The Advocate and news., 1898-12-14
The Universal Label.

simplify matters greatly, while strength
ening the spirit of unionism through
unity. The Advocate and News has al
ready given a description of the label.
Regarding its benefits Mr.. Herman Tied
Jens, its promoter, says:
The letters "U. L." in monogram are
so significant, representing, as they do,
Universal Labor, Union Label, United
Labor, Union Labor, and transposed
standing for Labor Union, that special
plea of the writer for their retention may
be pardoned. The monogram itself Is
important from the fact that 1t may be
protected by copyright or registration,
which may not be done in the case Of
separate letters It is altogether likely
that our friends Of the photo-engravers'
union can improve upon the suggestion
submitted and when the time comes the
question of design should be left entirely
to them for artistic as we'll as for purely
business reasons,
A simple design In line with the above
suggestion may be adapted to all cir
cumstances. Being plain and devoid OF
Ornamentation, it could be readily ap-
piled to almost any piece Of handiwork
by either stamp, die, brand or mold, as
well as by impression from a cut on
paper, and applied by means Of paste,
as is now mostly done. The paper label,
however, would be to a great extent DIS
placed bv the stamp. die, mold or brand,
the impressions from which would en-
dure so long as the article bearing it
endured
To illustrate advantages in specific
cases: The objection raised to the bak-
ers' label at present Is that 1t is applied
by means Of paste, to which method Gus
toners raised the objection that 1t is
unsanitary and nuisance. BY means
Of tin mold bearing the design of the
Universal Label, placed in the bottom of
the bread pan, the label would be applied
in the course Of baking and all previous
objections to the label Of the bakers
union would stand removed at once. The
iron and brass worker could apply il
with die punch in half second by the
stroke of hammer The cigarmaker
could print 1t on a piece Of paper half
the size Of that now used and save the
value Of car loads Of paper The iron
moIder could mold the label in the stove
or casting Of his making, and have it
there to stay during the life of that stove
or casting. The tobacco worker could
make an impression Of the design into
the plug" that he turns out and wants
us to be sure to buy in preference to the
non-union-made article The teamster
could have card bearing the design,
enlarged to the design of six inches or a
foot fastened to the seat on his wagon
box. The barber would have the de-
sign in a neat frame to ornament his
shop window The clerk In the store,
the waiter in the restaurant-the union
man engaged in personal service any
where-would have design of the label
in the form Of badge pin or button and
wear 1t in the lapel Of his coat, so the
whole world might know, II it wished,
what stuff he was made OF. The Uni
versal Label could be adapted to almost
every trade, every calling and employ
ment every circumstance, and In man
ner to render the greatest possible bene-
TT to the greatest possible number.
To establish the Universal Label 1t is
suggested that the American Federation
Of Labor create board Of trustees, who
shall have vested in it the property
rights to the Universal Label, In like
manner as the printers home, In Colo
rado Springs is now in possession Of a
board Of trustees created by the parent
typographical organization. Such board
Of trustees may decide upon a design,
provide for the making Of cuts, stamps,
brands, die punches and molds for the
affixing Of the design to all manner Of
manufactured articles, provide rules and
regulations for the proper use Of these
materials bearing the design, supervise
the distribution Of the same, fight In
frlngements and forgeries Of the design
in the courts, and to generally concern
itself with all matters relating to the
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