The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-01-10
SHOULD UNIONS: :. =.
INCORPORATED R I ! | : !.
AGITATION IN ITS FAVOR COMES
FROM HOSTILE SOURCES.
"e Two Last Large Strikes Have
Developed Argument in Favor of.
Incorporation-Labo Position
What Has 1T to Gains-Does La
Much Danger in Incorporation.

There is no hesitation in answering
the above Question with the most en-
phatlc no, and organized labor pleads
guilty that it's position upon this ques-
ton is prompted by what it considers
to be the best interests Of trades union
lists. 1t is a noticeable fact that the
agitation in favor of incorporated
trades unions emanates from sources
that have. hitherto been most hostile
IN their attitude towards the American
trades union movement. The inferen-
&c IS fair that the gentlemen who in
slsts that trades unions should incor-
porate are prompted by what appears
10 them to be their own immediate
material interests!
The steel strike of a year ago and
the coal strike Of more recent history
developed all the talk in favor of in
cooperating trades unions that we
know anything of, and that it should
be favored by corporations or represent
tatives of corporations who in both Of
these conflicts have bitterly antagoniz-
ed labor, appear to be most significant.
Objections to incorporated trades
unions rests, first, upon the needless
of such a move and, second, upon the
danger Of bankrupting the treasures
Of trades unions by and through court
Htigations if they should become in
corporated.
1t is not necessary to incorporate a
trades union to ensure the inviolibility
Of contracts that may be entered into
between trades unions and employers.
During the four years that the Boot
and Shoe Workers Union has been in
existence, says the Boston Shoe Work
er, we have made contracts with
employers from all parts of the
country. Our contracts, rs all contracts
that are worthy of the name, involve
mutual obligations and mutual ad-
vantages. In our agreement with shoe
manufacturers we surrender the right
to strike. Our employers surrender
their arbitrary right to enforce condi-
tons to their liking by such arbitrary
methods as the lockout. We agree
that all questions of wages and condi-
tons Of labor must be settled by m,1tu-
al agreement, Or in the event Of failing
to reach a conclusion by that method,
then by arbitration. There are GER
tain advantages in this agreement
both for us and for the employer. It
ensures steady work without interup-
IionE and large wages that disinterested
parties decide are as good as: the trade
cAtsasts :ss43l1 All ltt{sn
We have no right to expect any more
shan this, and if we did attempt tuI
secure more than this we must fall.
leaving out of consideration all ques-
tons Of honor, it appears that our own
best interests will prompt us to live
religiously up to our agreements. Shoe
manufa cturers do not find it necessary
to haul us before a court of law to
compel us to live up to our contract.
1t is not on record that we have In
any single instance given our employ
ers occasion to regret that we were
not incorporated SO that we might be
compelled to do that which we other
wise would not do. Until those who
favor the Incorporation of trades
unions to violate their agreements with
their employers, they have no case
against us.
The danger Of such move to trades
unions is clearly indicated in the in
vestigation which is now going on be-
fore President Roosevelt's arbitration
commission. A glance at the dizzy
array of legal talet at the command
Of the coal operators give us a fore
cast of what trades unions will be
called upon to do in order to protect
their interests in a court of law. Coal
operators count their resources by the
million and hundreds Of millions
Trades unions are not so we'll fixed.
Their treasures are not abnormally
, large as that of the designing employ
err who may find it to his interest to
first bankrupt the tradeA union by
legal procedure and then when it is
impoverished proceed against. them in
the industrial field by lockout or other
wise. The Boot and Shoe Workers.