I Am Union
Labor*
by Oliver M. Sayler
Of
all the great bulwarks of Human Freedom, I am the latest-born. Before me
came Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus, Trail by Jury, Freedom of Speech, of
the Press, of Assembly, of Religion. These are the staunch defenders of
Political Freedom. Without them, I would never even have been conceived
in the Womb of time.
But
Political Freedom is an empty shell, a figure of speech, dust in the
mouth, without Economic Freedom. Man lives not by bread alone – but
neither does he live without bread.
I,
Union Labor, came to pass on this earth to make sure that men and women
who work for a living shall have bread to eat and the right to say how
much of it their work is worth. To prove that right and to win that
bread, I have had to picket, to strike, to punish my political enemies,
top reward my friends, even to enter the political arena in full force
when all else fails. In doing so, I have made mistakes. I will make them
again. Charge that to my youth!
Charge
also to my youth, my Strength, my Vigor, my Zeal, my Dauntless Spirit. I
do not even know as yet my own Strength. When I do become aware of the
Strength, let my enemies and the enemies of all Human Freedom beware!
But let no lover of Freedom have fear! For with Strength and Knowledge
of Strength come Wisdom and Responsibility.
Young
as I am, I have my heroes, my legends, my shrines. The blood of my sons
and soldiers still stains the Pullman yards in Chicago, the bleak
streets of Homestead, the pit mouths of Colorado. I have lost strikes. I
have lost legal battles. But I have never lost faith nor hope nor
courage. And I never will!
That
is why, across this broad land of ours and wherever political freedom
still permits me to live and breathe, men and women trust me – or hate
me! There is no middle ground!
I
am Union Labor! I am here to stay, no matter how you hamper me by law
and lies and hate. You’d better wish me well! Because the day I die,
you may as well bury the dream of America!
