The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1916-01-15
AN ULTIMATE GAIN FOR LABOR

There is cause for much satisfaction III the settle
ment of the strike of miners in the Clfton-Morenc1 dis
trict of Arizona. in view of the conditions under which
the adjustment of the difficulties between the employers
and worknen was effected. The outcome affords strlk-
ing evidence of the waning power and prestige OF the
Western Federation OF Miners, an organization whose
name has become synonymous with d1scord and laWless-
ness, not through any fault OF the men who earn their
bread by delving into the earth, but through the per
nicious Vaccinations of a coterie OF agitators, who have
used the Union as a catspaw to further their own selfish
interests and afford them the opportunity to live well
without working.
When the Federation came under the dominance 0.
men who were openly or covertly in league with the an
archistic Industrial Workers of the World, Its death
knell as a representative labor organization was rung, IN
asmuch as there could be no hope of retaining the SYM
pathy or active participation IN Its councils OF the lnteii'
gent, sober minded element among the working men,
upon whose membership i'll the organization the prestige.
if not the very life, of the Federation must depend. he
experience OF Goldfield, during the labor difflcultles OF
1907. afforded an example of the methods of the agitat"rs
dominating the federation. The leaders OF TIE strike at
that time. fomentors of discord, ~instigators OF v1olelce,
counse1ors of murder and arson, openly asknoN lodged
their affilation with the Industrial Workers., and even
went to the length of RELOCATING the Federation to the
place OF miners section" of the |. w. W.. 1T was shown
conclusive1y that these leaders were in league with I'm.
scr1Dulous brokers and were Systematically rigging
the stock market, which was naturally most sensitive at
the time to reports in connection with the labor situation.
Tn the case of the strike in the Clifton district, the
labor aeitators had a fertile field in which to SOW dis
cord and perpetuate their propaganda OF violence, and
lawlessness, since only a small minority OF the Workinen
are Americans: the large majority being composed OF
Mexicans of the peon class, together with a number OF
Italians and other Europeans. Had there been a larger
proportion of American workmen, it certain that the
strike would not have endured through the period OF
more than four months that has passed since the miners
struck. and that there would have been little or no VIC
lence and no necessity for the calling out OF troops, with
their constant maintenance in the strike zone.
The Federation cannot win. 1t is thoroughly dis
credited and workmen are fast coming to the realization
that membership in the organization not only brings
them no benefits, but is %prejudicial to their receiving ex-
act Justice in the settlement of labor controversies and
a1ienates from them every vestige of public sympathy or
support at times when such sympathy and support are
most needed and, by the individual wOrkmen. perhaps
most merited. Labor unionism is admirable in precept,
but it must not be permitted, any more than other or
CARNATIONS of men, to become a menace to society
through its subsection to the will of a few selt-seek1ng
and inscriptions rulers.