The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-04-14
FREEDOM MUST
Be MAINTAINED.
Workers Should Not ReIinquiSh
Any Rights and Liberties.
ABOUT SOCIAL INSURANCE.

Trade Unions, Before Giving Approval
to Any Plan For Their Alleged Bet
terment by Law, Must Be Assured
That Their Economic Freedom Is Not
Endangered.
BY GRANT HAMILTON in American
Federationst.
1t is not my purpose to deal with the
vast array of details which enter into
even a cursory discussion of social in
suranee, but rather to give expression
to the basic principles of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, with partic-
ular reference to the subject under con.
sideration. The development of the
A. b. OF L. has proceeded along neces-
sary and practical lines, but with I'M
ceasing vigilance that the organizations
of labor should be maintained unim-
paired and the individual workers
should retain undisputed possession of
the rights and liberties guaranteed by
the organic law of our country and the
spirit Of our people.
The history of the movements of
wage earnerS in all ages reveals the
Vaccinations of their opponents to dis
integrate and destroy their associa-
tons. It has not infrequently been ac-
complished by employing the lawmak,
ing power, and even in our own time
the legislative, judicial and executive
branches of our federal government,
as well as that Of the states, have been
made the Instruments of oppression
under the guise of benefting the work
erS.
With these facts before us we organ
lied wage earners cautiously scrutinize
every movement launched by outside
agencies whose claimants profess de-
yotion to the common veal. Before
the A. #. of L. gives its approval to
any plan contemplating the establish
ment by law of any form of social in
swance it must first be assured that
the economic freedom of the workers
is guaranteed and that the participa-
ton in benefits to be derived from any
system of this character is not based
upon continuous employment in a GER
tain industry or predicated upon time
Of service or other devices intended tC
tie the workers to their jobs.
The primary step necessary to real
perm prt betterment of the workers
Is u tnen ff0ni rflrafdo1n which
has been fastened upon them by those
who took advantage of the necessity
Of the poor. The great majority Of
I wage earners each day earn daily
bread-the opportunity to work stands
between them and want on tomorrow
/. Employers have held men in subjec
ton through the threat of loss of the
job. Only through organization has
any degree Of freedom or stability OF
employment come to wage earners
Our first concern, therefore, in consid
efing any proposition is, Will 1t inter
fere with organization for freedom?
In the light of experience it cannot
be asserted that our movement lags OF
is unmindful Of the interests Of every
wage Garner, organized or unorganized
!. The organized labor movement is the
only institution that has the unques
toned right to speak and act for the
workers. It's efforts have been anc
are ever extended to unorganized, and
the history, of the past is replete will
instances of sacrifices made by the
organized for the unorganized. 1t Il
equally true that we, too, are impa
tient at our progress but structure
strong enough to withstand industrial
inclemency must be erected with du'
regard to the. elements which com
pose it.
Organization, then, must be the bea
con shedding Its light upon all our eft
forts. 1t must be our first considera
ton.
Any further systems evolved having
for their purpose intended benefits tt
the great mass must contain adequate
safeguards to protect the wage earn
ers from Industrial, law or welfare ex
| ploitation. The American Federation
of Labor stands committed to the wei
| fare Of the wage earning population
of our country, but it will refuse now
as it has done in the past, to indorse
or lend Its assistance to any scheme
no matter by whom proposed, unless II
is first convinced that the same meas
ure of freedom of action as now en-
joyed in the trade unions are secured
to the workers under any insurance
| scheme proposed.