The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-11-05
FOR THE GOOD or ALL.

plexity and embarrassment the neces-
sity of restraint and of we'll considered
policies and the dangers of hasty ac-
tion have ben setadfastly regarded BY
conservative leaders Of the organized
labor movement.
The constructive principles Of the
movement have never appeared to bet.
ter advantage than in this period Of
widespread unemployment, when trades
unions affiliated with the American
Federation Of Labor throughout the
country have exerted themselves to the
utmost practical limits to provide relief
and to avert. disaster.
In conjunction with its efforts to pro.
mote sound, prosperous industrial &C.
tivity, the American Federation Of La.
Dor now is engaged in a campaigns to
strengthen and to extend the lines Of
its own organization. It is Of import
ance to all, employers and employees
alike, that this organization campaiga
should be understood.
Prinarily>it is in the interest Of pub
lie welfare that the constructive force
Of the American labor movement should
be appreciated. Union labor does not
seek to overthrow but to build. Its OBJ
jet is better life for all. Since the
inception Of its existence there has not
been public issue On which it has
been on the wrong side.
As embodied in the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor, the movement is a pro-
&ressive one to secure some Of the ad-
vantages which have come by reason
Of the great production Of wealth, a
normal workday, wage that shall take
comfort into the home, an opportunity
to the workers to give advantages to
their children that these children may
grow into the manhood and woman
hood upon which our institutions de-
pend. This movement is regularly il
line with cooperation, protection, sta
bility, advancement and fair employ
| nent.
In what organized labor proposes
there is nothing involved or devious or
mysterious. 1t believes that organiza-
tion Of workers is essential to progress
and freedom in the modern world.
Workers must be able to organize free
ly because individually the workmen to.
day have no voice with which to call
attention to grievances and no power
or agency through which to secure re-
dress. Another essential is the right
of workers to act in their organized
capacity, to negotiate as organized
bodies, to choose their own represen,
tatives, to enter into agreements.
Labor believes that agreement be-,
tween workers and employers, negoti-
ated in conference, based upon expert
ence and operating to secure justice,
is the most important contract in in
dustrial relations. It is reciprocal in
stead Of one-sided. It gives the larg-
est possible measure Of justice to the
workers and it gives guarantee Of
stability and cooperation to industry.
Only when there is an agreement,
freely entered into by the workers,
writing into definite terms their obli-
cations and their rights, can there be
tho highest free contributions of hu-
man labor energy to industry. The
agreement is the channel through which
labor pours into industry its greatest,
most Intelligent effort, its constructive
thought.
TO non.union workers the employer
says. "You may have job Of so-much
a day Of so-many hours" TO the or
ganized workers tho employer says:
1--WE will come together and agree upon
what each Of rs shall give and what
each shall receive from the other.''
Union men are the only free men in
industry because they are the only men
who have anything to say about what
they shall do, under what conditions it
shall be done and how much they shall
get for doing it.
Recognition Of organization as the
delegated representatives Of labor is n
prerequisite Of fair conference. Urged
by Samuel uompers and other officials
Of the American Federation Of Labor
are cooperation and unity and spirit
of solidarity among the great masses
Of the toilers Of our country, . new
vision, = new campaign, a new spirit,
not Of resentment but Of constructive
work to protect and to promote the
rights and interests and welfare of the
wage.earning masses Of America. All