Correspondence

Progress, Volume IX, Issue 10, 1 June 1914, Page 1128

Correspondence

Dear Sir, —War, or a state of opposition, is inevitable throughout the universe. "Contention gives birth to being," hence the necessity for laws to govern what cannot be annihilated.

The present industrial unrest is a phase of what has always existed, only it is acute, and alarmingly formidable. Whatever may be the aims or merits of their cause, the leaders of the wage-earners in the conflict seem to be blind to the great fact that onesideness is opposed to the universal law of opposition, and may produce, if carried too far, a gigantic “trust,” a deadly monster which will eat out its own vitals and must ultimately perish. This ultra-federation we must avoid; it is neither good for workers, or employers, for princes, or thrones it is deadly, decadent, and must lead to outer darkness. This does not mean that unionism is not good, quite the reverse. It is in excess, that the danger lies. Every separate trade should have its union of employees, and also its union of employers, but a combination of trades is a “Yellow Peril.” Let each trade union mind its own business and it will become strong and efficient to exact justice ; the history of industrialism confirms this. Fortunately for the stability of the world nature is always beautifully balancing its turbulent elements, therefore the Utopian dreams of fanatics cannot come true, but the pity of it is, humanity is dragged through a hell of suffering that mav be avoided, if these blundering, unbalanced leaders, hacl hearts to feel, and above all, eyes to see, the true inwardness of industrial prosperity.— PETER ELLIS.