The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-12-18
DEMocRAcY's FIRING :.
.LME; IS A. F.. OF L..

The Bulletin of San Francisco; in
an editorial on the American Fedora
ton of Labor, refers to this ofgani-
cation as '"Democracy's Firing Line -
and says: g.. = . =. =. s.-.~
d, +"The American Federation i az
Labor has all of the virtues and most
of the defects which go with "a posi-
ton on the. firing line of democratic
progress. 1t is partly a bread and
butter organization, striving for an
immediate increase in the welfare of
its members, and 1t is partly a revo-
lutlonary movement aiming at the
conquest by the workers of the, SUI
preme power to which their mum ers
and their services entitfe them. It
contains as, many conflicting opinions
and policies as :, two million average
men can comfortably hold: IT IS IKE
any chance grouping OF two million
men and women, part idealism,.. part
materialism,. part wisdom, part I'M
wisdom. IT is weakened by jealousy,
ambition and selfishness,. andsit is
strength ned by being, in the last an
alysis,' everlastingly right. - = 49, :; :;
"The first thing. to recognize III the
labor union movement is that tt is "a
natural product of industrial .condi-
lions. operating upon the ordinary
man. The same Industrial forces
which created the capitalist and the
employer created the labor organiza-
ton. Labor unions do, not yet cover
the entire field of industry, as they
ought to- do, but as far as they go
they maintain a kind of balance Of
power. Under the competitive theory
Of industry this naturally sets class
against class which Is, at: least, an
advance over: the former system = of
setting class above class. -. .'',. -
THE interests of labor and capital
are not Identical. The careful organ
ization of the one against the other
is sufficient proof of a conflict Of in
terests. The labor movement. repre-
sents an encroachment upon the free.
dom, and ultimately upon the profits,
Of. capital; just as the capitalistic
movement; unchecked, is movement
upon the freedom and well being Of
labor. But this does not prevent them
from having common interests, chief
among which is the interest each has
ina maintaining production. Nor
should it prevent them from: UNDER
standing that such antagonism: as
exists between them is largely the re-
suit Of accidents; of birth and for
tune. Each is conscripted by destiny,
and dropped into his union or anti
union firing trench. .&%I 49,.
THE labor movement cannot be
defeated. It is a democratic, move
ment and the cause of democracy
will not be finally beaten until the
last man, and the. last woman. and
the last child is dead. It may change
It's form. To the extent that it does
not yet: contain all OF. the skilled and
unskilled working people Of America
it should change its form. But as It
stands, in all its imperfections, it. is
q courageous and indispensable cham
pion OF J: liberties and right that are
mot guaranteed in, the constitution
nor mentioned in political campaigns.
.Gsst I'm securing the passage OF; just
laws it has done much already. It's
central fight ia the fight. not alone
Of the, working people Of today, but
Fof ,alls persons, csaapi taltst or lah0rsik,
rich or poor, union or antf-nnion,
who plan to leave: children in the
world, and want a better and more
democratic world: in which to- leave
tn EN-. = .ss q! 81. j X s5I
ANSWERS no i ORIsESPONDENTs
r. Link: The best place. to have e
boil is on your faith In law or your
uncle. B M Ss: II .:ss 81 4
ID Fond Mother: Name the JIG
s4Ahab and the mob body . will ever be
able ito find an unpleasant sabbr
ton for st. a.7 is II. Il 5 Nh if3
Ri Collector: The old Decent piece
you refer to has 4 value. It sis worth
Easquarter. s.4
o. Club oman. We have received
lsyouf letter: Arnong the books we
would recommend for your read inl
Iare e good English anlm n, : a IS r,d
Webster.s ctionar
aa sisisss Il. IL slsi =
mi III MI n p ont uf q m n ffrel