The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-04

timent, and the singing Of the birds
but Knocked the misery in his heart.
Some Labor History. :.
But the Declaration Of Independ-
ence says we are entitled to life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness
How?
Life we have when we enter the
world; liberty and the. pursuit of hap
piness, if it comes, arrives later; but
how are the masses to possess either
or both? -
As good Americans we surely
should endeavor to carry out the es-
sential principles Of the document that
was supposed to set us all free.
Thirty years after the Declaration
Of Independence was written, signed
and delivered, the town constable of
New York passed on and fixed the.
wage rate Of the workers Of New
York city, and the employe that
sought higher wage or shorter hours
was punished-the penalty the whip
ping post.
AS late as 1910 the tailors Of Balti-
more sought the privilege OF work.
ing shorter hours and formed an or
ganization for that purpose.
The first time they attempted to
put this measure in operation the
masters sought the po,5er Of the law,
charging these journeymen were at
tempting to restrain trade.
The tailors were sent to Jail.
Both under non-union shop condi-
tons.
Did Not Go to Jail. =,
few years ago Gompers, Mitchell.
fenced for precisely the same offense;
they did not go to Jail.
In the first instance Of the tailors
and New York workers, the organi-
cations of labor had not become
active.
Hence tailors Of Baltimore and
workers of New York under non
union shop conditions were deprived
of their liberty and even the pursuit
of happiness.
In the latter case Of Gompers,
Mitchell and Morrison the activities
Of the labor movement guaranteed
to these men liberty and pursuit Of
happiness and protected them in
these rights when assailed. -;
Means What 1t Says. :.
The Declaration of Independence
means just what it says; all men are
entitled to life. liberty and the pur-
suit Of: happines-yes, free-born.
Meaning no. masters shall rule in
the flesh nor through and by the
golden calf: - : = =
!: But so:lonhs Sas:* ne master. was, In
control OF: thes man :bX: reason zof his
owning the job-thus claiming owner
ship Of the man on the job-he had
happiness only at a. distance.
The masses had no liberty nor
could they pursue happiness, being
deprived Of the agency with which
to make the pursuit.
Without the agency by which ones
liberty can be secured, and the ac-
quirement Of means by which happi-
ness can be pursued, and finally ap-
preached. to a nearness to enjoy its
association, that part of the Declara-
ton of Independence referred to
above is one beautiful. enchanting
and deceiving all"~ory.
Fathers Were Wise.
But the trainers of that declara--
ton were wise, patriotic, God-fear-
ing, liberty-loving men; -sthey made
provisions to carry out the intent and
PURPOSE Of that document. They had
experience with the monied class fn
the old country, and knew that UNI
less provisions were made r fofssp.thes
masses Of the people to protect them
selves, this country would be inhab-
tied by two classes
The controlling class and theaeon-ss3
trolled-and would cease to bas4 free
country. It was but short time after.
the signing of, this document hen
labor unions made their appearAncesa1
Loyal. patriotic men saw what wass
meant in that. document %>and sst]