Publication information |
Source: Labor World Source type: newspaper Document type: editorial Document title: “Unionist Condemnation” Author(s): anonymous City of publication: Duluth, Minnesota Date of publication: 14 September 1901 Volume number: 7 Issue number: 20 Pagination: 2 |
Citation |
“Unionist Condemnation.” Labor World 14 Sept. 1901 v7n20: p. 2. |
Transcription |
full text |
Keywords |
McKinley assassination (personal response); trade unionism. |
Named persons |
Leon Czolgosz; William McKinley. |
Document |
Unionist Condemnation
Every trade unionist in the country condemns
the shooting of President McKinley. The trade unionist is not a revolutionist,
but rather an evolutionist. He is engaged in a cause that is endeavoring to
better the economic well being of the masses. He knows the history of the past.
He knows that revolutions may have possibly checked the degeneracy of governments,
but he knows more than that. They have invariably left the great masses of the
people in the same economic condition.
The great revolution in France may have checked
the degeneracy of the reigning government, otherwise it in no way improved the
economic conditions of the masses. On the other hand, the organization of the
producers in trade unions in England, not only had the effect of checking the
degeneracy of the government, but it improved the economic condition of the
toilers as well.
In the first instance oceans of blood was shed
and myriads of precious human lives were sacrifice on the alter [sic] of patriotism,
with no resultant improvement in the economic condition of the masses, while
in the second instance not a drop blood [sic] or a life was sacrificed, and,
nevertheless, great benefits accrued to the workers in increased wages and improved
factory and general working conditions.
The foregoing instance illustrates the orderly
development of the real working class movement, the trade union—alone [sic]
the lines of the least resistance, the least cost, the smallest sacrifice and
the greatest resultant benefits. Hence the trade unionist cannot believe in
violence, in murder, or in bloodshed. His methods stand out in bold relief,
when contrasted with the revolutionary eccentric methods of such reactionary
characters as Czolgosz.