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

What in many respects is regarded
az the most significant step taken
b. organized labor in generation
is the endorsement by the conven-
ton Of the American Federation of
Labor at Montreal Of the principle
Of industrial democracy. It definite
ly committed that organization to a
new form Of democracy, the vote be-
in; so overwhelming and convincing
that there is no doubt where the
rank and file of labor now stands
in reference to this great question.
This faction means that organized
labor is definitely moving forward to
new status-for the ending of the
old exclusive wage relationship and
the substitution Of something new in
it's stead. It means that the workers
of this nation are determined to
press forward to a larger life for
greater opportunities, for a more
equitable share Of the wealth they
produce. and as we'll for recognition
Of their right to determine the con
ditions under which their labor shall
be given.
The American Federation Of Labor
declared that the workers Of America
intent to acquire a partnership in in
dustry and equal participation in man.
agement. It has placed itself behind
a movement that is, world wide and
is regarded by economists as the next
logical and inevitable step in orderly
evolution. -. o..
For a. year. the railway workers
have insisted that there can be no
efficient. no final solution of the rail-
road problem until the 10000
wrkers and the experts as we'll are
admitted to a. share in management.
They have insisted that this great in
dustry that controls all others can
not be successfully run by alien
financiers from Wall street; it can
not be successfully run as an ex-
plotting, parasitical business; it can
ba run only as an agency of service
with the element of profit removed.
The next step in this movement
will be its acceptance by those who
at first were inclined to ridicule it..
thousands of those who frs treated
1t with derision now admit that there
cannot be any permanent industrial
state that would treat the workers as
coss in the machine, as brass checks,
mere number on payrolls. Econo-
mic necessity will bring about the
consideration of an Industrial de-
mocracy, not only in connection with
the railroads, but with other indus
tries as we'll. The free workers of
this nation are too intelligent to be
satisfied with old conditions that
brought them intolerable hardships
and crying injustice.
Men demand that they shall be per-
mitted to use their minds, their in
telligence" and their. experience, as
well as their bone and Drawn. They
want to- contribute all that nature
has given them to their daily work.
They have the same aspirations as
the capitalist for a freer life, in which
they will work for themselves, for
society.
While privilege fights desperately
! against the Irresistible tendency OF
modern economic thought, it must
OF. necessity. give ground before new
ideas. . No sane person will attempt
to uphold the existing system. It II
wasteful, extravagant and inhuman
\ Especially is it inhuman. For centur.
les 1t regarded the worker as a com.
modity-his labor as something to be
merchandised in the market place
with potatoes. beans and cattle. I,