The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-11-12
LABOR'S HIGHEST MOTIVE.

Life-onIy When United Have Wage
Farmers Been Able to Secure the OBJ
servance of This Principle-Problem
of Industrial Statesmanship.
The great principle for which labor
has stood Is the sacredness of human
hfe. 1t has always maintained that,
however lowly, there is nothing greater
than a human being and nothing more
sacred than human life. This force,
which Is the organized labor move
ment, has sought to infuse into the
business Of our country a spirit that
would be mindful OF those human
workers who are essential to produc-
tion and to the commerce of our land,
and 1t has sought to establish such
customs and practices in industry that
the workers not only shall not be harm
ed for the sake of industry, but that
they shall be benefited by the products
OF their toll.
1t is impossible for the individual
workers to secure the recognition and
when they unite, when they use their
collective power, have they been able
to secure fitting regard for the value of
human life and for opportunity to be
something more than merely the cogs
In Industrial machinery. Those who
are familiar with the unfeeling greed
that has permeated industry recognize
the necessity of organization for the
protection of the workers. Those en-
ployers whose consciences forbid them
to take unfair advantage of their work
ers have long followed the practice of
dealing with their employees through
their organizations
Organization enables the workers to
make definite statements of their needs
and to present definite demands for
their protection. 1t enables them to
promote their welfare along systematic
lines and TO make steady progress to-
ward higher development and higher
ideals. 1t enables the workers to or
ganize the human side of protection so
as to establish practices and policies
which are the necessary foundation for
Industrial craftsmanship.
The organizat tionS of the wage earn
ers have done more to secure definite
knowledge Of conditions and forces in
industry than any other agency. They
have not only organized information
In regard to industry, but they have or
ganiZed definite channels for their own
and general information and for the ex-
preston of the will of those who are
employed in the industry.
The trade union movement has been
the means which has made articulate
the dumb yearnings and longings of
the wage workers and which has given
them the means to secure the wages
and opportunities necessary for the
toilers continued progress and neces-
sary to enable them to participate in
the forward march of civilization.
Wherever organization is found,
where the workers are abreast of the
times, they are strong and able men,
physically and mentally They take
an intelligent interest In Industrial pro-
duction and progress and are the de-
pendence OF the nation.
There Is an opposing force in indus
try that seeks to destroy organization
of labor and refuses to deal with their
representatives and assumes a policy
which ts termed refusal to recognize
unions" This seems a strange sort of
policy, for the unions are, whether they
are recognized or not Refusal to rec
ogniZe them Is only a refusal to CO.
operate with one of the great construc-
tive forces.
This problem Is one of great conse-
Quence to our American nation and
one that deserves the serious consid-
Grafton of all Of our citizens.
AS the result of the war we see the
consequences of failure TO attain in
dustrial craftsmanship. We see con
sequences of failure to recognize that
organizations of wage earners are re-
sponsible agencies which, if properly
used and properly recognized, may be
depended upon to protect the nation in
time OF need and to serve the best In
terests OF the republic.
Also as a result of the war we see
the terrible consequences Of industrial
piracy that permits child labor and
sweatshop labor. and destroys the man
hood and womanhood of the nation
1t is now time for our nation to decide
whether or not we shall achieve the
full stature of national development or
whether we shall continue those poll
cies which served in the time of our
immaturity. We must determine
whether or not we are to become a ma.
ton that establishes the ideals and the
practices Of the statesman In all OF the
phases Of life or whether we are to
remain nation OF villagers that fails
to realize the bigness of things, thai
fails to realize how all of the problems
OF life are closely entwined. If we
are to become a great nation--a ma
tion Of great men and women--the
foremost policy of our craftsmanship
must be regard for the human beings
that constitute our nation.
Our republic cannot be stronger oil
healthier or better than its citizens
We have now to consider this problem
The key to the .c.oniem of industrial
craftsmanship Is the organization o1
the wage earners and due recognition
OF that organizatior.--Samu Gompers