Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-22

SLShi3 IL Ic 10 pOWSllCSS. liz lAdy 6lNOl
hundred reasons in their behalf; he
may plead for them, and tell how bad
ly he wants them; he may turn senti-
mental when he begs for them as he
groans over his wrongs; he may even
write soft sweet pieces of poetry about
them-but he has not the strength
needed to stand up for them, he is only
wasting his time.
1T is through the manifestation of
power that trade unionism has gain
ed advantages in the past, and there
is no other way by which it can
make progress hereafter.
1T may be pity that it is so, but
it is true all the same. Rights ought
to be procured by reason. If it can be
shown that the working day is too
long for man, there is good reason
for shortening it. If it be shown that
the workers pay is too low for the
proper support of himself and his fam
lily, there is the best of reasons why
his pay should be raised. If we lived
under the reign of reason, there would
be no trouble about rights; but we
don't live under it.
1T is power that rules the world.
unions are necessity. 1t is because
of this that the men of all Industries
should organize in such a way as to
build up visible power.
1T does not mean that their de-
mands should be unfair, or that they
should be guilty of any injustice, or
that they should resort to violence, or
that they should indulge in bulldozing.
1t means nothing of the kind.
"A single workman does not count
for much when he stands before these
prodigious forces that have come into
existence in our times. The hungry
sinner who runs up against trust
controlling untold millions of capital
is as foolish and has as much chance
of success as the man who butted a
stone wall with his head, or as the
ancient Ajax who defied the lightning.
But when ten thousand of hun
dred thousand men stand up as one
man in solid resolute union, power
that is not to be trifled with comes in
sight. The other powers are likely to
have some respect for it; they may
consult with it; they may seek its
good will; they may try to find out
what it desires; and the may think
twice before defying it,"
Unionism to Be New Agency.
| Trade unionism is held by it's cham
pions to be the new agency that makes
every man, who is attached to it a
sharer in the strength of great pow
err. They claim that it would be easy
| for Germany to conquer France if eve
ry Frenchman were to make war on
his own hook" and it is because both
France and Germany are gigantic UNI
ions that they respect each others
power. The workman who says "let
every man look out for himself" will
make a mass of united capital with a
stone wall around it. Power is the
thing. 1t is the thing that must be
gained by unionism. The organization
of the working people is the guaran.
tee of their power.
The Union Label.
Concerning the union label promi
nent unionist says:
Every cause in which the moral
principle has been prominent has won
the enthusiastic support Of the WON
en-. In view of this fact it is thought
that the union label movement ought
to enlist her, in view of it's ethica
purpose.
1.-The influence of the union label is
j dependent upon the voluntary sup
port given by large numbers, which
would be withdrawn were their conf
dence in it's integrity shaken. In fact
no cause can succeed which requires
the cooperation of many unless it is
inspired by high ideals.
THE union label, the symbol of fair
ly paid labor; the guarantee of clean
!. illness and the emblem of unionisn
contains all the qualities which ough
to win the good will of the women
The union label offers means b,
which all persons whose conscience
has been quickened by the sweatshol
: infamy can directly aid in abolishinl
that degrading system of labor, whicl
is as much at variance with moderl
sentiments as black slavery would be
1t debases the home, stultifies child
hood, and depraves mankind. Wha
could more appeal to women's keel
sense of justice than the union label
"In the purchasing of wearing az
parel for the members of the house
hold she is always the main factor
, and by casting her influence on tn
: side of union made goods she will hav
: done more for the elevation Of human
ity than many times the effort spent j
. other directions.