Labour in America.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 209, 7 September 1904, Page 4

Labour in America.

Labour in the United States has not been organised to anything like :hc extent that colonial and British 'labour is organised. But reucnt years ha.e seen a notable advance in workmen's combinations in thel States. Few things have been more remarkable in the social life of America than the sudden a nd spontaneous uprising of interest on the part of its working classes in the question of combination for purposes of common defence and protection. Tho anthracite coal strike of 1902 startles its employers by its revelation 0 f the immense and hitherto unsuspected power of trade unionism. In that conflict the working men showed such business acumen, such s keen regard for the influence of public opinion, and Such political intelligence, that they defeated the strongest combination of capital in the country. Employers were so impressed by it that they, to 0 , realised the necessity of organisation. A writer in McClue's Magazine, Mr. H. Stannard Baker, treats of this new phenomenon in the relations of capital and labour. Mr. Baker finds curious diversities of opinion among tho employers as to the effect of trade unions. There are two classes of employers' associations:—First, those which propose to fight the unions. Their leaders emphasise the fact that industry is war. Second : Those which seek to deal with the unions. Their leaders emphasise the fact tihat industry is business. To the first class belong nearly all the newer organisations, and especially the citizens' alliances of the West. which have often sprung into existence with the explosive enthusiasm of a Vigilance Committee. Nearly every city in the country making any pretence to industrial Importance now boasts its full-fledged employers association or citizens' alliance, Sometimes both, and these organisations are already agglomerating into State and national federations, of which the Citizens' Industrial Association of America—Mr D. M. Parry president-is an excellent type. Scores of local and State organisations and a considerable number of important trade organisations (like the National Metal Trades Association) are affiliated with tins great central organisation. The motto of these distinctly fighting bodies may thus be summed up :—" Yes, we believe in unionism, but damn the unions." To the second class of employers' organisations, those organised to deal with unions, belong nearly all the older and more experienced associations. These associations, the leaders of which liave long been studying the labour problem, look upon the labour union a s a n accomplished business fact, and while strong enough ( 0 fight, and fight if necessary, their prime object is t<J deal with the unions on an amicable basis.