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THE WAGE EARNER'S OUTLOOK
AS VIEWED BY T. L. LEWIS.
T. L. Lewis, vice-president of the International
United Mine Workers of America, recently spent
some time in the Pittsburgh district assisting in
the local organization work. During his stay
Mr. Lewis gave the following expression of his
opinion as to the general outlook for labor:
"In the struggle of the wage earners to secure
a greater share of the results of their labor, one
thing seems to be lost sight of by many people—
the necessity of a better understanding of the real
cause of the present conditions that surround the
industrial toiler.
"Labor unions are the natural outgrowth of our
industrial system. As well try to control the
tide of the ocean as to annihilate the labor movement.
Leaders of labor unions may make mistakes
that will temporarily check the progress of
the movement. Employers of labor may secure
temporary advantage by wiping out of existence
some branch of the labor movement. Unions that
were crushed have been succeeded by others
stronger and more perfect than those which have
gone out of existence. As old leaders drop out
of the 'movement' new leaders will take their
places. It will also be demonstrated that new
leaders will profit by the mistakes of their predecessors
and will naturally be better equipped
to direct the combined forces of the laboring men.
"It is conceded that the original object of the
labor unions was to protect the wage earners in
their efforts to sell their labor at the very best
possible advantage, and at the highest price that
could be obtained. Incidental to the original object
came the demand for a shorter work day,
improved sanitary conditions, the right to organize
and be recognized as a necessary factor in our
industrial development.
"Under our early industrial development wages
were largely regulated by supply and demand.
Under our modern system, unfortunately for the
industrial wage earner 'supply and demand' is
rapidly being regulated by combinations of capital
and the organization of its representatives.
"The rapid concentration of wealth, the control
of that wealth by a comparatively few men and
the 'insane' desire of those few to add to their
already enormous holdings, indicates a stormy
future for the labor unions of this country.
"Every concession wrested from the corporations
by the labor unions, means that much less
in dividends. Is there any wonder that many
corporations and representatives of capital are
trying to crush labor unions? Is there any wonder
that a terrific struggle exists in some parts
of the country between employer and employe?
Is there any wonder that employers seek to con­
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 43
trol the legislative and judicial branches of the
government? Is there any wonder that some employers
resort to every scheme that tne human
mind can invent to win the contest which is being
waged so bitierly in this country?
"The labor organizations of the present and
future must do something more than determine
the amount of daily wages, hours of labor, sanitary
conditions, etc.. that shall exist. These are
the bed rock—the essentials of our existence. But
these are put in constant jeopardy and all advantages
gained in this direction are in danger
of being destroyed by other causes that are within
our control and may be governed by our own individual
act.
"How many conditions do we complain of that
the remedy is in our own hands? Our efforts
should be to determine between the causes that
are within our power to remove and tnose that
are beyond our control.
"The many oppressive laws under which labor
complains are a result. The many difficult problems
that confront the man who toils are a result.
He must look elsewhere for the cause and have it
removed or he will battle in vain to secure the
reward of his toil.
"We suffer from human laws that are enacted.
We construct our own surroundings. We feel the
effects and denounce those who seem to be responsible.
How often do we inquire as to the real
cause?"
A Monster Tow of Coal.
With the greatest tow that ever went out of the
Pittsburgh harbor the big steamer Joseph B. Williams,
owned by the Monongahela River Consolidated
Coal & Coke Co.. has safely reached New
Orleans. It was a record-breaking trip in several
particulars. Not only did the steamer take out
more coal than was ever taken out of Pittsburgh
harbor in an equal number of boats, but it made
the best of time and wound up the voyage without
loss or damage to any of the big boats. The Williams
left Pittsburgh March 30, with 34 coal boats,
the largest ever built. Each of them held a little
over 34,000 bushels of coal. The entire tow contained
34,000 tons, or 1,172,000 bushels of coal.
The largest tow ever taken down the Mississippi
was that of the big steamer Sprague, owned by
the same company. It carried 56,000 tons of coal.
Of the tow of the Williams, each coalboat in the
fleet was 12 feet in depth and drew 10y2 feet of
water. The tow measured 716 feet in length and
was 260 feet wide. The length of the Williams
and her tow was 936 feet. In addition to the big
boats she carried a number of fuel flats, which
would easily run her tow tonnage to about 40.000
tons.