davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31

campaign strategy was to raise the cry
Of 4 'Wihon dynasty" The uomina.
ton At San Francisco spoiled that, but
strategists hate to give up their plans
II they can only mako it appear that
Cox will meet tho terms, they can use
the slogan Of hate for Wilson 50 care.
FULLY prepared at Chicago and since.
Somehow, tho Republican party man.
ayers have persuaded themselves that
this is a lot betty than giving. the
voter any intination of what their own
principles and policies are.
Governor Cox deserves no sympathy
tor being in accord with the president
in seeking the peace of America and
the world. 1t is stronger to stand for
something than merely to decry. Mr..
Cox has a very decent record of being
able to accomplish things down in Ohio,
He has also a voice and ought to be
able to make his position clear. He
may make it clear that his opponents
have so far said nothing. It is to be
hoped that he does not share the belief
that "campaign strategy" is his duty
to the voters Of his country.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
Labor Non-P Partisan Activity !.
Makes Men, Not "0rder Takers

WASHINGTON, July 80. - Trade
uniontsts are acquiring new ideals and
developing new powers and activities
as result Of the most intensive non
partisan campaign in the history of
trade unionism.
In previous elections declarations
have been urged with more or less
visor by organized labor, but nothing
can equal the present movement: Re-
terence to this activity is not guess
work or political prophesy. but is
based on records received by the A.
F.. Of L. national non-partisan poll
tical campaign committee. These rec
ords are. not secret, subject only to
the scrutiny to some select committee.
They are the public action of thou
sands OF trade unions in every ection
Of the country. They show that more
than 5000 local have appointed COM
n1itee Of three member each to urge
the non-partisan plan and the list is
increasing at the rate Of 50 day in
many instances. More than 500 CEN
tees Of five members for the same
purpose and many state bodies have
taken similar action.
In union meetings and in shops,
mills and mines, in transportation
and. in the field these committees dis
tribute literature. explain labor's de-
mands, urge agitation and the neces-
sity for workers to cast their ballot in
the interest OF social progress.
These committees are organizing
into state, congressional district, city
and town conferences to further the
non-partisan program. The effect
iveness Of this plan was shown where
ever applied in the spring primaries
when many rcactionaries were retired
to private life or had a narrow escape
from meeting that fate.
Defenders Of special privilege are
astounded at the extent Of labor's
non-partisan movement and no LONGER
do they cry: "Gompers will fail to de-
liver the labor vote" 1t has finally
dawned on reaction that no man can
deliver organized labor's vote; that
labor is non-partisan as regards poll
tical parties but intensely partisan
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
NO SLUMP IN LABOR

Is labor going backward or forward
Are it's ranks being depleted or in.
creased? Let US see.
It's common talk these days, in clubs,
and offices, that labor has slumped,
lost standing, prestige, moral force.
You hear this among some business
men-the unthinkins kind-and among
politicians-who rarely think.
Perhaps so.
But note we'll these figures;
Average paid-up membership in
unions affiliated in the American Fed.
Grafton Of Labor, for the year ending
April 80, 192o-4,o7s,74o.
Increase over 1919-S1s,672.
Net gain-25 per cent.
The gain in 1919 was 10 per cent.
In 1918 it was Is per cent. IN 1917
it was IA per cent.
Since 1917-when America went to
war-the A. F. Of L. membership has
jumped from e,o72,7o2 to 4,o7s,74o.
Ninety-six per cent!
Counting five to family-and work.
ers' families run higll-thc A. +. of L.
membership today represents 20,393, 700
human beings mostly in the United
.States-more than one-sixth Of our
total population.
Only one union reports a slump
the brewery workers.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
GETTING OVER IT.

Forty.ni11e manufacturers in 40 diff
ferent lines were asked by tho Mer-
chants association Of New York
whether labor is getting more efficient.
The answer is that it is. The answer
was, eyes, In September, 1919, say
these men, labor was 70 per cent eff
cient. Twenty three Of them report q
noticeably higher standard than that
this summer, and five others say there
is better spirit among their employees.
With high wages and frantic appeals
for help, condition existed which
magnified every real grievance and
gave opportunity to indulge in fancied
grievances. With an easier labor mar.
ket and depression in some lines, every
body is doing more thinking. The re.
taller thinks his profits were a trifle
higher than necessary, the manufac-
turer is not so dictatorial, the laborine
man realizes that the old.time standard
Of diligence was the way to earn his
pay.
No good American wants to see q
day when prices are kept in reason
only by a weakening market and an
ever-increasing immigration Of cheap
labor. II takes the memory Of these
things to bring some Of Us back IA
normal, but not many Of Us learn real
lessons except under the spur Of neees'
sity. There are many evidences that
we are getting back, not to The old
days, lot % hope, but 70 : normal
standard 81 which what was right n
the old days IL to DO revived. Eli
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
PQ1IT1cs AND WORKERS.

OF all the. troubles that are making
life uneasy for, official Washington
none is causing greater perturbation
than the active participation Of, the
workers in political controversy. A de.
liberately planned and inteligently
conducted campaign is being made in
practically every state in the Union.
The results 20 far gained are encour.
aging, from labor's standpoint, since
some Of its enemies have already been
retired to private life in primary CAM
paigns, and others who have won an
initial success have got through by
such small margins as to cause them
the gravest misgivings for the future
The primary in Pennsylvania re-.
suited in the elimination Of 4 number
Of privilege = henchmen, and unless
there is = radical reversal of sentiment
before election, Of which there are no
signs, a number Of others are doomed
to defeat az result Of the opposition
which they have invited from the work
ers.
Senator Underwood pulled through in
his Alabama contest by slim margin
and is a subdued and chastened indi.
vidual. Six years ago he defeated a
popular opponent with scarcely an ef-
fort, his majority then being about
$4,000. In the recent Alabama prim-
ary he won out by less than 1000, and
then only after the istiffest kind Of a
fight, backed by unlimited money which
privilege sent there to influence the
result. He controlled the state organ
ization, which. resorted to every trick
known to practical politicians to pre-.
judice the interests of Underwood's op-
ponents.>
: Time.servers in congress have not
failed to take the Alabama primary to
heart. They know that the workers
are in deadly earnest in their determin-
alton to change the complexion of con:
gress, and some Of them will be just
a little, slow to further bait labor.
Others are explaining their votes on
important measures, hoping to appease
the wrath Of their opponents and per
haps persuade them to give disloyal
representatives, another chance to make
good.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
Printers SCHOOLS FOR :. .
DISABLED SERVICE MEN:

Linotype operators are much in de-
mand and this fact has naturally in
fluenced the hundred and mora dir.
aoied ex service men who have cho-
sen linotype operating Is their new
trade. Now there is such a thing rs
a linotype operator who knows how
to run linotype machine and moth
ing else about the printers trade.
According to the experts who have
such matters in charge for the fed
eral board for vocational education,
a linotype operator should have 1t
least an eight-grade education AZ,
foundation and then should receive
training as a general printer Sup
pose his linotype" machine breaks
down in the midst of a rush job. He
must be able to finish the work hy
setting type.
In obtaining the best possible uriut
er's training for the ex-service men in
its charge. the federal board has had
the cooperation of both linotype and
monotype companies and printers'1
unions.
There are disabled veterans in the1
school adjunct to the Pressmen's
Home for International Printing
Freshmen and Assistants at Rosers.
vile. Tenn. and at the school Of the
United Typathetae of America. fndf-.
annapolis, Ind.
There are disabled veteran. likewise
at schools run entirely by the COM
panles; the Lansten Monotype Ma
chine Company school, Philadelphia,
Pa. and the schools run by the M<r-
senthaler Linotype company, at
Brooklyn, N. z, New York city, Chi.
cago. San Francisco, and New Or
leans.
Other schools where disabled veter-
ans are receiving thorough training
IN monotype and linotype operation
are: Chicago Monotype school, Chi
cago, ILL.,; Mccormack school, Chi
cago, ILL.,; Mooseheart institute.
Mooseheart ILL.,; Tulane university,
New Orleans. La; Boston Trade
school, Boston, Mass; Newton voca-
tional school. Newton, Mass; Went.
worth institute, Boston, Mass; Dun
woody institute, Minneapolis, Mimi:
Lathrop Trade school, Kansas City,
Mo-; Ohio Mechanics institute, Gin
clnnatl. Ohio; Carnegie institute,
Pittsburgh, Pa; Central Continuation
school, Milwaukee, Wis.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
REAL LIBERTY PRECIOUS,

"Self determination Of peoples' was
the outstanding phrase used at last
weeks convention of the Minnesota
State Federation of Labor. The United
States government was urged to rec.
ognize the "Republic Of Ireland';
sympathy was declared for the people
Of India and an independent nation
was advocated to be carved out of
the Zone Big Union'' of the British
Empire.
That was all very fine in dealing
with the political governments Of peo-
pies, but "self determination of the
workers. did not seem to meet with
such favor from those who made the
strongest speeches for a free Ireland
Or a free India.
AS one delegate put it: "The rights
of the individual under a just social
order must be subordinated to the well
fare Of al].' With such a declara-
ton the present CONSUMPTION Of the
workers in Russia was justified, but Of
course only under a government of
the proletariat. 1t would not be right
for capitalist government to con-
script labor. It is a principle that
does not set we'll when worked both
ways.
The American Federation of Labor
was founded on the principle Of the
"self determination Of the workers in
groups or trades.' It is called ",trade
autonomy It is opposed by advo-
Gates Of so-called industrial unionism.
Trade autonomy is the basis for de-
mocracy in the structure, management
and operation Of the labor movement
as represented by the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor. The Knights Of Labor
neglected to recognize it, and failed.
The American Railway union, the early
"One Big Union'' Of railroad en-
ployes, ignored it and was defeated.
The Western Labor union, afterwards
known as the American Labor union,
was founded to destroy it, and it died
Of its own overweight in a babel of
dissension.
The fathers Of the A. F. Of l.. profit
ed by the experiences Of labor history
and made "self determination Of
groups and crafts Of workers, the cor.
nerstone Of the or anization. They
made democracy the cardinal principle
Of organized labor. DemoGacies are
always apparently weaker than autoc.
raeies, but they endure longer with the
masses Of the people. The American
Federation Of Labor il the Oldest and
most successful federation Of working.
men in the world. and it is tho most
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
WHY THEY FIGHT GOMPERS.

At the trial in Chicago Of William
Bross Lloyd, the millionaire tramp
and his 10 comrades Of the Communist
Labor party, James A. Duncan, secre-
tary of the Seattle Central Labor Coun-
Gil, testifying for the. defense, said
that at the two conventions he at
tended he voted against Samuel Com
pers for president of the American
Federation Of Labor, each time, for
the reason that the people Of Seattle
were against Gompers because he Or
gained what Duncan termed the
'Booze special,' a delegation of labor
men to 60 to Washington, D. c., and
protest against prohibition.
"seattle is, first, last, and all tho
time, for prohibition" he said, "and
we want a bigger, better and cleaner
man than Sam Gompers, if we can
get him.
And that is why Jim Duncan Of &c.
attic is fighting Mr.. Gompers. At
least that is tho reason given to an
Illinois jury. But Duncan and every
one Of the defendants know better.
They hate Sam Gompers for the chief
reason that he stands in their way.
He knows their plans and understands
their tactics and philosophy as well
~ they do themselves. He 10 at vari.
anee with their whole scheme Of dis.
ruption, destruction and revolution
While Mr.. Gompers lives and lead.
the American labor movement there
viii be little chance for communist
thought to triumph in this country.
Mr.. Dunesl wants "cleaner, bet.
ter and biseer'' man than Mr.. Com.
pers. He should try Bill Haywood
whose principles he champions. Blu,
that would tate courage, I quality: not
displayed by Duncan in the testimony
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
free and democratic. .That il the secret
Of its present strength and greatness.

free and democratic. .That il the secret
Of its present strength and greatness.
The A. F. of L. plan may be slower
than the so-called industrial plan, but
in the end it is the safest. Tho only
right it calls upon individual workers
to exchange for collective rights il in
making bargains with employers, ap-
piled only to the job, and for the pur-
pose Of preserving larger personal
rights elsewhere. In any event the
exchange is voluntary and not CON-
pu1sory, something not enjoyed by the
government conscripted workers Of
Russia.
What does it avail the worker to
receive the full measure of his mate
rial wants even to the full product of
his toll, if in getting them he is sub.
jected by government to the "straight-
jacket rules and regulations Of an IN
mate Of a penal institution
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
sLACKEER.

The president Of tho American
Wooden Company declines to inset the
mayor of. Lawrence, Mass, to discuss
the possibility Of an early reopening
Of tho company's mills there. The
president does not see how an inter.
view could help in controlling the con.
ditious which compelled the shutdown.
The president is right. It couldn t.
The American Wooden Company has
piled up surplus which will make it
possible to pay dividends for some
years without turning wheel. The
price of wool has gone down and with
it the wholesale price Of wooden goods.
It is not so profitable to manufacture
as it was. Why not, therefore, shut
down.
The principle is the same as that
Of holding eggs in cold storage for
higher prices, Of allowing potatoes to
rot in the ground, Of keeping coal in
cars by fake consignments; and in no
instances do interviews affect the cir.
cumstances which control such acts.
A little while ago we heard much Of
the desirability Of increased produc-
ton. If tho workers would only work
harder we should all be far better of.
The president Of the American Wooden
Company echoed this statement. What
is his belief in it nowf
A laborer who does not do his best
on his job, who Stacks production so
that he can make the largest possible
wages with the least possible work, is
an enemy Of society. What about a
manufacturer who, having made enor-
NOUS profits, shuts down as soon as
those profits begin to decrease e-Chi-
cago Herald.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
ExoRB1TANr WAGE NOT 1ABoR's.


est beneficiary in wages by "War
prospcrity' but the man who made
tremendous profits on war supplies of
various sorts-he it was who contrib
uted most towards boosting the high
cost Of living, according to Congress-
man Rainey, Democrat of Illinois, near
the close Of the Sixty-sixth congress,
presenting some startling statistics, he
| said:
"There are two men in the United
States whose income last year was over
$16,O00,000. There are five men in the
United States whose income last year
was over 100000 apiece. In 1914,
before the war started, there were 60
men whose annual incomes were over
81 100000 apiece. Last year there were
24s men whose incomes were between
100000 and 100000 apiece. Last
year there were 405 men whose incomes
reached this immense sum. In 1914
there were 147 men whose incomes
were between 100000 and 100000
apiece
"Today there are 400 men who enjoy
that large income. In 1914 there were
100 men whose incomes exceeded $780,.
900 and were under $300,000. Now
there are $50 who enjoy that income.
In 1914 there were 23s men with an
income between 100000 and $500
Now there are $50 men who enjoy
that income. In 1914 there were 406
men whose incomes exceeded $l50,0OO
and was under 100000. Now there
are 1900 men who enjoy that income -
These figures refulte the charge that
labor, due to the high wages paid, were
the greatest beneficiaries of war pros.
perity. The wages paid skilled labor
were necessary by reason Of the high
cost Of living. When it is shown. by
official statistics that set of men can
enjoy an income Of $16,00o,0o0, another
$5,000,0O0 and others from 100000
to 100000 there is prima facie evil
dence that somebody is robbing the
public and it is clear that it is not the
wage earners or. his wage scale.
That "uo man possesses the ability to
earn a million dollars in a life time
is web accepted saying among men
who know the value Of real dollar
Of 100 cents and who can approximate
the amount Of labor it would require
at the highest possible wage scale to
earn that great sum of money.
"Labor won the war; is an undis-
puted claim Of organized labor. The
fellow who laid away his millions on
profits during the war on munitions,
army supplies, contracts, costplus, ne
cessities, taken from the governments
emergency needs and the peoples ne
cessity, whose patriotism was based
upon dollars are now the loudest howl
ers charging the laborers' wage scale
as the cause Of the high cost Of living.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
Is PLAYING OLD GAME.

"In reducing operating forces, the
railroads are reverting to the old sys-
tenn Of paying dividends at the expense
Of maintenance and operating eff.
cheney. The roads went back to pri-
vate control in pretty fair shape. Many
improvements had been made, the fed
eral government having invested more
than billion dollars in capital charges.
|'All this improvement is now to be
sacrificed, because Of the Unsuitable
greed Of railway arrangements and their
supreme contempt for the welfare of
the nation. Reduction Of forces is lit
tie Tess than a crime in view of exist
ing conditions.
"The railroads are playing rule or
ruin policy, and they are likely to have
their way in both directions. They
are doing everything needful to make
their workers dissatisfied and resentful.
W. G. Baird, president of the Chicago
and Alton, bitterly assails the wage
board for granting an increase Of wages
to transportation workers. "They are
not entitled to penny, he says.
"Then comes the editor Of the Rail-
way Age, the organ Of the railroads,
with an interview declaring that the
men 8 wages have been advanced more
than the increase in cost Of living
would justify. This in face Of the fact
that the highest paid conductor in the
United States after he gets the latest
award will be receiving only So per
cent more than he got before the war,
and the wage board says the cost Of
living has advanced at least 100 per
cent in that time.
Evidently the railroad presidents
are seeking trouble. That has been
their attitude since the roads were
turned back by the government. With
their dividend guaranteed, they appar.
emily do not care whether the railroads
run or not. For months the executive
Of every railroad labor organization,
supported by the overwhelmingly ma
pority Of the offices Of the local labor
organizations, has pleaded with his
members to be patient little while
longer and to continue to work. But
neither the men nor their leaders have
been encouraged by the railroad offic-
ials. On the contrary, they have been
subjected to all kinds of annoyances
"Why in hell should we worry9" was
the brutal response Of one railroad Of
fetal when a leading labor official
pleaded with him to do something to
allay the unrest and keep his own road
running.
1t is time the people Of the United
States were getting the facts. Indus
trial disaster threatens and the men
responsible are the railroad executives.
They have the equipment to move
freight, and they can secure efficient
men to operate it if they are treated
decently. The public must intervene if
a disaster is to be averted.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
TRICKERY OR THIEVERY?

1t is charged by editorial writer's that
the railroads are suspending men be-
fore they have opportunity to partici-
pate in the back pay award Of the
transportation wage board. Those who
are not on the payrolls on August l
will not be entitled to money which
they heretofore earned, it is said, and
will find themselves out Of work as
we'll as out Of pocket.
This is more than trickery. 1t is
plain theft. It is about az nasty a
display Of cupidity and greed as has
ever been given by tho railroad man.
agements Of this country, and that is
saying great deal.
"They have been robbing the pub
lie, the nation and their own employees,
but by more subtle methods. Never
have they dared such bold, brazen and
brutal methods Of exploitation and OK.
tortion. It is evidence that the free.
dom that is given them by tho Esch-
Cummins bill has turned their heads
and made them unmindful of the pri.
mary rights Of human beings.
"Everything is being done to de.
morahze transportation workers. If
their spirit can be broken they will be
less inclined to resist other brutal
schemes Of managers. It seems almost
as though tho railroad executives real.
lied that they were rushing headlona
to ruin and were determined that the
country shall be carried along with
them.
ftNot satisfied with the wholesale
destruction that has been wrought t.
commerce and industry, the railroad,
are playing fast and loose with the
loyalty and devotion Of their workers
and unless there Is q return to sanity
or forcible government intermediatiou
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-07-31
IN RE OPPORTUNITIES.

That success in business life is bv
the complexities Of present day bust
ness methods confined to few and
nothing loft to encourage ambition in
young men beyond the ambition Of
"getting pull" with some corpora
tion, is tho editorial opinion Of the
Renville (Minn.) County Journal. It
says:
"There are no longer opportunities
for q man Of moderate means enear.
ing in any line Of business, particularly
as manufacturer with any hope of
success. If he begins to interfere with
the profits Of big business he il i'm.
mediately froze out or bought out.
Unfortunately the young men Of the
present day have no idea Of happy days
Of the old time small business enter
prises, then small towns encouraged
small factories which, a. 4 rule, pros
pered and business men accumulated
all the wealth that any one should
posses. Now there Is no limit to the
possibilities Of centralized or commun.
ity accumulation but 1t confines sic.
cess to . few and leaves nothing to
encourage the ambition Of young men,
except the ambition Of getting . pull
with some corporation and this neans
sacrifice Of individual manhood, for
corporations must first bs satisfied that
the promising young man 10 Z depend
able tool.''