Arizona sun., 1946-11-01

The labor movement was a child
of the Industrial Revolution. When
James Watt gatheerd together the
discoveries of Savery and New
comen and added them to his own
inventive genius to fashion steam
engine, the seeds of the union
movement were Sown. It was in
1869 that the age of wood, wind
and water was destined to give
way to the age of steam and steel.
This Transformation caused a pro-
found gradual change in the eco
nomic structure of our nation.
CaDital combined to exploit to the
fullest the marvellous new powers.
AS industrial combination crew, an
ever widening gulf vawned between
the employer and the employee.
No longer could the boss call his
emp1ovee bv his first or last name,
Observation-Disclosures
the emDlovee became a mechanical
name or number unknown to the
emnlover.
After the Civil War in America,
the position of the worker became
Increasingly perilous. All the eco
nomic power was concentrated in
the hands of the emplover, where
as, the emnlovee was he1nless in
the face of such overwhelming
STRENGTH. The worker has to sub
->o:A - c4orxyot;o1, 1x,o o,oc o,1d i,ofN1
cradle working conditions. The
DEGRADATION of labor reached a
point where even a common burial
was not thought necessary by many
emnlovers because it was an added
expense. Workers plentiful COM
modities subject to the competi-
tive biddino of EMPLOYERS bent on
getting rich over night. AS re-
suit the workers were paid pitifu1
WAGES and were worked under con-
ditions that mairned and killed
them like flies. When an emplovee
protested or complained he was
fired and another human animal
put in his place. The sole aim OF
the absentee emplover was profits,
profits and more profits Workers
were plentifu1-if they could not
stan dthe terrifying pace. there
were thousands more to take their
places. They were less fortunate
than the animals who were at least
assured of food and shelter. It is
hard for a modern worker to be-
lieve that conditions were so bad,
but a review of the labor history
of this period will verify the data
given.
Out of the ashes of this eco
nomis despotism there arose a
movement of workingmen that was
to change our economic future and
buttress our democratic wav of
life. Workers banded together to
protect themselves against the raw
ages of low pav, unguarded ma
chimes. unemployment, sickness and
the other diseases of an uncon-
trolled EMPLOYER rule. Workers
everywhere rose up in protest
against the iniustices resulting from
boss dictatorship. The only method
available to the workers was to or
ganize and present their grievances
to management as a group rather
than as individuals. This organiza-
tional approach WIS the magic key
tht onened the dor to fair deal
for the workers. AS individuals
they were helnless, but as group
their bargaining power was as
great as that of the boss.
The voluntary organization of the
workers was not a rapid process. It
was ACCOMPANIED by bloodshed and
unbelievable hardships on the part
of millions of workers. The work
ers today stand upon the shoulders
of these legions who made unbe-
lievable sacrifices to protect work
ers everywhere. When employees
blende dtheir voices in protest
throguh unions of their own caooS-
ing, they discovered that they rep