The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-12
"THE UNION LABEL. "
PRIZE ESSAY WRITTEN ny JOHN
N. BOGERT OF NEW YORK.
The stamp of an Article Which
Guarantees Fair Pay for Its MAX
ers Appeals to All Glasses.


A short time ago the Social Reform club
OF New York offered prize for the best
essay on the union label. The CLUBS
COMMITTEES on organized labor awarded the
prize TO John N. Bogert, organizer Of the
American Federation Of Labor for the
State of New York. Following NAT.
Bogerta essay In full:
The union label AID its grea. possible
Influence as factor In the pending solu-
| ton OF social problems In new PROPOSE
| lion only to that portion Of the community
not connected with worlungmen's trade
| organizations For seventeen years the
union printer, halter, iron molder, shoe
/ maker and building trade workman have
| been familiar with tho blue label placed
upon cigars by the union cigar makers az
O token Of clean shop surroundings and
good wages. During twelve years these
organized workers have found hidden in
their hats tho fraternal message TO them
from the fair factory Of their brother hat
ter. Six years OF agitation by the Typo
graphical union has secured recognition
from other craftsmen OF the one safe chan
mel through which their money may flow
back to the pockets of well paid printers.
The organized workers know the value
OF this means OF mutual assistance, and
will commend 1t TO the large and growing
class OF consumers outside OF labor unions
who are now taking friendly interest in
the subject. They therefore aim to enlist
aud hold the corporation of all classes In
extending this improved line of social
reform work, and they appeal to tho gem
eral public for support on these grounds:
That. while primarily tho extension OF
the label makes the union strong, Il Is
this very strength that begets the friendly
conference between employer and en-
ployed which avcrts tho strike and pre-
serves the peace The history of our
stronger trades unions proves this.
THAT the label is the boycotts subsu-
tute. II puts good Will In place OF sayag
cry Instead OF tearing down tho bad
mans trade 1t builds the good ones up.
The fair employer. asked about his help.
is proud to say. "My men aud | are on
good terms Sec the label on our work.
That a consolidation OF union label in
terests. besides giving added power to
each affilalhng union, has tho approval OF
public opinion because all 10 harmony
there--the label league haa no disputes
| no quarrels between organizations under
| this banner; no conflicting grievances to
| waste tho time and patience of the dele
gates; no sympathetic strikes TO threaten
| civic order.
| That the label condemns tenement and
sweatSnop production for the benefit OF
tho worker and tho sanitary world
Tint the label never tcmpts Christian
fertilization" to assist the factory tyraut IA
the soulless system which is crushing Out
The young life blood of our race 1t would
| Keep the child at school, run the mill WI tn
adult labor and enshrine tho workman
home
That tho label largely solves the conyic
labor problem, when the State adopts thi,
emblem as the mark by which her peopl,
may readily distinguish public work don,
under just conditions. Montana has Jus
enacted law that requires the union la
bel upon onicial printing for all the Stat,
departments. A statute like this In New
YORK would havo prevented the prison
competition whlrh now m.naces the Join
interests of employer and employed In III,
printing trade. Utica. N, Y, iorbds tn,
use IN public works Of any iron mouldip.
that does not bear the Mouldors' unlOi
trademark Of fair production. Thirty cit,
councils throughout tho United States hay,
passed ordinances requiring tho union la
bel upon public printing us a guarantees
TO taxpayers that State laws calling To-
the payment OF prevailing" wagos ant
the employment OF citizen labor are no
evaded or circumvented by conniying poll
| tlctnns ana contractors.
To sum up, the entire community shout,
unite In promoting the union label:
Because II supercedes the strike tn,
lockout and the destructive boycott; IL 4
the outward manifestation OF harmony be
tween employer and weSknan, bindinI
both parties to maintain their friendly re
lations and the continued approval an,
patronage of u discriminating public.
Because 1t condemns child labor an,
humanizes factory life.
beeause 1t minimizes convict competi
ton With free and honest labor.
Because 1t wipes out the tenement am
swoatshop systems of production.
Because 1t has ferreted out expoAsi IN
cleansed the unwholesome cellar bakery
Because II shortens the workday an
gives tho toiler time to read and thin
: ana cultivate tho social side OF lite.
Because II guarantees a living wage an
rational conditions OF employment
, Because 1t will some day free the whit
slaves In our Northern mills-such a
those wto toll day and night and Sun
days, too. In the Glens Falls paper work.
two phalanxes working every hour In tn
twenty-tour, one force putting In eleye
hours by day. tbs other thirteen hours a
night, with no time on for meals. snatch
ing their lunch betimes while tending III
machine all for q shilling an hour an
without extra pay for nights or. Sundays.
!, Because II warns us all TO shun til
y bargain counter, which makes the Cheap
y thing dear when woven with the yirtu,
). sweat and blood Of womankind
!. because 1t stands for quality and hone,
% Workmanship.
Because It Is not weapon for industri,
u war. but an olive branch held out TO bin