The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-02-26
CANNOT SHACKLE WORKERS.

fathers intended 1t to De.
CANNOT SHACKLE WORKERS.
The collapse of the national "open
shop' campaign will not mark the last
effort of large employers to subjugate
workers. When they discover to their
complete satisfaction that autocracy is
impotent to do the things they have in
mind they will, as have the specially
favored in all ages, make their demands
to legislative bodies. They are now
adopting quite generally this quieter
and more effective program.
In more than a score Of state legis
latures bills have appeared that seek
in one way or another to restrict the
legitimate activities of toilers. In their
most odious form they propose to set
up industrial courts in the personnel
of which the workers have no voice.
Compulsory arbitration, backed by
heavy legal penalties, is the polite form
Of servitude that has heretofore been
attempted, but with results wholly dis
proportionate to the expectations of it's
hopeful benefciaries. But the Bourbon
never learns any lessons from the ex-
periences of the past. He proceeds
blindly to do the things that have al
! ways been done, without any regard to
the consequences. So industrial courts,
patterned after the Kansas idea, are
begging up everything throughout the
nation. Workers, naturally, oppose
them, with varying degrees of success.
Anti-picket and other laws seeking
| to take the teeth out Of strikes are
! another favorite device Of large inter
ests. The general assembly Of Indiana
| has enacted measure that would seri-
| ously curtail the opportunities of work
ers to redress their wrongs, and Ohio
is following with a number of anti
labor propositions. Many of these laws
will find their way to the statute books,
for reaction is in the ascendancy. The
workers were off guard when these
bodies were chosen and their enemies
| took advantage Of their opportunity.
Wherever they have safe majority in
general assemblies they will make an
attempt to secure enactment Of laws
that will keep the workers suppliant
and unresisting.
But if the lessons of history are of
any value in forecasting what the fu-
ture holds, these legislative assaults
( should not occasion any concern. They
will fail Of their purpose just as GER
tainly as the open shop campaign is
! failing and will continue to fail. No
! government has yet evolved any law or
regulation or punishment that will force
men to work against their will, unless
it be under conditions approximating
absolute slavery.
England, a few centuries ago, at the
debating Of the special interests Of
those days, established a code to keep
workers working, pre- eenting them from
chang ing employment for higher wages
and compelling them to increase pro
duction. Just the reverse of the things
attempted by these regulations were Sc
cured. Workers would not be repressed
or coerced and the reaction against the
invasion Of their natural rights brought
to them new liberties and privileges
that they did not before enjoy.
It apparently has not occurred to
lawmakers and those whom they repre-
sent that the only way to keep workers
profitably employed is to set up con-
ditions that will contribute to their
material well-being and promote their
happiness and contentment. There is
never any trouble with producers who
are producing benefcially. Workers
never have and never will develop
beautifully under adverse conditions.
Neither slavery nor feudalism proved
satisfactory from the standpoint Of the
exploiter. Driven labor 10 unsatisfac.
tory labor, while free labor has been
responsible for all progress made by the
world.
Laws may come and 60, but human
aspirations will expand as long as man
inhabits tho earth. There is no such
thing ~ turning back in civilization 8
long climb towards the sun.
|
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
l. UPHELD!
] Tha eIonan shoy3j no~no:cn :. -.4