The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-06-05
OPINION s. =: :. :. >. T. ::
:: Of: OTHERS:
By JOSEPH PROEBSTLE,

BY JOSEPH PRoEBsTLE.
Address before the Labor Editors
convention, Chicago, ILL.,, May Is,
1915. g.
Labor, and especially organ
lied labor, of necessity must take a
keen interest in all public or political
questions, asitating the masses Of the
people of a state or nation.
TIE labor PRESS as the mouth
piece Of organized labor, therefore
must not only be the advocate for
labor's views and rights before the
general public, but should be the ad-
vance agent for progress, as we'll as
the defender Of. the rights and .privi-
leges Of the, toilers, even if the toilers
themselves see no danger signal.
The recent Investigations of the in
dustrial commission disclosed such
astonishing brutality, cunning and
cupidity on the BART. Of the captains
of industries tiikt labor is more than
justified to View every proposition
coming before tho. people,, supported
and advocated BY these captains of
industries, with. suspicion and dis
trust.
Big Biz Prohibs.
In the. last few years every big
corporation in America advocated
and financially supported prohibition
for their employees, Through this
means of support the prohibition
movement has: made such rapid gains,
that it threatens today the very life
and existence of large, and hereto
fore, powerful International organ
izations, SUCH as the bartenders,
hotel and. restaurant Employees, the
brewery workers, the cigar makers,
the glass bottle blowers, the coopers
and others, AMI materially weakens
a number of o;her trades organiza-
tons, including the printing and
building trades.
This financial support of the trusts
and big industries of the country has
developed a SPECIAL profession pro-
hib1tion agitatOl, who is turned. out
by the American colleges and univer-
stiles as a qulli1ed stump orator,
and who formerly chose the pulpit,
but now finds Setter paid. and more
interesting employment lin preaching
prohibitionr to The working class.
1t Is an Economic Question. :,
There Is one phase that these agi:-
tators always hummer upon. and. that,
is, that the pr,hibdtion movement is
purely a moral QUESTION. They play
upon the feelings and emotions of
the masses, ant, 80 far: they have sue
ceeded remarkably. will in binding
the people ami in hiding their real
-, ~ IT.
could see nothing but q moral or
political question in the prohibition
movement. thy would soon stop sup
porting IT., bit the capitalist sees,
above all, en- economic question in
the prohibitioi movement, and this
is what every workingman must be
taught to- see and understand.
1t is not merely the Intention of
the people: wp support the prohibi-
ton nlovemer1 financially to destroy
the breweryS workers, .bartenders,
! cigar makers Ind other directly con-
nected trades who depend upon the
| liquor industry for their livelihood
the prohibition supporter aims to
affect, and II possible destroy all: or:
ganized ettortsof every trade or call
ing. Z - ill., =.
Many employers OF labor regard
the use OF alcoholic drinks, as far
as their enplces are concerned, as a
luxury. and hey do so. for purely
economic reastns. They do not deny
themselves tht good things of life
but: they endsvor to prevent their:
employees from enjoying an :occasional
! glass: of beer or wine. They say
that the mons spent for such inno-
cent enjoymer, or at times even
necessary stirnllent, is surrendered,
and would farbetter remain in their
own the employers, pockets. RI. :. z:-.EE
To gain thsr end, they. look upon
the financing of the prohibition
movement az a good investment.
which, in ti1 b will, II successful,
bring good rturns. S.s s.$is
I...@.2 Is Tbs the Reason? Isl. @es 4.
The claim Ssade that the working
man can, BY Rot indulging An an oc-
casional drirk utilize that part of
! his wages }nt hef etofore III tl,el
4 safo ron, Tor liner poses, IS hypo
4 crisy The q 81 depriys