The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-04
Organized Collective Action Is
the Safety Of Workers.
THE INDIVIDUAL HELPLESS
Haphazard and PIanIess Protests New
er Conduce to Better Toilers' condi.
tion--Labor Progress Comes Only
? Through Definite Group Action Back
ed by Right and Justice.
BY SAMUEL GoMPERs.

The individual who does not recOg-
nize that his problems of living are
identified with those of his fellows has
missed the key to the solution of his
problems. Unaided, he can accomplish
but little in field where collective
effort is the basis for all effective &C.
ton. Employers directors of enter
prises, join together for organized as
sistance to each other. Cooperation on
the managerial side, the large scale or.
ganization of industry and commerce,
have made the condition of inorganic
ed workers intolerable. Workers as
individuals have been economically and
mentally enervated. Only by present
ing united opposition have they been
able to maintain themselves as human
beings. Although the Roman soldiers
marching sipgly found it impossible to
60 against an enemy in strongly forti-
fed cities, they could advance with
safety marching shoulder to shoulder
under the protection of a testudo form
ed by overlapping their shields. So or
gained collective action Is the safety
Of workers dependent upon employers
for an opportunity to earn a Hveli
hood.
Regardless of the kind of work they
do, wherever workers have learned or
ganization they have been able to pro-
tect themselves and to secure better
conditions. Haphazard, painless condi-
lions are never conducive to progress.
Organization enables the group to put
driving force behind their demands and
ideals. Thus many SO called unskilled
workers receive higher pay than those
following professional or semiprofes-
Sional callings.
Unorganized workers find themselves
helpless when confronted by a period
Of transition. Protection comes only
through definite group action In accord
with constructive policies "a condition
impossible without organization. SO.
when the European cataclysm enyelop-
ed the whole world, In the reaction
following came congestion In commerce
and an abrupt cessation Of the arts OF
peace. Industry and commerce In this
country were choked. 1t is an ancient
custom to make wage earners bear the
brunt of Industrial reactions In the
form of unemployment, falling wages
and higher prices.
Organized workers can act as unit
in protest against lower wages-by
protest they act as stabilizing force
and prevent impulsive destruction and
waste. Organized workers under war
conditions have not only resisted reduc-
ton Of wages and deterioration of con-
diTions, but have secured increased
wages and shorter hours.
When danger Of war became immi-
nent for our own country among the
first suggestions for preparedness"
were proposals to tear down all the
protective measures secured by labor
after years of struggle. Members of
congress proposed to repeal the eight
hour law and to deny the right to
strike. Again the organized labor
movement interposed protest to protect
the workers.
Those who have suffered from war
conditions and prices have been the un,
organized or the poorly organized.
They have had no leverage which
would give them power to increase
wages, and increased prices forced
them to reduce their standard of living.
Another transition period is coming
when the world returns to peace foot
ing. Organization is the only agency
by which the people can meet and solve
the problems of that period. Construc-
tive organization, coordination, wheth.
er Industrial or international, Is the
fundamental principle Of preparedness
for peace or war.