The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-09-22
REAL UkiOhIST AN 0PTIMIST

of Progress For Organized Labor-Its
Achievements Have Gone Far To-
ward Giving the Workingman His
Just Place In the Industrial World.
There are a few men and women i'll
the ranks of organized labor who seem
to thrive on preaching the gospel Of
despair. They never fail to tell you
of the starvation of working men,
women and children and the terrible
wreck that is wrought upon humanity
by those In control of the various
forces of society.
These men and women see no good
in life They do not hear the singing
Of the birds; they do not see the beau
tiful sunshine and enjoy the days that
are made for humanity's sake.
The real trade unionist Is confirm
ed optimist, going about preaching the
gospel Of hope and as he goes through
life throwing words of comfort here
and spreading flowers along the path
way.
Far better my friends, that we help
one lone struggling being here than to
leave him to his fate and blame his as
we'll as our own shortcomings upon
the system of today.
And why shouldn't the trade unionist
feel happy? There is no institution in
America that has and is doing as
much for downtrodden humanity as
the trade union movement of our coun-
try as exempified by the American
Federation of Labor
Over 100000 men and women-yes.
coming toward the 100000 mark-are
doing everything they can every min
ute they live for the betterment OF
mankind
And the year 1916 has been a great
one for organized labor. This giant
of Drawn and muscle is fast becoming
that intellectual being that will break
the chains of the past and bring about
the enjoyment of the blessings of to-
day through education and organlza-
ton.
No ideal of the people is brought
forth that is not championed by the
trade union movement. No institution
Is SO class conscious as the trade un-
ions which go to make up the great
American labor movement.
On every side wages have been in
creased, hours shortened and some
great fundamental finally worked out.
And no organization affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor has
enjoyed greater blessings than the
United Mine Workers of America.
At the New York joint conference an
advance of wages giving our people
millions of dollars was secured.
That great fundamental for which
men have bled and died Oh the indus
trial field and for which they have
been driven back in defeat in the leg
islative halls of our country since the
inception of the coal mining industry
was forever established on the entire
North American continent.
This wonderful victory established at
the conference table without an indus
trial battle was surely one of the
greatest in the annals of our organiZa
ton Yet we did not stop in our on
ward march. For more than fifty
years the anthracite miners have hoped
and dreamed of the time when The
eight hour day would be theirs.
In recent years two titanic indus
trial struggles took place III this field
but the miners were forced TO stack
their arms for the time being and
await that great day. 1t finally came
When the great metropolitan news
papers were saying no. when the
apostles of despair everywhere were
decrying the efforts Of those we trust
ed with the destiny of the anthracite
miners, yes. that day was ushered
In, again at conference in New York,
where the operators, swayed by the
powerful argument and sound logic
of the miners representatives We're
forced by intelligent reasoning TO yield
the eight day day.
With all these marvellous achieve
ments of our grand and glorious move
ment there can be no room in the or
ganization for the destroyer of conf
dence No. my friends, the trade un-
ion movement is made up of workers,
not shirkers, men and women with
red blood in their veins who do not
cry in despair over their failures of
yesterday, but who have the courage
to fight on for achievement to today
and the victories of tomorrow.
At no time could you feel prouder
of the fact that you are a trade union
list rnan today. This is the era of true
unionism. Let us go on and on teach
ing the gospel of hope, strengthening
our organization and making life bet
ter. brighter and sweeter,- Mine Work
ers' Journal