A SIGNIFICANT ILLUSTRATION.
AFTER all has been said that can be said about organized labor's ability to resist organized capital, it is a peculiar fact that some of the shrewdest capitalists, employers of large numbers of men, have encouraged the labor organizations. One of this class was the late Senator Hanna. He was himself an organizer of men, and a manipulator of societies. As a politician, he knew the expediency of getting men into clubs and associations for their more convenient handling. Under such conditions it is only necessary to have a controlling influence over a few leaders, and these in turn are expected to control the societies. How willing these dependent men are to be managed, and how credulous they are of union possibilities, is set forth in a labor paper, the Car Journal. In urging men to attend meetings, it illustrates a prevailing ignorance, and, incidentally, how the members allow themselves to be managed, in the following dialogue:— “What labor paper do you read?”9“None.”
“Why?”
“Hain't time to read one. Take more papers now than I can read.”
“Do you belong to any labor union?”
“You bet I do.”
“When and where will your next meeting be held?”
“Don't know.”
“What are the organizers of your union doing?”
“Don't know.”
“Have you any organizers in the field?”
“Don't know.”
“Is your union doing anything?”
“I suppose it is; don't really know.”
“Where is organization work most needed?”
“Don't know.”
“What is the total membership of your union?”
“Don't know.”
“Who are the officers of your lodge?”
“Don't know.”
“Do you buy union-made clothes?”
“Don't know.”
“Do you ask for the Clerk's Union Cards when buying?”
“Don't know.”
“What good are you to a labor movement, anyhow?”
“Don't know.” It is not difficult to see the possible workings of the organization of a host of such men. And the illustration comes from a labor-union source, which makes it all the more significant.