The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-01-15
SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND
TRADE UNIONS.
BY Edward j. Soltan, Secretary
Duluth Painters Union No. 100.

History has been written until great
volumes of books are filed with the
achievements in the lives of kings
and warriors, and it is with much
credit and comment that they are
spoken Of. But alas! The common
people have scarcely been considered
In the narrative of this worlds stride
and development and so we see in
the back ground a glimmering pic
ture of the glory and the achievements
of the ruling classes: Only here and
there do we get a glimpse into the
lives Of the masses.
While there was a very superior
class Of people centuries befort the
Christian era yet men had not learned
the lesson of brotherhood. A noted
philosopher Of ancient times once de-
clared that purchase labc was bet
ter than hired labor, and in accord
ance with this principle half the world
lived in slavery when Christ was born.
To labor with ones hands was regard
ed as dishonorable, and to be labor
er one was placed on level with the
beasts Of the field. 1t was under
such conditions working men were
prompted to organize. Thus we find,
that in ancient history they were
prompted to band themselves to-
gether against their masters.
From time to time masses of work.
ers arose in rebellion against the in
human treatment received at the
hands Of their masters, but they were
under heavy obligations to their mas
ters, and were driven back to their
tolls more heavily bound than ever
before.
During this period, religious lead
ers who had risen up from among the
people believed that the time had
come to fight against such a. system.
and 1t was then that the value Of the
individual workers was taken into
consideration and that before God, all
men were equal.
A hundred years ago or more. fol-
lowing the introduction of improved
machinery and inventions there began
the great industrial revolution, in the
throes of which we are still laborine.
Inc factory system has its uplift-
ing influences, but it was curse to
great numbers Of people during the
early days of its existence. Large
fortunes were made by the employers
but the workers wages were decreased
to the bare cost Of living, and vet
labor was regarded as free, and had
all the privileges Of freedom by con-
tract. and at the same time econo-
mfsts insisted upon the right of indf-
vidual liberty in making agreements.
BY law, the working people were
Tor many years prohibited from or
ganizing for any purpose whatsoever.
Many suffered imprisonment because
OF an attempt to secure better social
and economical conditions. Organ
lied labor in its present form had not
existed prior to the eighteenth CEN
curry. Modern trade unions had their
rise in 1924, and have been steadily
increasing, until today in this coun-
try alone. approximately ten million
workers are organized, and in the en-
tire world something like one hundred
million whose only ambition is to bet
ter their conditions, and that of their
! fellow men.
1deal any more than is the church or
any other institution, controlled by
ordinary human beings. Most crit
les demand of labor unions and their
members as a whole, that which thew
would not think of asking Of any other
group of men or society. The trade
unions are always judged by their
| worst enemies. although these enc
mics may often be found within the
ranks of organized labor itself.
In all fairness. labor unions should
be permitted to present their own
ideals. The very obligation taken bv
members tends to promote and in
fluence them for higher usefulness.
They are also pledged to emancipate
the working classes from poverty. ie-
norance and selfishness; to be respect
ful inword and action to every men
| and woman; to be consolidate both to
widow and orphan and to the weak
and defenceless; never to discrimin-
ate against a. fellow worker on ac-
count Of creed, color or nationality:
to defend freedom of thought, whether
expressed by tongue or pen and to
educate every fellow worker in the
| history Of the labor movement :: ::
! Every union man promises that. he