Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1923-08-31
BY JOHN II. DOSLIN
.dent. building Trade Departm emf. ! neriean


| would address a few words at this
season of the year to those who read
the papers dedicated to labor and its
aspirations.
At the outset | would ask my read
er to visualize the world without a
labor movement and to visualize the
worker without an organization
through which he could speak and act,
and then 10 depict his deplorable con
dition when he would be entirely at
the mercy of the average man as al
employer. The most INSCRIPTIONS
and aVarieious would make the eondi-
ton which all employers would fol-
low. Even though some were in
clined to treat his brother in the
flesh more humanity, economic eondi-
tons would not allow different theat-
ment and it Is only through the fact
that We have an organization OF those
who labor, through which we act and
speak collectively, that a condition
different from that of serfdom pre-
walls.
Everything that the worker enjoys
in the way of happiness, contentment,
rewards and joys of life Is gained by
the collective effort of those who are
organized and have made an effort to
gain recognition for those who de-
pend upon their labor for. the share of
enjoyment that the world owes to
every one who produces or who
serves in any way toward the wealth
of the world. The labor movement
. Ia
bora remuneration commensurate
with its volue-beeause it means
ability TO live as human should live
and enjoy life as a human should be
allwoed TO enjoy it. We should re-
ceiye more than it costs to live in or
der to provide for that day when we
no longer can labor and as free men
we can not expect the employer to
provide for Us when our service is
not desirable OF productive.
Labor Fights Long Day.
We fight against the monotony of
the long day which has recently been
denounced by so many as being in
human but which would never have
aroused the public except for the la
Dor movement. The great public,
which Is in the last analysis the great
all powerful factor in determining
world policies, is subconsciously actu-
ated by the efforts of organized labor
in its concern for human welfare, and
the great public is inclined toward a
higher standard of citizenship and
toward an equality which heretofore
has not existed. What would the
world resemble today if the same
state of inequality existed that eX
listed centuries ago? That inequality
made necessary movement of hu-
mans for solution of the problems
and we have made strides toward a
solution. The escape from that con-
dition is only partially complete. We
have much TO strive for and much to
contend with, to avoid being over
taken and returned TO that serfdom
which certain interests would like
again to establish. The indifference
of so many people to the well-being
of others is every day eXemplified in
all walks of life, especially in eco
nomie affairs, as the ambitious only
have visions as to their own aspira-
tons and objects. The fact is that
business, under the present system,
cannot be sympathetic to labor. Ii
is speeded for profit regardless of all
other considerations.
Must Have Sound Thinking.
The union is the instrument
through which we can accomplish rea-
sonable aspirations but unions, too,
have their weaknesses and we must
guard against these weaknesses and
their consequences. We must avoid |
sudden changes of opinion, hasty and
ill-consldefed actions, avoid economic |
fallacles and organize thoroughly, |
function efficiently and be actuated
by cound economics. We must give
public affairs a good deal of careful |
poedering and recalling of permanent
facts-never acting impulsively. The
union Is essential to society and the
individual because it represents the
cohesive power of man and enables
the individual to meet with conf
dehce and security the problems of
life. But for such power, chaos
would prevail both in human society
and in the lives of the individual
The world is full of problems. These
can only be solved by cooperation and
coordination. There always will be
problems but by organization and APP
plieation of wisdom such problems
will be solved.
| am a firm believer in initiative. |
believe that every man should put
forth his best efforts toward his own
personal success and that it is the
right and the duty of the state to use
reasonable restraints on business,
particularly to protect those least
able to protect themselves against
oppression by the over ambitious, but
the great army of self-respecting |
workers will not look to the state for
protection but will by cooperation
protect themselves against exploita-
ton and oppression. We cannot de- |
pend upon the disposition of the EN-
ployer for consideration.
The fascination of succeeding in
business, such success measured by
the amount of money made, makes all
business men look to business and
none are concerned in providing
good conditions for the worker.
Business is business" is the slogan
The worker of today is the business
man of tomorrow and assumes bust
ness tactics too. There is no use de-
crying business and its methods.
Business and business men always
have existed and always will exist in
nations and if for no