Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-05-30

requires the practically that is large
ly missing from his makeup. The Gary
schools, with the trade schools at
Cincinnati, st. Louis, New York, and
elsewhere, are struggling with the
problem, but they are handicapped
by lack OF sympathy and practical In
structors. Now. you and your asso-
ciates claim high Industrial ability.
and SO you become the natural edu-
Gators in the callings you follow.
The bricklayers' union contains
men capable of practical instruction in
the art OF laying good brick honestly
and well, and of being good citizens
while the work is being done; the ma
chinists' union must contain men
capable of demonstrating not only
accurate shop practice. but high
moral responsibility in the carrying
out of the work; and who so compe-
tent to instruct the youth Of the land
in practical electricity and the help
full consciousness OF right motives as
the better men OF the electricians
unions? So on down the list of the
hundred trades in the American Fed
GRAFTON.
Moral Education
Now you may contend that moral
teaching is no part Of shop practice,
but if you should make that claim,
tell you plainly that without moral
education no human activity can rise
out of the mud of misdirected en-
deavor and selfishness.
Look you at the quality Of the
youth of today who will be the arr
tisan of tomorrow, and ask yourself
Of the labor unions are doing their
full share toward making that COM
ing workman Fit to use his tools and
his franchise in making the world
a better place for his descendants to
live in. Stand on an East Side corner
in New York; observe the boys of
from IA to 20, and inquire of your
self II you think their standards are
those that will make this great land
fulfil its high destinies; and when
you have looked, think again about
the responsibilities of the great force
the American Federation of Labor has
within itself. Let us realize that hui
man lives may hang upon the axle
Of the car that is skimped in the
making; that dishonest work in build
ing the wall may bury a thousand
children in the resultant ruins. The
full knowledge of this responsibility
comes through adequate moral in
struction.
Dollars Will Pour In
One of the crying needs of today is
to find competent instructors in the
prison shops so that the victims of
our social conditions may have an
other chance. Who so well able to
give that practical instruction as the
labor unions of the country? Put a
good mechanic at the work of teach
ing. show him the great opportunity
afforded him for intoxicating right
standards of honest workmanship and
the responsibility will raise him de-
grees in moral height
You may argue LAT vast sums of
money, altogether too great for the
unions to provide, will be required
for a plan so apparently idealistic
and altruistic as here proposed. am
no prophet, Mr.. Gompers, but l will
wager that once the American Fed
Grafton of Labor announces Its will
ingness to turn its hand to this work;
once it signifies its readiness to fol-
low this beam of light, in that mo-
ment will it find millions at its dis
posal for the purpose.
You and your associates would not
be asked to contribute funds; you
would be asked to expend and adj
minister them. You could not avoid
these moneys, for know they would
pour in upon you for the purpose.
Men with huge fortunes waste their
dollars in education that is largely
worthless because in their helpless
ness they know no better way. Give
great capital the chance to work on
even terms with you, furnishing the
mony where you furnish the instruc-
ton, and see how much antagonism
and waste will disappeari When
Louis Brandeis said that the railroads
wasted a million dollars a day he
might as truthfully have laid a great
er charge at the door of industrial
methods today.
For Better Citizenship
If it be asked in what concrete