Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-08-22
LABOR
Organized and Unoreanlzed.


Organized and Unorganlzed.
THE FARMER AND UNION LABOR.
In the Logan Observer OF August 8
appeared the following, clipped from
the Little Sioux independent:
Among the questions for the next
meeting of the Elk Grove Farmers
club, W. lind this one, which we deem
Ilmpurtant:
"uow may or can the farmers pro-
tsct themselves against union labor
j NJ Holton."
We are not member of the society
and may not be able to attend its dis
cussions, but may be- permitted to in-
qnire. why 10 such Il question put up
for discussion? What is the matter
with the greatest class of labOrers of
the world that they need to "protect
themselves against union lsbor?"
We presume it has been discovered
that union labor is high as compared
with farm labor; also that union labor
products or manufactures are high as
compared with those not controlled by
union labor. But what should the far
mer do to "protecL" himself?
Union labor is organized against all
other labor as we'll rs against employ
-rs ui labor; so TO reach adegree of
protection farmers must organize and
pledge to withdraw trade from union
goods and union price lists. Let Bro.
I1olton pass u pledge at the next meet
ing and as many as will declare them-
selves free from the s.uniOn LABEL by
adopting one of their own
1t farmers generally would do this it
would not be long till manufacturers
would be found with sufficient back
bone to employ in their works and shops
%homsoever they wish; and refuse to
employ any man or set of men who will
tie up business the first opportunity,
thus running up the prices the farmer
Ut consumer must pay. We give way
for the next speaker.
Now we have always susplcioned
that the editor of this same Independ
ent was somewhat daft, but surely the
hot weather has siZzled his brain. AL
legations are easily made, but as in
this case, the proof may be wanting.
The question itself, while implying
the necessity for protection against
union labor, would no doubt be debated
along the lines as to whether OF not
such protection was needed. But the
writer of the article evidently fearing
THAT the club would decide that no
protectlon was necessary, has essayed
Ito settle the question for them and
points out to them and for them the
EVIL and the remedy, and with a ma
jestic wave of his mighty hand steps
down and out, leaving his vast audi
ence in amaZement at his enormous
stock of gall.
I But let us notice his assumption in
detail. He PREsUMEs sit has been dis.
covered that union labor is high as
compared with farm labor; also that
union labor products or manufactures
are high as compared with those not
controlled by union labor" This is
about the widest assumption we ever
heard of, for if union made goods are
higher than others, will Bro. Butts ex.
plain why those goods sell so readily
aid why those sales are increasing. Fol
1t is fact that for every dollars worth
of union made goods sold ten years
ago, there are twenty five dollars worth
sold now, and Bro. Butts assumption
must be wrong, or buyers as rule dc
not know their business.
We wonder if he ever thought that
perhaps the label" that he so abhors
might perchance be a guarantee OF
good quality.
AS to union labor being higher thar
farm labor. Did 1t ever occur to Bro.
Butts that all classes of labor is HIGH
as compared with farm labor? For in
stance: The man who shovels dirt on
the street gets about $3.50 per day
while the farm hand gets about Sis
per month, or about 20 cents per day.
But after the laborer has paid $14 fol
board and SO for washing and ironing
he has about 81 per month with which
to meet all the unavoidable little OK
penses incident to living in town or
city. And as to the income of the far.
mer himself, even if he has made no
more than bare living during the
year, he is yet as we'll off as his brother
of the shop or factory, for not one in
one hundred of the wage earners of the
country are able to accumulate any.
thing above bare living; and as CON.
pared with the farmer, the wage earne,
has poorer living, fewer holidays, and
has less time to spend with his family
So all considered, is UNION labor high
as compared with farm labor?
But now comes the most wierd and
grotesque statement of the lot, and
one which would never have been
made by anyone who knows a thing in
the world about union labor, or the OBJ.
jects of organization.
"Union labor Is organized against
all other labor, as we'll as against the
employers of labor.
Now there are but two classes of
labor in this respect, and they are
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