New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-08

trades, Is frankly and vigorously
ciass-conscious and socialistic. It is
not inclined to distinguish between
good and bad employers, as it antici
pates day when the employer will
be eliminated altogether and all in
dustries will be owned by the state
and operated by the workers. 1t Ia
vitality interested in tho, efficient man.
agement Of industry and in schemaa
tor giving the workers an increasing
measure of control In Its direction.
The new unionism" is democratic:
the rank and file are given every OBJ
portunity to express their will upon
every important proposal
Tho New Unionism in Practice
In the light Of this distinction be-
tween the old and new unionism Mr.
Budish and Mr.. Soule trace the very
interesting history OF the growth of
labor organizations in the clothing
trades. They show Row the workers
IN these industries. largely Of Jewish
and Italian origin, emancipated them
selves from the fearful sweatshop
conditions OF the past, organized them
serves in powerful, democratic unions.
and fought their way to a position
where they have been able to offcr
valuable aid to fellow workers. sucb
az the steel strikers, and the textile
operatives Of Lawrence. Their Droc-
fe.ss has been phenomenally rapid es-
peclaIiy In view Of the cold and hos
TIC attitude Of the American Fedora
ZION OF Labor, which has outlawed
some OF their unions and given tho
others scaNt aid in periods of stress
whatever may be thought Of the
ultimate aims of the new unionism, /"
1t can scarcely be denied that 1t has
peen a potent force in lettering cor
dltions Of life among the American
clothing workers. Mr.. Budish and
MT. soule write with insight and mod
Grafton and thorough KNOWLEDGE of
their subject; their work Is a most
valuable study of an Interesting
phase Of the American labor move
ment
Mr. Thomas's work covers rather
extended field. 1t IS Primarily study
Of the cause Of Industrial unrest. with
good deal of politics, sociology.
economies and personal experience
thrown in. The author believe that the
worker often fails to get square deal
under the present system. He laments
the tendency among American business
men to think largely in terms of mate
rial success. He points out that the
vanishing Of the frontier of the free
land in the West deprives the laborer
OF former opportunity to escape from
oppressive or uncongenial conditions.
However, Mr.. Thomas cannot be
ciassed among the proponents of a
dehh>te scheme Of radical reconstruct
ton. He is inclined to emphasize
human rather than political or economic
factors. His four suggestions for
alternating the strain and friction of
industrial life are rather original.
MI
They include cooperative stores. most.
graduate courses in social serv,ce for
schooi and college graduates, compul-
sorry instruction in economic and npv-
chology for all foremen and the an-
polntment Of an impartial "charcel]or
OF labor" with indefinite powers Of
mediation, in all large factories. There
is a slightly Utopian quality about all
these suggestions except, perhaps. The
first; but at least the author CON-
tributes something to the discussion
of current industrial problems.
Crusoe, the Capitalist
Mr.. Gardner very deity transforms
the story of Robinson Crusos into an
industrial allegory. After leading a
hermit existence for time Crnsoe
comes in contact with the colonv of
political deportees. Being provided
with powder and other Indispensable
commodities and being a person of
considerable natural shrewdness, he
outwits his neighbors in trade and
| becomes capitalist and millionaire
Crusoe buys up all the harbor sites
and the most valuable land, upon which
he realizes large profits. He buys up
, the island Legislature and rules as I'M
disputed lord Of ali he surveys for
many years. Unfortunately, not even
this remote island is proof against
radical Ideas, and Crusoe is dethroned
and exiled by sudden socialist reyo-
luton The author brings his story to
close here without attempting to
speculate on the course Of events aftsr
the revolution.
There Is wit and pungency In Mr..
GARDENERS allegory. Out Of the familiar
/ adventures of Robinson Crusos he
creates at once an entertaining story
and an excellent introduction to
economics
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