The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-29
ReasonabIeness of UnIonisn.

the United Garment Workers of America,
delivered an address on 1.-THE Union
Shop
Reasonab eness of UnIonism.
Before the trades unions gained their
present standing it was considered a lib
eral concession for an employer to open
his doors 20 union men, To-day the
employer who essays to bar out work.
men because of their membership is the
exception and public opinion would be
decidedly against him. To the outsider
demand upon the employer that the
nonunion members be made to join the
union or be discharged looks arbitrary
like an interference with the liberty of
the nonunionist. and a coercing of the
employer into driving employees into a
union contrary to his own interests. It
can. however. be justified on the follow
ing grounds:
AS the unity of the workers is essen
tial to their advancement. the obligat ton
Is imposed upon every workman to ma
tain that solidarity. Those who remain
aoof interfere with the concented ac-
ton Of their fellow workmen and what
ever ADVANTAGES are gained by the union
men are necessarily shared in by the
nonunonists and often despite their OPP
position. The union and nonunion work
men in the same shop represent two in
cong17ous elements and so one or the
other must eventually give way. This
ella slains militia te= against the discipline
OF shop and interferea with it's eff
cheney. It is important to note that the
men driven into union do not require
much urging; in most cases the mere
manifestation of strength on the part of
the unionists is sufficient to induce the
Others to join and once having Joined
they become Jealous members. This
shows that the nonunion man does not
possess usually the scruples attributed
to him by the employer; he is not afraid
of having his liberty curtailed' by join
ing the union. but. on the contrary. re-
aizes that it's exercise is protected by
organiza ton. Where he is Indifferent to
the union. it is largely because of his
lack of confidence in other worknen. His
stock argument is that he would Join
the union II he thought he could trust
the others.
This explains why the members treat
the nonunior man with scant courtesy
They know pretty we'll the motives that
influence them. BroWbeating or violence
on their part cannot be defended how
ever. Where that is resorted to the ethi-
cal purpose Of the movement becomes OBJ
ocure, and hatreds are engendered that
offset the brotherly spirit upon which it
IS founded. No matter how serious the
evils to be combatted, barbarism can
not be overcome by more barba risms II
the benefits of the unions be made ap-
parent to the nonmember. and if the in
fuence which they can exert collectively
Is insufficient to induce him 10 join
then their value has little strength
In forcing what is called recognition'
or treating with the employees in their
collective capacity. it is held that no in
Justice is done the employer, as moth
ing additional is required Of him than
:the observance of standards maintained
in the trade by the union. thereby plac-
fOnfin0
as far as the cost of labor Is concerned
"On the other hand. it is commended
that this would place. to some extent.
the control of an employers business in
the hands of his employees. But the
unions success depends upon the Justice
of their position and their tendency as
they gain in strength and experience is
to become more. conciliatory and con-
sentative in policy e-, a:
The discussion was taken part in bv
Samuel E. Donnelly. former president of
Typogra phical Union. No g. New York;
Hamilton Carhart. Detroit; and John E.
George, assistant professor of economics.
Northwestern university .~%-2<~
Aims Of Organized Labor. +
''The aims of Organized Labor" was
the topic Of the afternoon session. Frank
X. Foster of Boston, chairman of the
legislative committee of Massachusetts
Federation of Labor. read paper on ''The
Ideals of Trade Unions He said in part
Trado unions are opportunists in their
philosophy and practice. They despise not
the day of small things. Contact with
tyarnny sometimes makes them tyran-
nical. intolerant treatment som etimes
makes them narrow. frank recognition and
fair consideration Of their claims inspires
In them conciliatory spirit ..s
Their primary object is the effective