South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-03
Other Editors Than Ours
FOR LABOR UNIONS: A RECEIPT FOR
IMMORTALITY.
lAnerica Id Nork.l


If the labor union wishes 10 get a firm grip on
the principle of immortality organization life,
stop thinking much about organization
and think very much about the essentials OF
the of the working
At the outset, II ought 10 its back now and
forever the narrow view which makes everything
turn on the possession or non-possession of union
card
1t ought to declare that its interest is in but
three things:
Good working conditions. good wages; and
the highest possible standard of craftsmanship;
and place its approval on these things wherever
found.
1t should take the ground that it has no quarrel
and no cause Of difference with any industrial or
ganization, organized unorganized, union non
union, where wages. conditions and output meet
certain tests
1t ought make its campaigns wholly
the basis of the service it capable Of rendering.
This would necessarily imply the working out OF
definite standards, which. taken together, would
constitute the labor union standard OF industrial
health fairness and well-being.
The labor unions at present have definite
standards
We do not mean to say that they have no denn-
lite requirements they have. But requirement
and standard two very different things.
A requirement is thing demanded standard
is unchanging unit to measure other things by
The difficulty, for example. attempting
satisfy unreasonable child is that the child is
definite to requirements, and indefinite
TO standards.
a real labor union standard would have to be
founded real philosophy complete and we'll
thought-out working theory of the relation Of the
workman industry.
No mere disposition to increase wages from time
to time much be possible possibly
fill the place of such a theory.
If organized labor is take permanent and
recognized place among the institutions OF the
time it do this by any display Of
lower; whatever the late did did not prove,
it proved that
The mere display of power is the last thing
in the world that insures the Immortality
Of party, caste, government.
mel do OF baC befO
such at ALL they only yield respect to the founda-
uons of power; and power in a democracy can
have no permanent foundation except in service
America at Work does not for moment deny
that labor unions being opposed today by pre-
JUDGED men. by narrow men. by men of feudal
instincts, and of chilled steel selhshness. But this
is not the opposition that counts. 1t not the
opposition that need be reckoned with.
Labor unions are also being opposed today not
in blind prejudice and hot blood. but in response
10 the verdict Of the sober second thought, by
large group Of enlightened Americans who recog-
nize the that
All closed shop" organizations are despotsms.
1t makes difference what kind Of organization
is IN question
1t may be a church to whose leaders there is no
grace of God and power of God where
particular ecclesiastical name is blown in the bot
tie
Ii may be a university which recognizes no
culture without academic degree.
1t may be a school OF medicine which fails to
understand that the law of health is the law of
prevention and Of cure
It may be a political party administration to
which all wisdom is concentrated in one party and
no patriotic service worth anything unless tag
ged with a particular PARTY label
Or-to illustrate from the field discuss
ing-it may be simply labor union, which
not a copper how good a workman a man is what
wages ne gets what shop conditions he works
under or what his citizenship and his labor are
worth 90 his fellowmen and asks ony whether ne
has union card All such organizations arr
doomed
To put the emphasis on organization. and
not the end of organization. is TO cherish the
coutainer and forget the contents.
Either the labor union Of the present day has
a definite theory 10 the desires and demands Of
workingmen AT the hands Of society or it has not.
If it has not it is the blind leading the blind.
and the greater its power the certain it IS
10 end in the ditch beside the road.
But above all things else the labor union
regard the union first and last only
10 end
Ii must be willing at any time to modify its form
change its machinery. abolish old plans and substi-
tute new ones. If circumstances indicate that the
happiness and prosperity Of workers through
efficient service by hgh-class craftsmanship POINT
that way.
In suggesting this. we are setting any i'm
possible standard. We are not supposing for
minute that editing union labor charters and
stutions could colt sehshness and shortsightedness
out OF human nature.
We only asking that union labor go far
modern churches and schools. modern physicians
and insurance companies have gone in putting the
emphasis on the end and the means on the
aims OF The organization and membership
in the organization itself.
The closed shop idea runs square against all
the essentials OF modern democracy
for the way OF democracy IS TO test everything by
service. 10 go back CT the label and try the con-
tents
When the American Federation OF Labor becomes
enlightened enough declare that It interested
push itself only in those parts OF the labor field
that need its help In order 10 attain the ends OF
good wages good conditions and high craftsman
ship-when Il proclaims this creed in public and
lives by IL in private. then and till then Will
It's power be OF the kind that endures.
HE that saveth his life shall lose IT,
is as true or organizations il is Of men
II man or organization wants 10 make itself
desired and cherished for II time the way 10 do
II TO forget itself In the widest possible service
OF its