ORGANIZED LABOR.

Comparatively little is known to the general public of organized labor, and the objects sought to be attained by means of organization. The idea is quite prevalent that the principal aim and object is to force the employer to pay increased wages without regard to the ability derived from his business to do so. That a refusal to accede to the demand is received with delight as forming an excuse for a strike.

One has but to read the declaration of principles set forth by every intelligent labor organization to see the fallacy of this idea. While the demands may at times be unreasonable, and the strike or boycott countenanced and resorted to, they are the last resort of the conservative and intelligent element of organized labor.

This is an age—an era-of organization. All classes of business or professional men are organized for what but mutual protection and advancement of interests? There are Bar associations, Medical associations and Ministerial associations. Manufacturers, merchants and bankers are organized. Trusts and combines exist whose sole object is to control the output of a given product, and to regulate the price in such a manner that the result may be a financial benefit to its members. Too often labor is the first to suffer a reduction in wages when confronted by business depression or dullness in trade, and the last to be benefited by renewed business activity or returning prosperity. It is not the intention here to enter into a discussion why this is so, or whether it is right either legally or morally.

Confronted as it is by organization it is not strange that labor has sought to meet organization with its own weapons. Neither is it strange that at times the weapons are used offensively as well as defensively.

The immense majority of the laboring population of this country have not had the advantage of a liberal education. College bred people are comparatively scarce in their ranks. Yet as a whole they are as conserva

tive and correct in conclusions arrived at as any class of our people.

No student of political economy, no philanthrophist interested in the welfare of his race, can listen to the deliberations of labor organizations without acquiring much food for thought. Reared in the workshop, with a life spent in battling for the necessities of life, with few of its luxuries, one is surprised at the vigor of thought displayed. It may be rough eloquence, but one will hear many ideas advanced which clothed in more polished language would claim the attention of a world. The following, quoted from the Indianapolis Journal, will suffice for an example:

But

"One of the most sensible Labor Day addresses that has fallen under the Journal's notice was delivered by David Armstrong, an iron puddler of Cleveland. It was the speech of a real workingman and not of a professional agitator. After declaring in favor of labor organization, of arbitration and conciliatory methods, the speaker said: Lastly, let me say, I have told you I am not in favor of strikes unless as a last resort. there are several things we can strike for, and it will be money in our pockets and also in the pockets of our employers if we do strike for organization, strike for unity, strike for the Sabbath, strike for eight hours a day, strike against our greatest foe, King Alcohol, strike for restriction of gin, strike for American markets for American goods, strike against wrong, strike against sweatshops, strike against every man who insults our star spangled banner-the emblem of a nation of grand people, and "long may it wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave,' and a braver, grander people it cannot protect than the horny handed sons of toil.

The business interests of this country may well stop to consider what is its duty-what course is best to pursue toward organized labor. It is worthy of the closest thought of statesmen and those holding official positions. There should be no strife between capital and labor. Without labor capital is a drug in the market. Labor without capital to direct it is a mob, utterly unable to maintain itself. Labor, organized or unorgan ized, has many lessons to learn. The advantages tendered it are many. It should act conservatively and intelligently. Its demands should be thoroughly considered. A more intimate relation between employer and employed will be to the benefit of both.

The Michigan Labor Bureau has made a canvass of organized labor during the past year, the aim being to ascertain the objects of such organization, the aggregate membership with losses and gains the past year and the material benefits to be derived from fraternization. Wages and hours of labor are also considered with a reference to strikes. Some objection to furnishing the information was encountered, a very few organizations flatly refusing to fill the schedules. Generally, however, the information was given promptly, especially when the object was understood. The inquiries might have gone much further, but it was

deemed better to limit them, especially as this was the first official canvass ever attempted in Michigan.

Following the introduction is an article on "Trade Union in Michigan," by J. D. Flanigan, ex-president Michigan Federation of Labor. The article is carefully written and will amply repay a careful perusal. Incidentally it deals with national and international organizations, and contains a table of these organizations arranged alphabetically. This table gives name and date of organization and present membership.

Mr. Philip A. Loersch, secretary Detroit Trades Council, contributes an article entitled "Historical Sketch of the Trade Movement in Detroit." Mr. Loersch has filled the office of secretary of the Trades Council for five years and is well qualified to make this history. These contributions from Messrs. Flanigan and Loersch should be interesting to every citizen of Michigan, containing as they do much information which will be new to the general public.

After these articles comes a tabulated statement of Michigan labor organizations. These statistics were gathered by local canvassers, generally connected with labor organizations. The business depression from which the whole country has suffered for the last three years has affected the membership of these organizations. Some have even been compelled to suspend. It should be stated that quite a number of those dormant have been revived and are in a fairly healthy condition at the close of 1895.

Generally speaking, organized labor is in a healthy condition in Michigan. Taking lessons from the experiences of the past, it may confidently expect to accomplish much more in the future. The business interests of the State may well extend to it a generous support when it is right. When it'is wrong the mistakes should be kindly pointed out, and an effort made to correct them.

In closing this introduction the commissioner desires to express his appreciation of the assistance received, generally, from all with whom he has come in contact in the ranks of organized labor. He is under particular obligation to Messrs. J. D. Flanigan and L. E. Kendall, of Grand Rapids; P. A. Loersch, of Detroit; John Daane, of Muskegon; F. H. Beyer, of Saginaw, and J. W. Bryce, of Battle Creek. Their suggestions have been intelligent and their assistance timely and valuable.

The cut of the Childs-Drexel Home for Union Printers is kindly furnished by the "Inland Printer Company, of Chicago." It was tendered through the influence of Mr. J. D. Flanigan. The compliment is fully appreciated and is accepted in the same kindly spirit it was tendered.

TRADE-UNION MOVEMENT IN MICHIGAN.

BY J. D. FLANIGAN, EX-PRESIDENT OF THE MICHIGAN FEDERATION OF LABOR.

The trade union movement has kept pace with the growth of the commercial interests of our State; as the latter has prospered or depressed a like effect has been felt by the former. The reason for this is apparent. Combinations of this character flourish principally in the centers of great commercial activity, where large numbers of men are employed in manufacturing or moving commodities, with here and there isolated unions in the rural districts, where a sufficient number of workmen are engaged in a specific industry to warrant. The more diversified the manufacturing industries of a city or village are, the greater the number of trade-unions. As these interests prosper and a steadily increasing demand becomes apparent, they branch out to meet the new requirements, necessitating the employment of more men, and a large percentage of the latter will find their way into labor organizations. But, should any of these industries in any locality become stagnant, or for any cause be discontinued, the workmen must enter other avocations or leave for other points to seek employment at their trade; and in the latter case their membership lapses in the local branch. In some instances, where trade in certain lines is vitiated to such an extent as to decrease the force of workmen to the lowest minimum, and there is no immediate prospect of improvement, the local union is discontinued and its members transferred to the nearest branch of their craft, or are given membership certificates direct from their national or international headquarters, which entitle them to all the privileges of their organization, and may be deposited by the holder with any subordinate branch when he secures work in a place where one exists. This reciprocal relation between capital and labor may account, in a great measure, for the odd anomaly that prevails in some localities that have hitherto shown steady accretions to the ranks of organized labor, but may this year report decreased membership. While some may infer this is caused by laxity of interest, which may be true in some quarters, still the status of commercial enterprise in different localities presents the best basis from which to arrive at an equitable conclusion.

The transportation arm of our industrial system furnishes another prolific field for the organization of labor. Here we find the great brotherhoods of locomotive engineers, firemen, trainmen, switchmen, telegraphers, order of railway conductors, American railway union, street railway employes association, teamsters, expressmen and hack drivers unions while the seaman's and longshoremen's unions look after the welfare of the workmen engaged in traffic upon the great lakes.

The mining interests of the State also furnish its quota of organized workmen. While of late years the germ of organization has been spreading through the mercantile pursuits, embracing the workers in both the wholesale and retail trade, the day is not far distant when these combinations will be found in every branch of industry where the wage system is in vogue.