The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-27
RIGHTS OF LABOR PRESENTED BY
LOCAL FEDERATION SHOP CRAFTS
IN STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC
DeWeese Secretary Treasurer Gives Some Inside Informs
ton and Tells Some interesting About Railroad Strike
Problem Must Be Settled Now Six Months Later

take over the railroads as a permanent
policy and if this must be done it should
be done without further delay.
Dollar VS. Principle.
1t is iniquitous that people upon the
verge of such unprecedented peace time
prosperity as our own, should be COM
PEELED to sacrifice all the attendant ad-
vantages because a few individuals be-
lieve dollar is of more value than prin-
ciple, or the rights of man who must
labor for his daily bread.
That organized labor has frequently
been arbitrary in its demaISs and more
or less impulsive in - action at times
in the past. is not to be denied. But
capital has also been arbitrary and i'm
I pulsive at times. 1t is weakness of
human nature to frequently take advant-
age Of another's inability to defend him.
self
Organized Labor Helps
Nevertheless, society owes much to
organized labor, the sum total whose ef-
forts has been to raise the standard of
living of the masses, to create ambition
and desire for those things that give
comfort, contribute to enlightenment, and
lessen the economic burden imposed by
i'll Health, poor housing and the thousand
and one handicaps which wealth and pow
err ave been wont to impose unless some
restraining influence is exerted.
Those who dream of the day when
men Will cease to band themselves to-
, gether to promote their own best in
terest will long have lain fotting in the
grave before such a condition exists up
on earth.
Greed and SeIfishness
When selfishness has been eliminated
from the makeup of human nature, when
greed is listed in the dictionary as an
obsolete word, when the welfare of the
employee gets equal consideration with
the profits of the employer. then will the
need for labor organizations largely have
passed. ...
In the meantime, crude though it may
be, like many of the other tools with
which society works out it's problems, or
ganization Is essential to the welfare of
| the masses who toll and members should
keep these things in mind when tempted
| to abandon their organization.
Obligation Imposed.
| In this connection, however, one very
vital obligation is imposed, and that is
not to demand the things that are I'M
| justified or impossible. If labor will
choose it's leaders with care and make
| it point to always be right, rather than
responsive to the appeals of men whose
| ideas and ideals are not Fundamental
and economically sound, no power of cap
ital, chicane, nor government can de-
stroy unionism, and it will only pass
when something better has been found
to take its place.
| In the meantime, however the nation
is confronted with one of the most dis
concerting peace time situations that has
ever existed and relief must be afforded
| Immediately. AS has been stated pre-.
IViously, the seasonal advantages is witt
the strikers now and they may be eX.
pected to take advantage of that fact
The coming winter presents a more for.
I hiding aspect than the coalless, lightless
| foodless days of the winter of 1917 ant
1918 and without justification that ex.
listed at that time.
| Ultimatum Issued.
It is time there was talk of something
besides troops and suggestions of draft.
ing labor service. Why wouldn't it b'
a good idea to consider the merits of this
industrial tie-up instead of precipitatinE
| chaos because the Labor Board has is.
sued an ultimatum that should not have
been issued in the first place. o
David Lawrence reports that the gov.
eminent hopes to pass the buck to the
individual states, and that the miners
for example, make separate agreemen
1 in each state. Colorado and other west
ern commemorative are pointed out a:
having finally reached this basis. Blu
it must be remembered that it has takeI
nine or ten years to bring about tina
condition in the western states in ques.
ton, and the country cannot wait nine
or ten years this fall for coal and trans.
portation facilities with which to move
it and other commodities.
Must Be Solved
This problem must be solved now anc
not six months or ten years hence, anC
in it's solution the rights of hundreds o.
thousands of workers must be accorded
the consideration to which they are en-
titled, for they are not people apar
from the rest of US, they are just goot
American citizens, even as you and ]
contending for that which they conscien'
tiousfy believe is theirs by right. just a:
the rest Of us would contend under SINH
lar circumstances.
- w1-N WN NYRYH