The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-07
Union Labels and Cards.


 Labels or emblems are common to fra ternai ana secret organizations. The square and compass of Masonry, the links Tor Odd Fellowship. the visor for Pyth- ianism and so on are familiar emblems 10 the public and their significance Is generally recognized by the people. These ana such emblems, however, are not used Tor mercenary purposes or as incentives to prescription, to oppression. to violent discrimlnation. They simply distinguish a brotherhood, and emphasize the principle or good will to men. No little child suf- ters Tor food, no mother Is burdened with distress and want; no father or husband is forced to idleness and penury: no pri- vate interests are jeopardized, injured or sacrificed ana no public bencficence is threatened or attacked by the use or dis play of such emlems.
 A different function it appears attaches to the purposes or at least to the uses of the union label. It means apparently prescription, discrimination, obliteration. Instead of unifying, 1t would disorganze. It's purpose is to repel all who do not submit to its domination or come under its sway It represses all independence Of Judgment. all personal liberty Of ac- ton and presents d barrier to the exer- else of the commonest rights of free man.
 Under the constitution and laws of the land no citizen is compelled or required to join any organization. fraternlt" club. union or society or to take any oath of allegiance to any power not of his own country, or to pay any taxes not properly and legally assessed for public uses in order that he might labor for his daily bread or to support dependents. But the union label interposes and demands allc- glance or the opportunity of work shall be denied.
 The attempt at this utterly un-Amcrican propaganda, most soberly and determln- edly pursued, however by certain so- called labor leaders verges ofttimes on the ridiculous. An instance occurred not long since illustrating d phase of 1t: An IUnOrl mi and ga Wkav lQnkinV from one of the coal mining camps sauntered into store and marching up to one of the clerks. said. Show me .yodr keerd," :" The clerk replied. We don't keep cards for sale. This is not d book store." The man again blurted out, Show me ther union keerd." The clerk rather inpatient kind for sale. Is that all you wanted?" No. want pair of shoes. do you keeE emf" Certainly, why didn't you say so. and took him to the shoe counter. the man finally adding, II SNOW. it's fun told to ask for. your 'keerd' first"
 People can imagine the condition, of business and trade in community where this union ''keerd" propaganda is at tempted. Sensible people are after goods, not 'keerds," and if the goods are all of the right quantity and the prices low or reasonable and just, what the purchasers want all the 'keerdS" in the world wont affect their action.
 suppose a QlViSlOn SnOuIu come between those who first seek "keerds' before buy ing and those who want simply the goods. Which class of trade would the merchants prefer?
 goes to show to what extent some people will go to attract business, where the almighty dollar Is a much more powerful lodestone than ones own independence and self-respect. People driving on Ar lington Avenue and its extension. Hall Avenue. who instead of driving over the bridge drive through the creek to water their animals, notice this inscription painted on the side of the timbers of the bridge: We respect the union; come and trade with us" then follows the name of a firm in town. The desperate effort to pander to a certain class is so evident that it cannot fail to naturally disgust intelligent members of that class. The idea that because one respects or says he respects somebody that fact should command the latter's trade Is rather too far fetched for this utilitarian age. We very seriously doubt that any self re- specting union or laboring man would re- spect or trade with a man or house mak- ing such a demeaning appeal.
 Another incident that occurred lately in Birmingham shows the abortlveness of such attempts to force trade out of legit- innate and Oo the purchaser) self respect ing channels: A prominent house there was importuned by some labor @ lead CTS and union label propagandists to put in some union labor overhals They did
 
 ing more than their regular stock they were obliged to charge cents additional per pair. That settled It. Out of that union label stock they have sold just one pair They regularly called the attention of their customers. laboring men and mechanics and members of trade unions to these unicn label goods. but that s cents difference turned the scale. Their customers said that they couldn't see that they were any better goods and they didn't care. about paying cents for the union label.
 And they were right. It isn't common sense; it isn't AInericanism People wish value received. It is business, not sent iment with them If union labels and cards offered or assured them bargains then they would be a power in tho land and we would all exhaust our breath in yelling for them. But just imagine if one can under the present circumstances, in- stores and places of business and calling for union cards and labels instead of call ing for the goods they wish to purchase