The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-12-01
THE ETHICAL SIDE
OF TRADE UNlONISM IS ABLY DWELT
on by PROF. BEMIS.
Unions Resemble Trusts in Many of
Their Aims and Objects. Yet They
Differ In Many Essential Points
Unions Henefit NilliOns-They Help
the Poor Who Need Help-fEave
Improved Condition of Labor.

| The trade union has been compared
to the modern trust. 1t is strikingly
like the latter in some respects, but
! different from it in others. Like the
| typical trust, many trades unions seek
to obtain a monopoly and secure mo-
nopoly prices. Sidney Webb designates
| the principle as that of compulsory
| maintenance Of the standard Of life
1t might be called both the compul-
sorry maintenance and the elevation Of
this standard, so far as that is depend
ent on wages, hours of labor and other
industrial conditions.
| Under the present economic Crgani-
cation Of society the vast mass of work
men who have no special individual
reputation, as has the lawyer, the ply
sician, the teacher, the artist and tie
writer. are in fierce competition fcr
employment. Those who will work
the cheapest are likely to he hired
Assuming that the many claimants for
employment have all a passable know:
ledge of their trade, those that will
! work the cheapest are likely to be
| hired. Under these Gil u;llSlances I
! Species of cutthrOat competition arises,
! and wOrkmen, weak individually, with
out much financial resource or know
ledge Of trade conditions, are under
! the temptation to work for less
than it is to the advantage of society
that they should receive. Business
prosperity is advanced by high pur-
chasing power among the masses. To
develop this power is vastly more inn
pOrtant and permanent in it's effects
upon industrial prosperity than the
crowding upon foreign markets of the
so-colled surplus products of our
factories. Under any rational distri-
button of income our industries would
never have much unstable surplus
product even if there were no foreign
trade whatever.
1t has been likewise conceded by
most investigators that a high pur-
chasing power among the many in
| creases home decencies and comforts,
morals and education. Sometimes the
saloon is chiefly benefited by high
wages and short hours, but usually
the reverse is true. In the light of the
| experience of England and America,
few are: 81 @Dolti as to deny that tie
| trade union movement has to some ex-
tent improved the industrial condition
of labor. AS result have come the
social and ethical advantages just men
| toned. Just as the trust, however.
often refuses to deal with any who will
not contine their trade to the trust, so
the union often refuses to work with
nOn-union men. 1t is policy of force
not very pleasant to contemplate, and
yet l believe entirely defensible, and
even necessary, IN the present social
conditions, so far, at least, as the un-
ion is concerned. If it is a good thing
to raise wages, and if refusal to work
with non-unicn man increases the
power Of the union in this direction
and if such refusal is not inherently
sinful. it may be defended as an inter-
ference with on's freedom Of action in
order to secure greater freedom from
poverty for all, since any general rise
in the wages Of a trade secured by a
combination Of Workmen is likely to
raise the wages even In establishments
| where only nonunion labor is en-
ployed.
While the union resembles the trust
in many Of its aims and methods, it
differs from it in the following essen
tial points: The labor Organiza ton
benefits millions instead of thousands
it aids the poor who need improved
social conditions rather than the rich
who do not; it is far more democratic
in it's organization, for the labor union
usually admits to its membership at
any time all good workmen Of the
trade who wish to join. and on terms
of perfect equality. with equal chance
with old members to secure the Off
cial positions of control and emolument
We are all familiar with how. when
the financially weak are taken into
the trust, they are usually given only
subordinate positions, and if allowed