The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-29
business lGEf [s||
man <.::|0F|pAhY :.:[R0UBI|[,'El.Sj
He Does Not slumber on a
Bed of Roses and His Tri-
ais are Varied and Many.
He Must Be Patient, Plucky,
Diplomatic, Far-seeing,
Good Natiired and Wise.

While there are many union men who
give but little heed to the numerous
duties and fretful worries which go far
to make the life Of a business agent far
from being a sinecure, there are many
who are ever ready to criticfse these
allimportant mainsprings of the labor
movement In truth, the business agent
is the coming link between the en-
ployer and the employe-the one man
who, through diplomacy, practical
judgment and exhaustive review Of
unionism, must ever be ready to act as
an emissary of peace and justice be-
tween the toilers and the employers.
BY virtue Of his office he is also chair
man of the organizing committee, and
hence must keep continually on the
alert to organize new unions and fos-
ter, as far as lies within his power,
the weaker ones. At first glance these
may seem not very heavy duties; but
1t must be borne in mind that many
trusts are not as easy to perform as
they appear on the surface. 1t must
be remembered that the acts and
words of business agent are amen
able to criticism of every member OF
organized labor in the city. Catering
to the views of thousands of men Is
not the easiest task, especially when
every act is open to q half-dozen meet
ings nightly. It is said that ''famili-
arity" breeds contempt, and If this be
true. then the one man OF all organized
labor who is most discussed, whose ev-
cry. act is noticed by the many men,
bers Of organized labor and comment
ed upon nightly at the several different
unions is sure to receive an abundance
of criticism instead of ENCOURAGING
words. In fact, there are far too many
in this world Of OURS who feel that
criticism is better incentive than
the case. Yet admitting for the sake
argument that hasty abuse inspires
more faithful work than ENCOURAGING
words, there should even then be a
limit to criticism and abuse. AS broth
er union men we should exercise more
Of the fraternal spirit which unites us
in common brotherhood. There may
be some who think that the business
agents life is one unalloyed round
pleasure-that he has nothing to do
but to draw his breath and his SAL
ary-but IT there are any 50 ill-in-
formed as to hold such an illusion,
they are woefu}ly IN the dark. At near
ly every union meeting communica-
tons in regard to unfair goods are
received and motions are passed
that the business abent be in
structed to call on all firms handling
the same and~request a. discontinuance
Of the handling OF T. the. same. s Then,
again, in case OF q. threatenedS lockout
Or strike tie busin ess gent iss called
upon to act as an termed iary, and ia
carrying out such duties he frequently
incurs the i'll Will and abuse of some
enemy Of organized labor, and gains
the credit among employers of. being
trouble maker who should be ostra-
cised or kicked out Of the community.
And then, again, after he has Journey
ed all over the city and made some
new enemies "by interfering with some
mans business" he is expected to be
on hand until 10 P. M. to file his report
and take orders from several unions
In regard to further controversies for
the morrow, and yet, In spite of this
continuous turmoil and embodiment,
probably the majority may feel that
the business agent is not attending to
the duties of his office as we'll as they
could themselves. Truth Of the matter
is that the term business agent"
seems a misnomer. It should be alb
breviated to busy agent, as he is ex-
pected to keep everlastingly at it from
early morn until late in the evening.
| with plenty of kicks coming all the
time. But it is not best to keep along
in one rut all the time. The old idea
of kicking at the business agent all
! the time should give way to little
| least. No one wishes to be found fault
| with all the time. Unscruplous en-
ployers may abuse, dictate and ty-
| ranize necessarily at their employees,
| but organized, labor should not too
hastily condemn a brother, even ad-
hitting that in all cases he has not
| satisfied everyone. It is but human
| to err, and business agent is no ex-
| ception, but he generally receives all
necessary abuse at the hands of en-
ployers. Too much criticism reacts
and is as bad as no vigilance at all.
If the business agent should commit
any serious blunder he is amera bic
to the union and can be asked for an
explanation, but If merely a trivial
oversight 1t is generally best to over
look the matter for the general well
fare OF fraternity. Few, if any, hum
an beings like to be condemned for
trivial omissions or unintentional
shortcomings. and it is safe to say
that business agents are not exceptions
to the rule. &c., brothers, always re-
member that the business agent does
| not live midst bower or word bou-
quets, nor does he rest his head upon
a couch of roses and fall asleep to
| dream that he is being praised on ali
sides, nor does he awake In the morn
ing with an overconfident impression
that though he strives as earnestly
and efficiency as a mortal can, that
he will receive due credit or even
escape hasty censure during the day
and evening: :strictures4~af,d,. conttn-
uous censure does not invigorate and