,
but all of them have been more or less
led away by the idea that collective
bargaining, contracts and arbitration
1 will secure just regard by the EN-
ployer and make. strikes unnecessary.
! These means have reduced strikes,
but it is undeniable that they have
also been used to defeat justice and
defraud the workmen, and to set in
action forces which tend to disin-
tegrate the unions and destroy their
| power. If
| But we still have the strike with us:
more often it is the lockout. And
generally they come at the time when
the employer wants then-and result
as he wants them. Whengit is easier
to- arbitrate and win than to lock out
and win he arbitrates-with the same
result.
If collective bargaining, labor con-
tracts and arbitration are to have any
value to the membership of labor un-
ions, there must be something in their
hands more substantial than paper
| filled with a confusing mass illegal
lverbiage and a plentiful supply of con-
fidence in ''the good boss" They must
have the power to enforce that con-
tract; and the fact must be so badly
evident to the boss that he will mot
dare attack them by open fight or
undehand evasions. All :.
The power to enforse just such con-
ditions and resist enroachments upon
their rights which unionssmust have is
the power to effectively strike, OF to
resist a lockout. The fact that at fany
particular time the workers fail To en-
/ force their just demands by. the strike,
If necessary, is evidence Of their con
Iscious weakness; and tho cause of
this weakness lies very largely I'M the
fabsence of system in financing THE
lstrfke: the workingn1an cannot fight,
even to- defend himself, unless pro-
vision is made for his. needs while
earnings at his calling are suspended.
The labor unions Of thea American
Federation are increasing In number
of members. but they will not increase
nor even hold their own. in power,
tunless they stand closer together on
this question of the strike and lock-
out. They must return to the recog.
niion of the fact that the final sane
ton for all human lawfis physical force
mot necessarily it's application, but
the ability to use it promptly when
needed. s
There; should be such an under
istanding brought about between the
national and international unions of
North America and the American Fed.
teration of Labor that whenever any
Istrike or lockout occurs of a national
character, or large sseopesdn which the
general vital interests of the labor
movement are involved, the Fedora.
Ition-Ior such composite board as may
be determined upon-could levy an
assessment of or 10 cents upon
IeveTy member affiliated, provide for
Its collection, accounting and payment
to the national or international union
Involved, for is members; and also re
Ipeat and continue the assessment
from week to week SO long as the
tneed therefor existed.
II this power, properly regulated
were possessed by the Federation, and
It caused it to be publicly and gener
Tally known that the Federation's pol
icy was to promptly use this power to
defend its membership; there would
fbe much less willingness on the part
Iof employers Of labor big or little
to enter into unjust quarrels with
unions already established, or to seeh
to prevent the formation of unions BIZ
1.-THE Workmen In their service. And
when contract was made by them
with labor union it would be entered
Unto honestly and with the intention
Iof living up to 1t without evasion, be
tcause OF the .kmowledg that any other
Icourse would meet with the punish
Iment it deserved. Such power would
increase the stability of contracts
when made.
The Hhig stick. held In the firm
lgrip Of organized labor, and ener
Igetically used when necessary, would
lido more to infuse sense OF economic
Justice into the minds of the employ
Y ing class than 9 century of Begging
Ihas done.
THE zssaff,r,a - .<5s,,Ss..sts,,ss 1918