The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-05-25
SOME UNION FAC / 5 5

0V UlVIVlv fAvI ID.
NOT GENERALLY KNOWN BY AVER
= AGE PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE.
Why Do Professional Men Join Their
OFHanisatione-T Unions Make
For q Higher Glass of Workman
ship.-They Are q Safety Valve for
the Natural Discontent Engender-
ed by Fierce Competitive System.
To workingman it is a puzzling fact.
that the question is never asked. why
should physician Join a medical sQcie-
ty? Why should a lawyer affiliate him.
self with the bar association? What
induces a business man to pay initia-,
ton fees into a chamber of commerce.?
These people join the society Of their,
business or profession for the standing:
it gives them, for the advantages of ex-'
change of ideas and community Of
effort along we'll defined lines; and that
the common standard of excellence is
raised thereby and the individuals
benefited is never questioned. In
practice, the objects Of the trade unions
are identical with those of, the associ-
alton mentioned and many others, and
the inducement for a professional or
business man to join an organization
of the character indicated; is many
times intensified in the case Of the
workingman.
In the keen competition of the bust
ness world expenses Of production must
be kept at the minimum by the en-
plQyer who would maintain his posi-
ton. Labor receives no more consider
alton than that it is in a position to de-
mand and enforce. This is not the
fault of the individutl, but Of the sys-
tenn, and many times employers are
forced against their inclinations by
competition to give the screws on labor
one more turn in preference to yield
ing the field of trade to less honorable
competitors.
Unaided by cooperation of his fellows
the individual laborer would be reduc-
ed to a pitiable state by the constant
encroachment Of capital in the hands
of the capitalists. United for a COM
mon object the workmen become an
effective force; effective in the direct
ratio to the thoroughness of their Or
ganization. United they are in pas
ition to arbitrate the question of just
division of the profits of their toll sup
plemented and directed by the capital
Of the employer. One single man
standing out from his fellows, unaffil-
lated with the union Of his craft, sui
lenly accepting it's benefits, or bawling
Of his freedom Of the tyranny of trade
every such man but FORCES the chains
to bind himself and his fellows to con-
ditions of serfdom.
That labor unions uniformly secure
better wages, shorter hours of labor,
improved conditions and better treat
ment for all the men engaged In the
trade or calling within the sphere of
its influence, needs no demonstration.
No man worthy of the name would en-
joy these advantages without willingly
joining with that union and aiding in
shaping it's policy. and assisting in de-
fraying the necessary expenses Of its
maintenance in the highest conditions
Of efficiency. And yet there are indi-
viduals who not only do that very
thing, but also abuse the unions that
helps to feed them, vilify the leaders,
and seek, favor in the eyes Of the en-
ployer by claiming their superior sub
serviency to the bosses wishes.
Trade unions make for a higher class
Of workmanship. The most skillful ar
tisans of all trades are to be found in
their ranks, and great care is used in
securing new members. to the end that
the standard of excellence is not low
cred by the admission Of incompetent
men. A union card Is an excellent
guarantee Of skill. If the unions could
only exercise their powers more fully
than they are allowed to do in nearly
all Of the trades, the apprentice sys-
TENS would be something more than is
usually the case, systems in theory
only. The employer seeks only to pro-
| duce goods at a. low cost. He cares
nothing about the instruction Of ap-
prentices. Trade unions care for their
sick and needy. Hundreds Of thous.
ands Of dollars are poured from their
treasures annuallyAfor charity, and OF
this the general public never hears q
word. It Is done silently, sympathe-
tically and promptly. They bury the
dead and comfort and aid the widows
and orphans. There is no proclaim.
ing from the house tops. They educate
the members on economic lines and
without entering partisan politics teach
the working man the true significance
| of the ballot and the most effective
methods for it's use. All social and pol
itical reforms of Importance spring
from and are disseminated through
trade union agencies.
They are safety valve for the nat.
ural discomfort engendered by the
fierce competitive system. In Euro.
pean countries where labor unions are
| suppressed and restricted, red anarchy
rears it's ugly head. In this country
of comparative freedom, no terrible
danger threatens.
What is true of trades unions, a.
applies to the crafts generally, i.
equally true Of us. All that can b.
said of each Of them, SO far as thei1
aims and objects are concerned, form
a common ground on which we stant
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