d. In Europe intellectuals have also played an important role in the trade union movement.
VI.
Unfortunately, the conduct of an element among the intellectuals has made the Labor Movement suspicious and antagonistic towards them.
a. Since some of them had independent income, it was not necessary for them to seek a responsible position as a means of livelihood. Being unanchored, they became irresponsible and erratic—free lances.
b. They assumed a dictotorial attitude of prophets, instead of one of individuals in an integral movement.
c. The self-centered element has contributed considerably to the discrediting of the intellectuals with the Labor Movement.
VII.
In the meantime, a new group of intellectuals aligned themselves with the Labor Movement.
a. They consist of technically trained professionals, such as economists, statisticians, accountants, engineers, health authorities, educators, etc., who instead of considering themselves leaders, aim to supplement the leaders in the Labor Movement by supplying them with technical counsel and data.
b. These technicians are rendering yeomen service to organized labor in supplying data and counsel in connection with the various intricate undertakings and activities of the Labor Movement.
REFERENCES:
Michels, Political Parties. Part 4, Chapter VI, Intellectuals and the need for them in the Working Class Parties, p. 316.
Cory, The Intellectuals and the Wage Workers. Chapter II, Proletarianism.
Soule, The Intellectual and the Labor Movement.
Gompers, College Men and the American Labor Movement. American Federationist, March, 1922.
Saposs, Unionizing the Brain Worker. Labor Aage, December, 1922.
Saposs. Underlying Factors in Workers' Education. Justice, April 13, 1923.
9. THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
I.
1. The American Federation of Labor is the predecessor of a number of national organizations of unions.
2. The labor movement was not long in existence before it was realized that all unions have national interests in common. With this feeling plans were evolved for national organization of existing unions.
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