The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-12-17
UNITY MAKES
FOR PROGRESS
Labor Movements Advance Has
Been Steady and Sure.
METHODS MAINLY PRACTICAL


Guided by It's Leaders-Thst the
Policies Pursued Have Been Safe and
Sane Is Proved by tho Splendid Rs-
suits So Far Attained.
So long as the workers preserve their
unity they will advance. SO long as
each exercises an intelligent interest In
the others, just SO long will the safety
and welfare of all be assured, but the
history of every movement for the bet
terment of the workers points with un-
erring accuracy to the cunning of the
interests in promoting discord and de-
stroying harmony in the ranks of the
toiler. They contrive to SO manipulate
things that the workers are torn apart
and pitted against each other In bitter
strife Sometimes this Is done by clev-
erly injecting false yet plausible issues
into the movement through the instru-
mentality of honest fools or crooked
self seekers. Frequently tempting bait
Is held out to lead astray the short.
sighted and selfish and thus cause fric-
tion and factions. Occasionally the
shrewd and crafty interests lull the
toilers to sleep through fattery and
praise and the assurance that they are
deeply concerned for the welfare OF the
downtro(~en and the oppressed
The labor movement has made mar
velous progress in America during the
past century, and particularly since the
establishment of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, but this progress has
been due to the good sense and the 10y
atty of the men and women who make
up the membership Of our unions and
not to the waving OF magic wands by
fairy queens who would have us fol
low them into the unexplored regions
OF Utopia.
The toiler Is better off today than he
has been in any period of history be-
cause he has faced forward and
marched straight ahead, beating his
way through the solid walls of opposi-
ton without any Of the detours or par
leys urged by the visionary and i'm
| practical. The struggle has been long
and tiresome one, but the perseverance
ened through 1t all and viii not do so
until industrial justice has been ush-
cred into our scheme of things in en-
| during form.
There are those who complain that
our progress has not been rapid enough
Travelled at a slow pace. but we have
| gone forward with as much speed as
| the vast army Of toilers has been able
to follow. 1t is perhaps true that here
and there more rapid strides might
have been taken had our desperation
driven US to the gamblers chance,
where either all is won or all is lost,
but this is mere speculation based upon
theory and not fact.
The unions are here after the strenu-
GUS fight-strong, healthy and prepared
TO continue the struggle In the interest
Of the membership-and this In itself
is evidence that the policies pursued
have been in the main such as will
bring us constantly nearer to our goal
and keep the organizations In condition
always to do the work that called them
into being
The industrial field Is strewn with
the skeletons of organizations that
have gone down to death without hav.
ing accomplished their designs, and al
examination into the causes OF their
failure invariably leads to the dreamer
reaching for the unattainable Dream
ers sometimes spin great yarns and
occasionally leave loose ends that car
be picked up by practical men and
woven into useful shape, but the
dreamer is never leader capable OF
guiding his forces in a manner thai
will produce practical results.
The labor movement is down on the
earth bread and butter proposition cal
culated to benefit the membership nov
as well as in the future.
Those who have guided the destinie.
OF the movement have not deemed 1
wise to follow every person who has
held out before them plans for bringin.
about ideal conditions some time In tn,
distant future, and the trend of event.
has demonstrated beyond the possibil
ity OF doubt that we owe our presen
proud position to the soundness of thei
judgment
May all future actions be guided b,
the same high purposes and correct de
cisions which have made such splendi.
history for the toilers OF our land Il
the years that have passed. Unit,
means progress. Labor Clarion.