The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1915-08-28

not in the light of precedents, but in the
light of modern reasoning and Justice
which demands that the human rights
OF the countless men and women that
must toll are entitled to EQUAL pro-
lection of the law in manner that will
be of practical benefit to them; that that
EQUAL protection shall not be based
upon the doctrine of the right of con-
tract, regardless of who the parties are.
but that there must be EQUAL pro-
lection where the parties to that contract
are equally situated, equally potent.
equally efficient equally competent, and
equally strong, not only legally, but
economically, to maintain their positions
Union men are on the whole, law
abiding, peaceable and patriotic and la
Dor unions are peaceable institutions
In gallantry, in bravery in heroism, and
in time of need, neither this nor any
other nation has ever found them want
ing. A labor union, to be of any good
to its membership, must be militant
body. No institution ever survived that
was not militant Eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty Notwithstanding
what enemies may have said OF Our la
Dor organizations, they are law-abiding,
and stand for peace, but they do not
stand for the peace that comes with SER
Witty.
THE labor union is not trust; none
of its achievements in behalf of its
members-and society at large-can
properly be confounded with the perni-
cious and selfish activities of the illegal
trust. A trust, even at its best, is an
organization of the few to monopolize
the production and control the distribu-
ton of material product of some kind.
The voluntary association of the work
ers for mutual benefit and assistance is
essentially different. Even if they seek
to control the disposition of their labor
power, it must be remembered that the
power to labor is not a material COM
modify.
There can not be a trust in some
thing which is not yet produced.
The human power to produce is the
antithesis of the material commodities
which become the subject of trust con-
troll
Public opinion is practically unani-
nous in recognizing the union as one
of the most essential means OF securing
for the workman his rights, protecting
him against injustice, and putting him in
touch with all the best thought and most
advanced movements of ethical forces
of civilization.
"The aims and purposes of our labor
movement have often been stated before,
time, when the attempt is being made in
many directions to so cripple the activi-
ties of our unions that they may be
shorn of their usefulness.
Our unions aim to improve the stand
ard of life, to uproot ignorance and
foster education to instill character
manhood. and independent spirit among
our people: to bring about the recogni-
ton of the interdependence of man upon
his felowman. We aim to establish a
normal workday, to take the children
from the factory and workshop and give
them the opportunity of the school, the
home and the playground. In a word
our unions strive to tighten toll, edu-
ate their members. make their homes
more cheerful, and in every way con-
tribute an earnest effort towards making
life the better worth living. TO achieve
these praiseworthy ends we believe that
all the honorable and lawful means are
both iustifable and commendable and
should receive the sympathetic support
of every right thinking American.
"If the workers are to he deprived of
their opportunities for self-improvement
and independence, if they are to be held
at the will of the employer-the indus
trial condition of our country would
sink lower than that of slavery.
"The slave owner was usually re-
strained from going to extremes in the
treatment of his slaves by the fact that
they represented property value to him
The wage-workers would be more under
the control of the unscrupulous employer
than was the slave under his owner