Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-03-17
(By A. f. of L. News. Service)

(By A. F. of l.. News Service)
Behind every "cant-strike" scheme
Is the purpose to recreate dependent
spirit in labor; to have workers look
to their employers and the state,
rather than to themselves; to have
workers again accept the inferior
mark that was their badge for ages;
to have all their progress come from
above--from a kind and gracious
master or benevolent ruler.
This is the laborer that industrial
aristocrats and their lackeys have in
worker" The democracy of these
Garyists is for election day and
Fourth of July. Other times they as
sumo patronizing pose, and talk of
"my men" or of "my friendship for
,labor"--friendship for those who feed,
clothe and house them.
In the eyes of Garyism, the great
est crime worker can commit is to
be disconnected, though this is a
praiseworthy trait in all other classes.
! The solidarity of labor is the night
mare of labor's opponents. 1t terri
fies them to see labor take, rather
than beg. Even the gains that labor
secures is of less Importance to them
than the manner in which they are
secured.
If labor were docile, patient ana
grateful for gains handed from above,
there would be less objection from
the donors.
But labor is no longer docile and
patient. Ana therein lies its greatest
eSense. For ages, it stood, hat in
hand. Now, labor realizes that it's
pleas for justice are futile unless
backed by intelligence and power.
Now labo' unites, 1t agitates, IL
e,lucates. it strikes When necessary.
Ii laughs at he pretense of modern
feudaliists AMI throws in their faces
its defiance OF slave laws and injunc-
ton edicts.
Labor's devel)pment in the past 40
years has bean phenomenal. 1t has
outstrped the widest dream CT the
most ardent advocate OF unity be-
tween the wage workers. Nothing
can compare with this mass action in
all the combined ages that have
passed.
Labor in this country has done
something Unknown in any other land
unified nearly 100000 workers
| from every section of the known
world and who speak two-score lang
uages and tongues.
1t has disciplined and educated
! this force, despite every power ar
rayed against it. Its gains on the In
dustrial field are too numerous to re-
count at this time. 1t operates 300
labor magazines, and papers. 1t owns
hundreds of buildings many of them
magnificent structures, for business
and social uses. It's cooperative
movement is expanding, as is its labor
colleges, technical courses, night
schools, homes for aged members,
banks and benefit systems.
Labor is active in every field of So
ciail betterment, and on every hand
it challenges those who talk demo-
cracy but who live as autocrats.
when will labor stop" asks Gary
ism, as its psychologists and its stu
dents of the labor movement secretly
report that the workers will not-can
not-stop; that the divine spark of
industrial equality is within them;
that they will extend their demo-
cratizing influence just as fast as they
develop intellectual power and cap
acity.
1t is this confidence in itself, this
increasing capacity, this conscious
ness of strength, when developed
mentally and physically, this growing
power of labor terrifes labor's OPP
ponents. They see the foundation of
their feudalism undermined, they are
alarmed at labor's independence and
faith in itself.
So, blind to history and social pro-
gress, they would outlaw strikes and
set wages by law in the wild hope
that the old serf status may be re-
established.
To secure "ean's-strikep laws the
political and editorial parrots of priv
ilege talk of the public's welfare.
This, of course, is incorrect. Privil-
ege, true to its history, is only inter-
nesses to part of this disgraceiul be-
travail