Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-11-05


Very few indeed of those interested
in the industrial and social movements
of the age ever stop to think out the
problems of the day from the facts of
past experience. They recognize the
fact that very few monopolists con-
troll millions of capital; eliminate the
competition of rivals; hold mp or in
crease the price of the products they
handle; control the legislation Of the
states and the United States govern
ment. and influence the judiciary; but
they do not realize that one-tifth OF the
wage-workers of our country did so
eliminate the competition of their fell
lows as to compel the capitalists to
overcome the law of supply and de-
mand by the importation of millions
of the cheapest men and women in
the world, says the veteran George e.
Mcneil in the current issue Of the
American Federationist.
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 trade
unions.
The small minority of trades union
lists, even with their imperfect Plan of
low dues, have held up and advanced
the wages and annual earnings of all
the wage workers of the country. They
have compelled favorable legislation in
most of the states and in the United
States congress N those organized
trades which have an unbroken his
tory of twenty-five years wages have
been advanced from Is to so per cent
within that time, the average advance
to unions being about 10 or II per cent
for each period of twelve and hall
years, or a net gain in twenty-five
years of about 80 per cent.
The greatest gain has been to those
unions that have adopted the system
of high dues and insurance benefits.
Let us examine the possibilities of
the trade unions with dues fixed at 80
cents per week. With 100000 trade
unionists paying so cents per week We
have an income of 100000 per week,
or S26, 100000 year. This income will
give to each member of the union from
500 to $500 death benefits, Sc per week
sick benefit, the same amount for an
out -of-work benefit, and loan system
similar to that of the International
Cigar Makers Union, these benefits to
be paid under profit regulations, the
amount of death benefit to be deter
mined by the length of membership in
the union. Fifty cents per week will
yield an advance in wages every seven
or ten years of 10 to Is per cent. 1t
will secure more regularity of employ
ment and fewer panics. The advance
thus gained will be a real advance in
the purchasing power of days work
and not fictitious rise in wages due
to artificial processes. The increased
yearly earnings thus gained through
organized effort would mean an in
crease or enlargement of the hecessi-
ties of life; that is, there would be
a larger variety of expenditures, such
as tend to a higher civilization, and
this increase would materially assist
in securing the next advance.
The non-unionist would also feel the
advance, though to less degree as
rule. although in some callings and in
some localities he would be advanced
to the full extent of the unionist.
The trades unions would increase in
membership because Of the protection
afforded against unnatural and forced
reductions of wages, as well as the in
crease of wages, and because of the in
surance benefits of their investment.
With the average annual earnings of
the trade unionist stated at $3.50 an adj
vance of 10 per cent means $45, or, in
other words, by an investment of $26
in his union, the trade unionist receives
S45, or $40 dividend, about rs per cent
of his investment. The next advance
of 10 per cent would be 10 per cent on
$495, or $49.50 per year, or $23.50 div
idends, nearly 100 per cent on his in
vestment.
The non-unionist at $3.50 per year
would be advanced per cent, for
which he has not paid a dollar.
The grand total. will convince the
most skeptical that the trade union is
a most potent factor in the worlds
One million trade unionists,