The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-19
Labor Unions

The average wage Garner has made
up his mind that he must remain
wage Garner. He has given up hope
of kingdom to come, where he him
self will be capitalist, and he asks
chat the reward for his work be CIV
en- to him as working man. Singly
he has been too weak to enforce his
Just demands and he has sought
strength in union and has associated
himself with labor organizations. La
Dor unions are for the working man
but against no one. They are not hos
tile to employers, not inimical to the
interests of the general public. They
are for class, because that class ex-
lists and has class interest, but the
unions did not create and do not per-
petuate the class or its interests and
do not seek to evoke class conflict.
There should be no hostility be-
tween labor and capital. Neither can
do without the other; each has evolv-
ed from the other. Capital is labor
saved and materialized. The power
to labor is in itself form of capital.
There is not even necessary, funda-
mental antagonism between the labor
err and the capitalist. Both are men
with the virtues and vices of men, and
each wishes at times more than his
fair share. Yet, broadly considered
| the interest of one is the interest OF
the other, and the prosperity of one
is the prosperity Of the other. Where
wages are high, capital and the con
duct of business are not without theil
reward. Where the industry of the
country is carried on by broad-minded
far-seeing leaders, the remuneration
of labor increases even to the com
monest of laborers.
The labor union stands for the
principle of united action and for thu
policy Of living wage earned undel
living and working conditions. II
union there is strength, justice ant
moderation. In disunion, nothing bu
an alternating humility and insolence
state of industrial despotism. I'm
ions stand for the right of associa
ton, sedf government and free speech
for the dignity and self-respect of tn,
working man, for the mutual esteem
of capitalist and wage Garner, am
for a wide, far-seeing, open-mindet
democratic conduct of industry. TIL
living wage means the American
: standard Of living. The world doe
not owe man living, but the mai
owes it to himself, and the industr,
that voluntarily employs him owe
him the right to earn it under fai
and living conditions.
Are the employees of the Lead Bel
earning their living under fair an
e just conditions? ! think not. Moth
er will we be allowed to earn it unde
fair and just conditions so long a
D men living a thousand miles ava
S and having no interest in the Lea
Belt or its people. except to squeez
all the money possible out OF thel
n l1bor with Just as little compensa
e ton as the people will stand for. hav
Y sole control with reference to wage
0 and conditions. What we need in thi
r Lead Belt, is men in control of thos
t corporations who have little symps
: thy, a little humanity in their hearts
d men who regard working man a
something more than mere huma
machine created by Almighty God fo
the special benefit of a few New Yor
G millionaires.
e We cannot expect any change ft
J. the betterment of our conditions
+ long as those conditions are dictate
h from a New York skyscraper. but "
It hope to see the dawn Of the day VINE
h men of the caliber of Mr.. Robe
o Holmes will have the say as to q
! conditions of labor in this Lead Bel
5. because M. Holmes has by his e
= cry act wosd and dGsa als
} ~ d disposition. bus ~ aet aal desr