Thisisafactwhichmanywell-intentionedpeopleevento-daydonotunderstand。Theydonotunderstandthatthelaborproblemisahumanandamoralaswellasaneconomicproblem；thatafallinwages，anincreaseinhours，adeteriorationoflaborconditionsmeanwholesalemoralaswellaseconomicdegeneration，andtheneedlesssacrificeofhumanlivesandhumanhappiness，whileariseofwages，alesseningofhours，abetteringofconditions，meananintellectual，moralandsocialupliftofmillionsofAmericanmenandwomen。Thereareemployersto-daywho，likethegreatcoaloperators，speakasthoughtheywerelordsofthesecountlessarmiesofAmericans，whotoilinfactory，inshop，inmillandinthedarkplacesundertheearth。Theyfailtoseethatallthesemenhavetherightandthedutytocombinetoprotectthemselvesandtheirfamiliesfromwantanddegradation。
TheyfailtoseethattheNationandtheGovernment，withintherangeoffairplayandajustadministrationofthelaw，mustinevitablysympathizewiththemenwhohavenothingbuttheirwages，withthemenwhoarestrugglingforadecentlife，asopposedtomen，howeverhonorable，whoaremerelyfightingforlargerprofitsandanautocraticcontrolofbigbusiness。Eachmanshouldhaveallheearns，whetherbybrainorbody；andthedirector，thegreatindustrialleader，isoneofthegreatestofearners，andshouldhaveaproportionalreward；butnomanshouldliveontheearningsofanother，andthereshouldnotbetoogrossinequalitybetweenserviceandreward。
Therearemanymento-day，menofintegrityandintelligence，whohonestlybelievethatwemustgobacktothelaborconditionsofhalfacenturyago。Theyareopposedtotradeunions，rootandbranch。Theynotetheunworthyconductofmanylaborleaders，theyfindinstancesofbadworkbyunionmen，ofavoluntaryrestrictionofoutput，ofvexationsandviolentstrikes，ofjurisdictionaldisputesbetweenunionswhichoftendisastrouslyinvolvethebestintentionedandfairestofemployers。Allthesethingsoccurandshouldberepressed。
Butthesamecriticofthetradeunionmightfindequalcausesofcomplaintagainstindividualemployersoflabor，orevenagainstgreatassociationsofmanufacturers。Hemightfindmanyinstancesofanunwarrantedcuttingofwages，offlagrantviolationsoffactorylawsandtenementhouselaws，ofthedeliberateandsystematiccheatingofemployeesbymeansoftruckstores，ofthespeedingupofworktoapointwhichisfataltothehealthoftheworkman，ofthesweatingofforeign-bornworkers，ofthedraftingoffeeblelittlechildrenintodustyworkshops，ofblack-listing，ofputtingspiesintounionmeetingsandoftheemploymentinstriketimesofviciousanddesperateruffians，whoareneitherbetternorworsethanarethethugswhoareoccasionallyemployedbyunionsunderthesinistername，“entertainmentcommittees。”Ibelievethattheoverwhelmingmajority，bothofworkmenandofemployers，arelaw-abidingpeaceful，andhonorablecitizens，andIdonotthinkthatitisjusttolayuptheerrorsandwrongsofindividualstotheentiregrouptowhichtheybelong。Ialsothink——andthisisabeliefwhichhasbeenborneuponmethroughmanyyearsofpracticalexperience——thatthetradeunionisgrowingconstantlyinwisdomaswellasinpower，andisbecomingoneofthemostefficientagenciestowardthesolutionofourindustrialproblems，theeliminationofpovertyandofindustrialdiseaseandaccidents，thelesseningofunemployment，theachievementofindustrialdemocracyandtheattainmentofalargermeasureofsocialandindustrialjustice。
IfIwereafactoryemployee，aworkmanontherailroadsorawage-