Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-23

make report covering the entire sit
uatio nat the next meeting.
refusal to cooperate with one of
the great constructive forces. No en-
ployer refuses to organize industry for
his own advantage and yet many of
these same men refuse to recognize
the right of their employees to organize
for the promotion and for the protec-
ton of their interest and welfare.
1t is remarkable that the head of
the most highly recognized financial
and industrial interests of our country
has repeatedly assumed an attitude of
refusal to recognize unions and refusal
to deal with the representatives and
even refusal to permit employees to
organize in unions. Wherever the
Rockefeller investments are found,
there is also found this policy of re-
fusal to recognize unions. This policy
of Rockefeller's constitutes a most
serious menace to the progress of our
country. It constitutes una1terable
opposition to permit in the field of
competition and struggle for profits
any force that shall protect the wage
earners against the cruel, inhuman
consequences of that brutal struggle for
gain. In Colorado, in Roosevelt, N. j.,
in Bayonne, N. j., the employees of the
Rockefeller interests are treated mere
ly as part of the Industrial machinery,
not worthy of the consideration given
to a human being. Those corporations
have refused to recognize unions.
They have insisted upon the old
piratical policy-their right to over
power employees and to permit them
nothing more than they could main
tain through force and violence.
This problem is one of great conse-
suence to our American nation and
one that deserves the serious consider
alton Of all our citizens. Shall the
Rockefeller billions be allowed to die
tate the industrial policies. Of our ma
ton and shall they be allowed to de-
stroy those agencies that must be re-
lied upon to realize the purpose of In
dustrial craftsmanship? 1t must be
recognized that the industrial field JUST
the same as the political field must be
organized and regulated with regard
to the policy of craftsmanship if our
country is to maintain it's power, it's
vigor and it's protective ability.
AS the result of the war we see the
consequences of failure to attain in
dustrial craftsmanship. We see con-
sequences of failre 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
interests of the Republic.
| Also as a result of the war, we see
the terrible consequences of industrial
piracy that permits child labor and
lsweat shop labor, and destroys the
manhood and womanhood Of the ma
ton. It is now time for our nation to
decide whether or not we shall achieve
the full stature Of national develop
ment or whether we shall continue
those policies which served in the
time of our immaturity. We must de-
termine whether or not we are to be-
come a nation that establishes the
} ideals and the practices of the states
man in all Of the phases of life or
whether we are to remain nation OF
! villagers that fails to realize the big
ness of things-that fails to realize
how all of the problems of life are
closely entwined. If we are to become
greatn ation-a nation of great men
and women-the foremost policy OF
our craftsmanship must be regard fol
, | the human beings that constitute oul
nation. ="
Our Republic cannot be stronger OF
healthier or better than its citizens
We have now to consider this problem
: What doth it profit nation if 1t gains
! IAN of industry and destroys its owl
j citizeng?
o. The key to the problem of industrial
4 craftsmanship is the organization o
s the wage-earners and due recognition
+ Of that organization. American Fed
, erationist.
= -.