The​ ​Worker’s​ ​Tribune 

 
Your​ ​paper​ ​for​ ​anything​ ​about​ ​labor​ ​related.

Saturday,​ ​September​ ​6,​ ​1908 

DANCING​ ​WITH​ ​THE​ ​DEVIL 

Anarchism​ ​and​ ​America

By​ ​Che​ ​Moorhead

On​ ​Saturday,​ ​September​ ​6,​ ​1901, the​ ​hands​ ​of​ ​anarchy.​ ​It​ ​was Anarchist​ ​Leon​ ​Czolgosz,​ ​put​ ​two
we​ ​lost​ ​an​ ​American​ ​treasure​ ​to seven​ ​years​ ​ago​ ​today​ ​that bullets​ ​in​ ​the​ ​abdomen​ ​of​ ​William
McKinley,​ ​while​ ​shaking​ ​his
hand.​ ​This​ ​erratic​ ​use​ ​of​ ​violence
is​ ​nothing​ ​new,​ ​and​ ​won’t​ ​be
going​ ​away​ ​anytime​ ​soon.
Anarchism​ ​lies​ ​at​ ​the​ ​bottom​ ​of
every​ ​campaign​ ​for​ ​liberation​ ​our
country​ ​has​ ​ever​ ​seen,​ ​from​ ​the
fight​ ​for​ ​civil​ ​rights​ ​to​ ​the
Revolutionary​ ​War.​ ​In​ ​all​ ​of​ ​these
instances​ ​anarchism​ ​has​ ​provided
that​ ​step​ ​in​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​direction
that​ ​prompts​ ​many​ ​a​ ​conflict​ ​and
disaster.
The​ ​assassination​ ​of
William​ ​Mckinley​ ​did​ ​little​ ​to
nothing​ ​to​ ​advance​ ​Czolgosz's
agenda,​ ​to​ ​“change​ ​the​ ​present
form​ ​of​ ​government”​ ​(​Leon
Czolgosz,​ ​1901),​ ​and​ ​educate
those​ ​he​ ​believed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dark
about​ ​the​ ​problems​ ​to
government.​ ​It​ ​gave​ ​him​ ​a​ ​page​ ​in
the​ ​history​ ​books​ ​and​ ​not​ ​much
else.​ ​His​ ​motives​ ​and​ ​confession
are​ ​largely​ ​glossed​ ​over​ ​by
history,​ ​his​ ​association​ ​with
anarchist​ ​party​ ​being​ ​credited​ ​as
the​ ​sole​ ​motive.​ ​ ​Furthermore,
after​ ​the​ ​the​ ​murder,​ ​the​ ​next
president​ ​Theodore​ ​Roosevelt
was​ ​elected,​ ​meaning​ ​the​ ​murder
did​ ​nothing​ ​to​ ​change​ ​the​ ​form​ ​of
government,​ ​it​ ​simply​ ​changed
who​ ​was​ ​in​ ​charge.
Another​ ​instance​ ​is​ ​the
Haymarket​ ​Affair​ ​(​May​ ​4,​ ​1886),
the​ ​bombing​ ​that​ ​obliterated​ ​the
reputation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Knights​ ​of
Labor​ ​along​ ​with​ ​8​ ​people.​ ​No
one​ ​died​ ​from​ ​the​ ​bombing​ ​itself,
the​ ​massacre​ ​that​ ​followed​ ​was
the​ ​killer.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​riot​ ​an
unidentified​ ​protester​ ​threw​ ​a
bomb​ ​at​ ​the​ ​police​ ​who​ ​were
trying​ ​to​ ​disperse​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​and
then​ ​amidst​ ​all​ ​the​ ​melee​ ​many
were​ ​injured,​ ​and​ ​7​ ​police​ ​and​ ​1
civilian​ ​were​ ​killed.​ ​When​ ​word
spread​ ​of​ ​the​ ​violence,​ ​The
Knights​ ​of​ ​Labor​ ​and​ ​the​ ​entire
Labor​ ​effort​ ​became​ ​associated
with​ ​aAnarchism​ ​and​ ​violence,
companies​ ​dismissing​ ​unions
completely,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​union​ ​as​ ​a
whole​ ​dissolved​ ​into​ ​irrelevance.
 

HOT​ ​OR​ ​NOT

By​ ​Natan​ ​Kimmelman​ ​Block

HOT:​ ​Direct​ ​Flight 

The​ ​Wright​ ​brothers​ ​were​ ​the​ ​first​ ​to​ ​fly.​ ​The​ ​sky​ ​is​ ​finally  
the​ ​limit​ ​after​ ​Orville​ ​and​ ​Wilbur​ ​Wright​ ​made​ ​the​ ​first​ ​successful,  
engine​ ​powered,​ ​controlled,​ ​manned​ ​flight.​ ​Wilbur​ ​Wright​ ​was  
in​ ​the​ ​air​ ​for​ ​56​ ​seconds​ ​and​ ​travelled​ ​over​ ​850​ ​feet.​ ​This​ ​1903  
phenomenon​ ​will​ ​change​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​air​ ​travel​ ​forever. 

 
NOT:​ ​Direct​ ​Light 
Alternating​ ​current​ ​has​ ​been​ ​proven​ ​as​ ​the​ ​most  direct​ ​current​ ​can​ ​only​ ​go​ ​in​ ​one​ ​direction.​ ​AC​ ​is​ ​better 
efficient​ ​and​ ​safe​ ​way​ ​to​ ​power​ ​American​ ​homes.​ ​This  than​ ​DC​ ​because,​ ​since​ ​it​ ​can​ ​switch​ ​direction​ ​and 
is​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​setback​ ​for​ ​Thomas​ ​Edison​ ​who​ ​had​ ​been  voltage​ ​it​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​convert​ ​its​ ​voltage​ ​levels​ ​with​ ​only​ ​a  
pushing​ ​direct​ ​current​ ​for​ ​most​ ​of​ ​his​ ​career.  transformer.​ ​This​ ​proves​ ​that​ ​even​ ​Thomas​ ​Edison, 
Alternative​ ​can​ ​switch​ ​direction​ ​and​ ​voltage​ ​while  one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​brilliant​ ​inventors​ ​of​ ​our​ ​time,​ ​can​ ​be 
wrong.   
 

McKinley​ ​vs​ ​Roosevelt 

The​ ​Presidents​ ​set​ ​the​ ​Precedent​ ​for​ ​Labor
By:​ ​Kiran​ ​Glass

Since​ ​1897,​ ​our​ ​nation​ ​has​ ​been​ ​transformed​ ​through​ ​the​ ​eyes
of​ ​the​ ​labor​ ​workers.​ ​Throughout​ ​the​ ​presidency​ ​of​ ​McKinley
and​ ​now​ ​of​ ​Roosevelt,​ ​labor​ ​conditions​ ​have​ ​shifted​ ​and
improved​ ​through​ ​social​ ​and​ ​legislative​ ​action.​ ​We,​ ​as​ ​labor
workers,​ ​can​ ​reflect​ ​on​ ​the​ ​past​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​McKinley​ ​and
compare​ ​them​ ​to​ ​those​ ​of​ ​Roosevelt’s​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​see​ ​how​ ​labor
relations​ ​have​ ​changed​ ​and​ ​what​ ​still​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​be​ ​improved.
President​ ​William​ ​McKinley​ ​was​ ​in​ ​office​ ​from​ ​1897​ ​until​ ​his
assassination​ ​7​ ​years​ ​ago​ ​in​ ​1901.​ ​During​ ​his​ ​presidency​ ​one​ ​of
his​ ​main​ ​missions​ ​was​ ​pushing​ ​for​ ​higher​ ​tariffs​ ​in​ ​support​ ​of
the​ ​growth​ ​of​ ​the​ ​domestic​ ​industry​ ​and​ ​higher​ ​employment
rates.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​known​ ​for​ ​favoring​ ​private​ ​ownership​ ​and​ ​free
enterprise.​ ​His​ ​push​ ​for​ ​better​ ​labor​ ​relations​ ​involved​ ​the
appointment​ ​of​ ​several​ ​labor​ ​leaders​ ​to​ ​government​ ​positions.
The​ ​Knights​ ​of​ ​Labor​ ​one-time​ ​leader,​ ​Terence​ ​V.​ ​Powderly
was​ ​given​ ​the​ ​position​ ​of​ ​general​ ​commission​ ​of​ ​immigration.
He​ ​took​ ​more​ ​legislative​ ​action​ ​through​ ​the​ ​endorsement​ ​of​ ​the
Erdman​ ​Act​ ​of​ ​1898,​ ​which​ ​provided​ ​dispute​ ​settlement​ ​about
wages​ ​between​ ​railroads​ ​and​ ​their​ ​workers.​ ​McKinley​ ​also
took​ ​the​ ​initiative​ ​to​ ​invite​ ​Samuel​ ​Gompers,​ ​the​ ​leader​ ​of​ ​the
American​ ​Federation​ ​of​ ​Labor,​ ​to​ ​the​ ​White​ ​House.​ ​His
anti-labor​ ​sentiments​ ​only​ ​presented​ ​themselves​ ​when​ ​he​ ​sent
federal​ ​troops​ ​to​ ​intervene​ ​in​ ​a​ ​mine​ ​workers​ ​strike​ ​in​ ​Idaho.
McKinley​ ​managed​ ​to​ ​make​ ​labor​ ​relations​ ​more​ ​amicable
while​ ​maintaining​ ​a​ ​conservative​ ​style​ ​government.
After​ ​McKinley’s​ ​assassination,​ ​Theodore​ ​Roosevelt​ ​came​ ​into
office​ ​and​ ​is​ ​currently​ ​ending​ ​his​ ​second​ ​term​ ​as​ ​president.​ ​He
has​ ​revolutionized​ ​the​ ​labor​ ​movement​ ​through​ ​radical​ ​change
instead​ ​of​ ​government​ ​actions.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​striving​ ​to​ ​legitimize​ ​the
labor​ ​unions​ ​and​ ​leaders.​ ​Similar​ ​to​ ​McKinley,​ ​Roosevelt​ ​had​ ​a
relationship​ ​with​ ​labor​ ​leader​ ​Samuel​ ​Gompers.​ ​Unfortunately,
there​ ​is​ ​debate​ ​on​ ​whether​ ​his​ ​fight​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​labor​ ​relations
was​ ​purely​ ​for​ ​political​ ​reasons​ ​or​ ​because​ ​his​ ​philosophical
values​ ​dictate​ ​the​ ​need​ ​for​ ​change.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​not​ ​as​ ​of​ ​yet
proposed​ ​any​ ​contemporary​ ​labor​ ​policies​ ​and​ ​is​ ​not​ ​preparing
to​ ​launch​ ​any​ ​major​ ​initiatives​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​changing​ ​the​ ​system.
He​ ​has​ ​taken​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​many​ ​labor​ ​researchers​ ​and​ ​activists,
like​ ​popular​ ​fiction​ ​writer​ ​Alice​ ​French,​ ​about​ ​their​ ​research​ ​of
factory​ ​conditions​ ​and​ ​labor​ ​problems.​ ​His​ ​main​ ​goal​ ​was​ ​to
improve​ ​the​ ​social​ ​and​ ​industrial​ ​working​ ​conditions​ ​through
government​ ​actions.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​a​ ​vision​ ​of​ ​a​ ​classless​ ​society​ ​and
therefore​ ​opposes​ ​union​ ​boycotts​ ​and​ ​mandatory​ ​union
membership.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​also​ ​hesitant​ ​to​ ​publicly​ ​endorse​ ​certain
unions​ ​because​ ​of​ ​their​ ​violent​ ​tendencies.​ ​He​ ​recently​ ​affected
the​ ​Interstate​ ​Commerce​ ​Commission​ ​by​ ​bringing​ ​to​ ​light​ ​the
abuses​ ​within​ ​the​ ​railroad​ ​industry​ ​through​ ​the​ ​ineffective
Elkins​ ​Act.​ ​The​ ​Elkins​ ​Act​ ​was​ ​put​ ​in​ ​place​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​railroads
from​ ​offering​ ​large​ ​rebates.​ ​Roosevelt​ ​has​ ​impacted​ ​labor
relations​ ​by​ ​attempting​ ​to​ ​recognize​ ​union​ ​and​ ​labor​ ​leaders​ ​as
significant​ ​and​ ​equal​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​more​ ​equality​ ​to​ ​all
workers.​ ​Labor​ ​relations​ ​is​ ​a​ ​prominent​ ​problem​ ​that​ ​impacts
every​ ​one​ ​of​ ​our​ ​lives​ ​and​ ​the​ ​most​ ​effective​ ​way​ ​to​ ​improve
them​ ​at​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​is​ ​through​ ​government​ ​aid.
President​ ​Teddy​ ​Roosevelt

Political​ ​Cartoon  
By​ ​Che​ ​Moorhead

(Insert​ ​Image​ ​here)

The​ ​image​ ​above​ ​depicts​ ​the​ ​Chinese​ ​Exclusion​ ​Act​ ​Flicking​ ​a​ ​series​ ​of​ ​chinese​ ​immigrants​ ​off​ ​of​ ​New​ ​York.
 A​ ​Look​ ​Into​ ​Unions

What​ ​makes​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​union​ ​and​ ​which​ ​will​ ​win​ ​in​ ​the​ ​end?

By:​ ​Emily​ ​Noyes

Nowadays, many workers are feeling oppressed. Whether it be from low wages, poor working conditions, or long hours, our workers need to

be represented. Employers and industrial leaders are abusing their powers to hold us to unfair standards and we need to retaliate. Two of the best

unions of the day are The American Federation of Labor, and the Industrial Workers of the World. These unions work to protect individual workers

in their own unique ways. Each union has different requirements to

join, such as skill level and job field and should be carefully

considered.

The American Federation of Labor, founded by Samuel Gompers on

December 8, 1886, is a craft union derived from the extinct Knights of

Labor union. Gompers has worked as a cigar maker for many years and

understands the hardships of intensive labor, and has kept the union

politically neutral for some time, in order to have the best effect on

only economic matters. In 1905, the union hit 1.7 million members,
 making it the largest of the time. Skilled workers are required

in the AFL, which focuses on raising wages, and working

conditions, as well as lowering working hours. Although

being a very prominent union and working hard to bring about

change, women and people of color are not well represented.

The goal of the AFL is to negotiate with individual employers

to encourage them to hire only union members. The AFL uses

their large numbers to their advantage when working with

employers​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​the​ ​best​ ​results​ ​possible.

The Industrial Workers of the World, or IWW, founded by

Eugene Debs, Mary Harris Jones, Bill Hayward, Lucy

Parsons, and Thomas J. Hagerty on June 27 1905, was formed

to help the workers left behind by the AFL. Formed to

represent unskilled workers, the IWW is regarded as a radical

union, made up of anarchists. As a result of this and the

union’s Socialists leaders, it is not given as much authority and recognition as the AFL. Strikes led by the IWW, such as the Haymarket Strike ( See
Dancing With the Devil​), have a history of becoming violent and rowdy. Despite the fact that the IWW is willing to represent more varieties of

workers,​ ​it’s​ ​membership​ ​is​ ​falling​ ​behind​ ​that​ ​of​ ​those​ ​around​ ​the.

The previous most notable union, was the Knights of Labor. The KOL represented both unskilled and skilled workers, as opposed to many of

today’s unions. With around seven hundred thousand members at it’s highest point, the KOL was the largest union of it’s time. Although being

beneficial to it’s members for many years, the KOL met it’s demise after the backlash from the government due to violent strikes. Members of the

KOL​ ​were​ ​not​ ​identified​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​violent​ ​events​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Hayward​ ​Riot,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​union’s​ ​notability​ ​made​ ​it​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​be​ ​blamed.

Due to the circumstances relating to the downfall of previous unions, workers should be apprehensive when joining aggressive unions. The

IWW for instance, has a history of major violence and the potential of backlash from social and government officials. As a result of the IWW’s

radical​ ​nature​ ​and​ ​it’s​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​members​ ​and​ ​credibility,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​assume​ ​the​ ​downfall​ ​of​ ​this​ ​power​ ​in​ ​the​ ​future.

Obituaries
Rosa​ ​Brodsky​,​ ​age​ ​17,​ ​died​ ​on
Saturday​ ​in​ ​a​ ​tenement​ ​fire​ ​on​ ​the
Lower​ ​East​ ​Side​ ​of​ ​New​ ​York​ ​City.
She​ ​was​ ​an​ ​immigrant​ ​from​ ​Russia​ ​and
worked​ ​in​ ​a​ ​shirtwaist​ ​factory​ ​not​ ​far
from​ ​her​ ​home.​ ​Brodsky​ ​is​ ​survived​ ​by
her​ ​mother,​ ​father,​ ​two​ ​sisters,​ ​and
cousin,​ ​who​ ​were​ ​inside​ ​the​ ​tenement
when​ ​it​ ​caught​ ​fire.​ ​Her​ ​funeral​ ​is
scheduled​ ​for​ ​next​ ​Friday.
William​ ​MacDonald​,​ ​age​ ​55,
passed​ ​away​ ​of​ ​typhus​ ​last​ ​month.​ ​He
left​ ​behind​ ​his​ ​wife​ ​and​ ​five​ ​children.
They​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York​ ​City.
MacDonald​ ​was​ ​a​ ​manager​ ​and​ ​former
worker​ ​in​ ​a​ ​.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​remembered​ ​as​ ​a
dedicated​ ​and​ ​steadfast​ ​worker.
George​ ​O’Connell​,​ ​age​ ​21,
died​ ​of​ ​an​ ​injury​ ​gotten​ ​in​ ​the​ ​textile
mill​ ​in​ ​which​ ​he​ ​was​ ​a​ ​worker.​ ​He​ ​was
the​ ​son​ ​of​ ​Irish​ ​immigrants​ ​and​ ​lived​ ​in
New​ ​York.​ ​He​ ​followed​ ​labor​ ​politics
and​ ​hoped​ ​to​ ​join​ ​a​ ​union.​ ​O’Connell​ ​is
survived​ ​by​ ​his​ ​mother​ ​and​ ​sister,​ ​who
urge​ ​support​ ​of​ ​workers’​ ​rights​ ​so​ ​that
similar​ ​deaths​ ​can​ ​be​ ​prevented.
Remembering​ ​Peter​ ​J.​ ​McGuire 
By​ ​Molly​ ​Williams
In​ ​February​ ​two
years​ ​ago,​ ​Mr.​ ​Peter
J.​ ​McGuire​ ​passed
away.​ ​This​ ​marked
the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the
founding​ ​members
of​ ​labor​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is
today.​ ​Taking​ ​this
opportunity​ ​to
remember​ ​his​ ​life
and​ ​his​ ​work​ ​is
important​ ​not​ ​only
because​ ​he​ ​was​ ​a
well-spoken​ ​and​ ​highly​ ​moral​ ​man,​ ​but​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is​ ​imperative
that​ ​his​ ​legacy​ ​continues.​ ​McGuire’s​ ​accomplishments​ ​can​ ​be
observed​ ​in​ ​every​ ​working​ ​man​ ​who​ ​fights​ ​for​ ​the​ ​rights​ ​that
are​ ​owed​ ​to​ ​him.
McGuire​ ​grew​ ​up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Lower​ ​East​ ​Side​ ​of​ ​New​ ​York
City​ ​and​ ​left​ ​school​ ​at​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​11​ ​to​ ​help​ ​earn​ ​money​ ​for​ ​his
family.​ ​When​ ​he​ ​became​ ​an​ ​apprentice​ ​at​ ​a​ ​piano​ ​shop,​ ​he
experienced​ ​the​ ​long,​ ​hard​ ​hours​ ​of​ ​work​ ​and​ ​low​ ​wages​ ​that
are​ ​familiar​ ​to​ ​so​ ​many​ ​men​ ​today.
McGuire​ ​was​ ​active​ ​in​ ​labor​ ​politics​ ​from​ ​the​ ​age​ ​of​ ​15,
and​ ​from​ ​then​ ​on​ ​he​ ​devoted​ ​his​ ​life​ ​to​ ​the​ ​promotion​ ​of​ ​the
common​ ​worker.​ ​He​ ​participated​ ​in​ ​protests​ ​and​ ​radical​ ​union
meetings,​ ​becoming​ ​quickly​ ​well-known​ ​as​ ​an​ ​articulate​ ​and
powerful​ ​speaker.​ ​He​ ​helped​ ​to​ ​establish​ ​the​ ​Social​ ​Democratic
party,​ ​and,​ ​in​ ​1881,​ ​he​ ​co-formed​ ​the​ ​United​ ​Brotherhood​ ​of
Carpenters.​ ​With​ ​McGuire​ ​at​ ​the​ ​hilt,​ ​this​ ​has​ ​become​ ​one​ ​of
the​ ​biggest​ ​trade​ ​unions​ ​in​ ​America.​ ​Their​ ​membership
numbered​ ​68,400​ ​in​ ​1900,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​by​ ​the​ ​day.
More​ ​than​ ​40​ ​years​ ​ago,​ ​the​ ​law​ ​requiring​ ​the​ ​8-hour
workday​ ​was​ ​passed.​ ​President​ ​Chester​ ​Arthur​ ​neglected​ ​to
enforce​ ​it.​ ​McGuire​ ​took​ ​a​ ​stand​ ​in​ ​response​ ​to​ ​this​ ​injustice​ ​to
the​ ​working​ ​class;​ ​in​ ​1882​ ​he​ ​wrote,​ ​“We​ ​want​ ​an​ ​enactment
by​ ​the​ ​workingmen​ ​themselves​ ​that​ ​on​ ​a​ ​given​ ​day,​ ​eight​ ​hours
should​ ​constitute​ ​a​ ​day's​ ​work,​ ​and​ ​they​ ​ought​ ​to​ ​enforce​ ​it
themselves.”
But​ ​McGuire’s​ ​efforts​ ​were​ ​not​ ​only​ ​words.​ ​McGuire
was​ ​elected​ ​the​ ​first​ ​secretary​ ​of​ ​the​ ​AFL​ ​(See​ ​A​ ​Look​ ​Into
Unions​),​ ​and​ ​a​ ​strike​ ​soon​ ​followed.​ ​On​ ​May​ ​1,​ ​1886,​ ​the​ ​UBC
staged​ ​a​ ​strike​ ​in​ ​several​ ​cities.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​not​ ​successful​ ​-​ ​the
Chicago​ ​Haymarket​ ​bombing​ ​disrupted​ ​and​ ​distracted​ ​from​ ​the
protest​ ​(See​ ​Dancing​ ​With​ ​the​ ​Devil​).​ ​In​ ​1890​ ​another
nationwide​ ​strike​ ​was​ ​held​ ​by​ ​the​ ​UBC,​ ​this​ ​time​ ​supported​ ​by
the​ ​AFL.​ ​It​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​victory.​ ​More​ ​than​ ​23,000​ ​workers​ ​in​ ​36
cities​ ​won​ ​the​ ​8-hour​ ​workday,​ ​and​ ​32,000​ ​in​ ​234​ ​cities​ ​won
the​ ​9-hour​ ​workday.
This​ ​wasn’t​ ​only​ ​a​ ​win​ ​for​ ​the​ ​carpenters,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​win
for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​labor.​ ​It​ ​proved​ ​that​ ​change​ ​was​ ​possible.​ ​After​ ​years
of​ ​work,​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​carpenters​ ​gained​ ​the​ ​right​ ​to​ ​a
reasonable​ ​and​ ​deserved​ ​length​ ​of​ ​their​ ​workdays.​ ​The​ ​fight
was​ ​won,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​added​ ​another​ ​step​ ​in​ ​the​ ​struggle​ ​for​ ​laborers’
rights.​ ​The​ ​life​ ​and​ ​career​ ​of​ ​Peter​ ​J.​ ​McGuire​ ​has​ ​truly​ ​paved
the​ ​way​ ​for​ ​resistance​ ​and​ ​progression​ ​of​ ​all​ ​kinds.

Dear​ ​Abbey, 
My​ ​husband​ ​works​ ​in​ ​the​ ​railroad​ ​industry​ ​and​ ​last​ ​week​ ​their​ ​wages​ ​were​ ​cut​ ​and
a​ ​strike​ ​ensued.​ ​ ​I​ ​am​ ​supportive​ ​of​ ​him​ ​and​ ​his​ ​efforts​ ​but​ ​I’m​ ​worried​ ​that​ ​his
company​ ​is​ ​going​ ​to​ ​hire​ ​scabs​ ​and​ ​he​ ​is​ ​not​ ​going​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​job.​ ​Those​ ​immigrants
are​ ​coming​ ​in​ ​and​ ​stealing​ ​our​ ​jobs​ ​and​ ​my​ ​husband​ ​is​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​stranded.​ ​We
have​ ​three​ ​darling​ ​children​ ​at​ ​home​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​so​ ​scared​ ​that​ ​we​ ​aren’t​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be
able​ ​to​ ​support​ ​him.​ ​I​ ​want​ ​my​ ​husband​ ​to​ ​do​ ​the​ ​right​ ​thing​ ​but​ ​I​ ​also​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be
able​ ​to​ ​care​ ​for​ ​our​ ​children.​ ​What​ ​should​ ​I​ ​do?​ ​If​ ​only​ ​the​ ​government​ ​would
intervene​ ​and​ ​enforce​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​wage.​ ​I​ ​need​ ​advice​ ​on​ ​what​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​him​ ​because​ ​I
can’t​ ​work​ ​so​ ​he​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only​ ​one​ ​bringing​ ​in​ ​any​ ​money​ ​and​ ​if​ ​he​ ​gets​ ​laid​ ​off,​ ​we
will​ ​have​ ​nothing.
Thanks,
Elaine​ ​Waters
 A​ ​More​ ​Musical​ ​Union 
By​ ​Natan​ ​Kimmelman​ ​Block 

The​ ​modern​ ​unions​ ​have​ ​managed​ ​to​ ​rally​ ​the​ ​working​ ​masses​ ​of​ ​America​ ​for​ ​their​ ​cause.​ ​In​ ​doing​ ​so 
they​ ​have​ ​become​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​politically​ ​powerful​ ​organizations​ ​in​ ​America.​ ​How​ ​did​ ​they​ ​do​ ​it?​ ​What 
could​ ​have​ ​possibly​ ​made​ ​them​ ​so​ ​powerful?​ ​The​ ​unions​ ​have​ ​many​ ​tactics​ ​for​ ​gaining​ ​public​ ​support,​ ​most 
notably​ ​union​ ​songs.​ ​Unions​ ​are​ ​made​ ​up​ ​of​ ​mostly​ ​unskilled​ ​and​ ​uneducated​ ​workers​ ​that​ ​who​ ​are​ ​in​ ​many 
cases​ ​illiterate​ ​and,​ ​therefore;​ ​can’t​ ​ ​read​ ​pamphlets​ ​or​ ​essays.​ ​The​ ​most​ ​compelling​ ​method​ ​to​ ​arouse​ ​the 
public​ ​is​ ​through​ ​songs​ ​and​ ​chants.​ ​The​ ​songs​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​carefully​ ​crafted​ ​so​ ​that​ ​the​ ​lyrics​ ​can​ ​be​ ​easily 
remembered​ ​but​ ​also​ ​hold​ ​enough​ ​meaning​ ​to​ ​catch​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​of​ ​the​ ​business​ ​owners.  
 
 
Take​ ​the​ ​song​ ​“Solidarity​ ​Forever”.​ ​The​ ​meaning​ ​of​ ​“Solidarity​ ​Forever”​ ​is​ ​in​ ​the​ ​verses​ ​while​ ​the​ ​catchy 
chorus​ ​is​ ​easily​ ​remembered​ ​and​ ​sung​ ​by​ ​everyone.​ ​The​ ​verses​ ​all​ ​end​ ​the​ ​same​ ​way​ ​so​ ​that​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​helps 
complete​ ​each​ ​verse.​ ​This​ ​and​ ​the​ ​repetitive​ ​chorus​ ​keeps​ ​the​ ​crowd​ ​from​ ​losing​ ​focus​ ​and​ ​taking​ ​all​ ​power​ ​from​ ​the​ ​song.​ ​It​ ​almost​ ​feels 
like​ ​a​ ​chant​ ​that​ ​grows​ ​stronger​ ​and​ ​more​ ​powerful​ ​as​ ​the​ ​song​ ​goes​ ​on.  
 
 
 
Works​ ​cited 

1. “American​ ​Federation​ ​of​ ​Labor.”​ ​U.S.​ ​History​,​ ​www.ushistory.org/us/37d.asp.

2. America:​ ​Pathways​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Present​ ​Modern​ ​American​ ​History​.​ ​Prentice​ ​Hall.
3. “Samuel​ ​Gompers​ ​and​ ​the​ ​American​ ​Federation​ ​of​ ​Labor.”​ ​Digital​ ​History​,

www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3193.

1. “Peter​ ​J.​ ​McGuire.”​ ​AFL-CIO​,​ ​2017.​ ​Accessed​ ​24​ ​Oct.​ ​2017.

2. Peter​ ​J.​ ​McGuire​.​ ​1​ ​Jan.​ ​1906.​ ​Wikipedia​.​ ​Accessed​ ​24​ ​Oct.​ ​2017.

3. "United​ ​Brotherhood​ ​of​ ​Carpenters​ ​and​ ​Joiners​ ​America​ ​(UBCJA)​ ​Archives."​ ​U​ ​of​ ​ ​Maryland.​ ​ArchivesUM​.​ ​Accessed​ ​24​ ​Oct.

2017.​ ​Raw​ ​data.

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