The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-11-17
These Arc startling rae,..

These Are startling Facts.
very few indeed OF those Interested
Co. ,he Industrial and social movements
OF the age ever stop 90 think out The
problems Of the day from the facts Of
past experience They recognize the
fact that q very few monopoli-u con-
troll millions Of capital. eliminate the
competition OF rivals hold up or in-
ercals The price OF che products they
handle. control the legislation of the
states and the United States govern
msut and influence the judiciary, but
they Do not realize that ono-afih oi che
Was,-Workor 0f our country old 20
eliminate The competition OF their iel-
lows as to compel the capitalists 60
overcome thc Law OF supply and De-
maud Uy the importation Of millions
OF the cheapest men and women in
the world. says the veteran George T..
Mcneil iu the current issue % the
American Fedemtlonist
Those who have studied the labor
problem from books only know very
little Of the work that has been per-
formed or the possibilities OF the undo
unions.
The small minority Of trades unicn-
lists. even With their imperfect rfau Of
low dues. have held up and advanced
the wages aud annual earnings of all
the wage workers Of the country. They
have compelled favorable legislation IN
most 81 the states and in the United
States congress IN those organized
trades which have an unbroEcu his
tori Of twenty-five yeau wages have
been advanced from IS 10 90 per cent
within that time. the average adyanel
. 20 unions being about 10 or ~ per cent
Tor each period % twelve and a hall
years or a net gain in tscaty
ycars Of about 30 per cent
The greatest gain has been 20 thos'
unions that have adopted the system
/ OF high dues and insurance benefits.
I Let us examine the possibilities o
the trade unions with dues fixed at @
cents per week With 100000 trad'
unionists paying CD cents per week v'
have an income of $4,000 per week
or SO Goa. 0Uo a year. This income Vii
give 10 each member OF the uuiJa irCu
500 20 $500 death benefits. So per Ueoi
SICK benefit the same amo mt for al
ous-of.work benefit. and a loan system
similar Co that of the lnierlationa
CHAR Makers Union. these benefits d
be- paid under profit regulations, an
amount of death benefit 20 be- deter
mined hy the longth ~ men,bership Il
the union. Fifty cents per week vii
yield an advance In WAGES every seycl
or ten years OF 10 20 rs per cent. ]
. viii secure more regularity Of employ
ment and fewer panics The adyanc
thus gained Nill he a real advance Il
the purchasing power Of "a days WorI
and not a Fictitious rise In wages du
10 artificial processes The Increase
yearly earnings thus galncd throug
Organized effort would mean an On
crease or enlargement 90 the hcccssI
ties % lIfc. that Is. there would b
q larger variety Of expenditures. sue
as tend to a higher civilization. al
this Increase would materially assit
In securing the next advance.
The non-unionist would also feel N
advance. though 10 less degree AZ
rule. although In some calliugs and /
some localities be- would be- advance
20 the full extent Of the un.onist.
The trades unions would Increase {
membership because Of the protcctio
. AFFORDED agaInst unnatural aud force
. reductions Of vases. a. well as the 10
crease oi wages. aud because % the u
. . uancc benefits ot their Investment
with the aycragNaruual earnings
the trade uuionist stated at $3.50 au "a,
vance OF 10 per cent means si5. og.
. other words. by an investment OF 8.
lu bis union the trade unlonist receive
ltl5. or SO dividend. about IS per ccl
- of hIs investment The next advanu
. of 10 per cent would be- no per cent ,
3 si95. or So 80 per year. os Ss35o dp
b idenis. nearly 100 per cent ON his II
vestmout
The non-unlonlst az $3.50 per yet
would De- advanced per cent. 4
b which he has no, paid a dollar.
Z The grand total win convince q
Z most stcptcal that the trade union
p a most potent factor IN the world
70 progress one million trade unlonlsl
- by an annual investment Of 5000.
o. 900. receive $4,000 600 annual 90,
+ dcnds on their annual investment
q We can add the other 1900 900 was
b workers 20 the ranks Of the un'or
4 We viii have a net gain Of tee5 600 o,
Q The competition OF fellow lahorcrs "
d be eliminated. aud the legislation
T. the states and the United States co
p gross would be- controlled In the Int
p est OF the masses. and not as now
tho interest Of monopolists.
a With wages thus advanced. a sysig
a Of cheap and secure insurance este
n lshed. and with interest on money !
q dnccd 10 the loves, minlmum. {
|, capitalist aud the laborer would
come partner W or eliminating