Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-11-19

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appear as
news to many Clayton w.
youngsters in Fountain
the labor movement and the
realm of liberal politics. In recent
years, during the tumultous
times of labor's growth to a
mighty social force, Oscars voice
was little heard. Troubled with
an ailment of his huge and gen
erous heart, no doubt brought on
by his tireless labors on behalf
of the under-dog, he had to take
it easy in the last days of his
life.
But the old timers, who recall
the bitter and bloody years when
without a Wagner Act, or any
kind of legal protection-labor
had to suffer and sacrifice every
inch of the way on the road to
progress will recall the fire and
fun by which Oscar urged the
workers on to a better life.
LABOR JOURNALIST
SUPREME
Few will question the belief
of this writer that Oscar Amer
niger was the supreme labor
journalist of our times.
The salt of the earth was in
his phrases; and his pungent
pencil cinched every point of
logic with a chuckle. He was
also a public speaker equalled
by few in the art of educating
his audiences without using six
bit words; and his jokes and tales
will live forever in the archives
of American humor.
In addition to being a power
full writer and an artful orator,
he was also talented musician
and artists. He played a num-
Der of instruments and taught
music for a living when the bust
ness of organizing labor was on
its uppers.
On one speaking tour of the
Southwest, he attracted crowds
to hear his street speeches by
playing a few spirited tunes on
his clarinet.
EDITED MANY PAPERS
Some of the best labor papers
in the history of American union
ism were edited by Oscar. He
sweated and slaved and often
went hungry in order to get his
paper off the presses.
In 1903 he took over the edi-
torship of THE LABOR WORLD,
in Columbus, Ohio. Later on,
he published THE ILLINOIS
MINER. After working on other
papers for many years, ne finally
founded and published his own
famous weekly, THE AMERI-
CAN GUARDIAN, which he
folded up in 1941.
One of his typical comments
on the troubles of labor jour
nalism was: Running a labor
paper is like feeding melting
butter on the end of a hot awl
to an infuriated wildcat"
IF YOU DON'T WEAKEN"
On the last page of his auto
biography, "IF YOU DON'T
WEAKEN" published in 194O,
we find these words:
"As for me, / have lived my
little life and said my little piece.
This world, with all its trials and
tribulations, greed, cruelty, and
stupidity, is still the best ! ever
got into. ! have not succeeded
in saving it from itself. Per-
haps it is we'll | have failed, for
what dreary world it would be
if there were nothing more to
struggle for! My deepest regret
is that the days are growing
short and there is still so much
to see, love. learn, enjoy and do.
/ would gladly spend my last
dollar to deprive the heavenly
orchestra of good clarinet
player capable of doubling in
brass and strings!
"Anyhow, it's great life if
you don't weaken. have not
weakened. And if there is a
lesson in this tale, let it be told
in the parting words of the dying
Faust:
This is wisdom's last conclusion
Only he deserves liberty and life
Who earns them in the daily
strife
"And so to sleep in the faith
of better tomorrow, always the
eternal better tomorrow in spite
of night and death"
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