The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-04-06
FAR REACHING
LABOR VICTORY



The eight hour law recently upheld
by the Supreme Court of the United
States, is the most far reaching vic
tory ever won by organized labor.
1t is more than a victory for the
train men; it is victory for justice.
1t is the longest stride ever taken
toward the sensible settlement of
strikes and lockouts and disputes
between the wage worker and his
employer. 1t spells the end of strikes
and the dangerous labor troubles
that this country has experienced for
the past fifty years. 1t means, too,
that hereafter there will be more
just part of the profits of the great
industries go to the wage worker
in wages. At the same time the
employer will not suffer for
one comfort of life, and the
men who do the work and make the
wealth of the rich will be able to
enjoy more of the necessities of
life. The worker will be able to
live better and educate his children.
He will be able to get ahead in the
world, and will feel that this is
his country. He will know that he
is getting a square deal, and he will
be a better citizen than if his nose
is eternally kept on the grindstone
by poverty.
Labor has learned another lesson
that it will not soon forget, and that
is that if it wins, it must be able
to command respect and fair treat
ment from the employers. The only
safe way to win is to demand justice
and unite under one banner. That is
the big stick that won this contest.
Had the trainmen made their de-
mands by peace meal they never
would have won even by a strike.
Neither the trainmen on one system
of roads, or any of the men in any
one branch of the railway work
could have ever won, no matter how
just their demands were. For had
the conductors struck on all the lines
their places would have been filled
and they would have lost. Had all
the men on one system struck their
places would have been filled bv
extra trainmen from other roads
Seems to me that wage workers, in
other lines of work ought to see
the point. Just as long as they are
organized into hundreds of separate
labor organizations, they will lose
their fight for better wages and bet
ter treatment. When they all get
into one organization and stand to-
gether as the trainmen did, they will
get fair treatment and not until
then. They must be able to COM
mand it to get it.
Had labor recognized this fifty
years ago, the government would not
be racking it's brains to know how
to manage and control the excessive
ly rich fortunes. We would have
now no Carnegaes or Rockefellers. or
Morgans and a thousand others to
deal with. The truth is, that such
vast accumulations of wealth as
these men posses and the manner
of their treatment of labor, has made
more anarchists than all the Emma
Goldmans could in a score of life
times. The violent agitator is a
product of such men as these million
aires. The only way to remedy the
trouble is to do the fair thing by
the workers and increase the inherit
ance tax, and the income taxes of
the rich
The hopeful part of it all, and
workingmen and employer, as well,
ought to hail it, is the fact that
the public has taken hold of the
problem. The labor troubles have
become national menace. Unless
1t IS settled, it will become a more
dangerous foe to our government
than all the cannons of the world
pointed at US. But, now, that the
public sentiment is awakened on the
Importance of the question, we may
hopefully expect to see other laws
enacted for the good of the workers.
No greater question has ever been
settled until the entire country be-
came interested. The people settled
the slavery question, the income tax
and Inheritance tax problems If is
slow to reach conclusion, but when
1t does it moves along right lines
and with the irresistible momentum
of an avalanche. Big interests see
it now, and smaller concerns must
see it soon. When it is clear to them,
they will do the sensible thing and
lend helping hand to remove what
is fast becoming the greatest breeder