Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-09-22

1EAc60tAOA Wy tu0 WOGA0IH t1l64y III
spite Of the nominal legal right which
has been established by q century
long struggle, almost insurmountable
obstacles are placed in the way of
their using the only means by which
economic and political Justice can be
secured, namely, by combined action
through voluntary organization.
Right To Organize 10 Fundamental.
1.-THE workers insist that this right
or organization is fundamental and
necessary for their freedom, and that
1t Is inherent in the general rights
guaranteed every citizen Of q democ-
racy. They insist that people can
free themselves from oppression only
by organized force. No people could
gain or maintain their rights or liber-
ties acting singly, and any class of Cit
liens in the state subject to unjust
burdens or oppression can gain relief
only by combined action
s:The demand for organization and
collective action has been misunder-
stood, it is claimed, because Of the
belief among large number Of citi-
zens that its purpose was simply to Sc
cure better wages and better physical
conditions. It has been urged, how
ever, by large number of witnesses
before the commission that this is a
complete misconception of the purpos-
es for which workers desire to form
organizations.
Labor's Fight is Age-Lons One For
Liberty.
1T has been pointed out with great
force and logic that the struggle of
labor for organization Is not merely
an attempt to secure an increased
measure of the material comforts of
life, but is a part Of the age-long
struggle for liberty; that this struggle
is sharpened by the pinch Of hunger
and the exhaustion Of body and mind
by long hours and improper working
conditions; but that even If men were
we'll fed they would still struggle to
be free.
1T is not denied that the exception.
al individual can secure an economic
sufficiency either by the sale OF his
unusal ability or talent, or by syco.
phantic subservience to some person
in authority, but it is insisted that NO
individual can achieve freedom by
his own efforts. Similarly, while il
is admitted that in some cases excep
tional employers treat their employees
with the greatest justice and Nberality
it is held to be a social axiom that nc
group of workers can become free ex
cept by combined action, nor can the
mass hope to achieve and materia
advance In their condition except BY
collective effort.
Furthermore, it is urged by thu
representatives Of labor that the eff
forts Of individuals who are bent, upo1
lettering their own condition withou
reference to their health or to thu
interests of others, directly fniur,
each of their fellow workers and indi
rectly weaken the whole fabric O
society.
Big Trusts Control Lives Of Thousand
1T is also pointed out that the eve
luton of modern industry has greatl.
increased the necessity for organiza
ton on the part of the wage earners
While it is not admitted that the EN-
ployer who has only one employe il
on an economic equality with the per
son who is employed by him, becaus,
OF the fact that the employer control
the means of livelihood which give
him an almost incalculable advantag
In any bargain, nevertheless this cor
dition of inequality is held to hav
been enormously increased by the dc
velopment of corporations controlling
the livelihood of hundreds of thou
sands Of employees, and by the gr6wtl
OF employers associations who's
members act as a unit in question
affecting their relations with employ
es."
i The report points out that less "tha
half a dozen employers out of %
employers or their agents who fav
testified before the commission, hav
denied the propriety of collective az
ton on the part of employees, but tina
many maintained "what they. in az
cordance with common terminology
called, open shop"
Open Shop is a Closed Shop.
OF the open shop the report says:
The theory of the open shop a.
cording to these witnesses, is tina
workers are employed without an
reference to their membership or MOI
membership in trade unions; while, a
a matter Of fact, it was found upo
investigation that these employers di
not willingly or knowingly emplo
union men. Nevertheless, this
deemed to be a minor point. Til
open shop even if union men are no
disseminated against, is as much
denial of the right of collective actio
as is the anti union shop In neithe
is the collective action of employe
permitted for the purpose of negot
ating with reference to labor cond
lions. Both in theory and practice, i
the absence of legislative regulation
the working conditions are fixed by tn
employer.
1T is evident, therefore, that Their
can at best be only a benevolent de.
potism where collective action on tn
part of employees does not exist