The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-05-07

: New York, May 5.-Henry White,
secretary of the United Garment Work
ers Of America, gives to organized la
Dor: some timely advice for this period
OF !, the year, when efforts are being
made to adjust trade conditions. He
says:
i The chief test .of unionism is it's ef-
feet upon the character Of the individ-
ual workman.
:: It is not sufficient to show that un-
ionism has advanced the worker mater
tally.
II the labor struggle tends to make
the laborer -self-reliant and develop his
foculties, it is of inestemiable value.
If, however, it tends ultimately to
suppress the individual, lessen, his ca
pacity and make him subordinate to
the mass, it not only fails of it's pur-
pose, but works serious injury.
The individual workman under mod
ern methods Of industry is unable to
make an impression.
Alone he is a nonentity. His individ-
uality in that respect is submerged.
He regains it by acting with other
workmen having allied interests. In
dividual striving then gives way to
joint endeavor.
Personal ambition today has compar-
itively little outlet unless collectively
expressed. The single workman in Or
der to advance himself is obliged to
help improve the lot of his fellows. Or
ganization comes to his aid. In SO far,
therefore, as combination enables him
to do that it is beneficent
10th ohjoo% of o,ro o;vo
tion Is to obtain for the individual
member more freedom, in order to en-
able him better to cope with hard con-
ditions and thereby increase his chances
IN an unequal contest; but when unions
gain a foothold and feel secure they re-
lax. in their vigilance and soon lose the
virile qualities: which enable them to
Withstand adversity.>
Their object then is to make. things
easy. for the members to diminish their
personal alertness and discourage the
ambition to excel that makes for effi-
sciency:: = ~
h. Its the same with asbody Of men ae
tn Ind iyIdua lie stru1g..
an xiste enes.
ana asddzVglope andas When
|sthe esobject of that striving Is attained
the .hea1thf1l activities are slackened
and decline sets in.
|: That Is why the unions in their early
stages often prove more capable OF
wfthstanding opposition than wher
their membership becomes large anG
meets with a degree OF success.
Unions that have started full fledged
through the. effort Of other unions, and
have gained the benefits of unionfsm
without struggle, are often without
stability and really a hindrance to the
general movement. They contribute
numbers, but that is only dead
weight.
Such members accept the fruits tina,
others have. labored for as something
that is due them. and when the artif1ci.
al props that have supported them are
withdrawn they fall away.
If unionism is to endure and fulfill
its highest mission, the dangers that
have been pointed out must be taken
into consideration.
Individual development must be al
lowed full play and allowances made
for special abilities.
Instead of trying to keep all down tc
level, every member should be pu,
upon his merits and not limited in his
eanings. In brief, the workman should
be permitted the same play as wher
unorganized, while being reinforced
with the combined strength of his fel.
low workman.
The function Of the union is to in.
sure fair play and to enforce stand.
ard of wages and hours based upon the
average abilities. There should be {
grading upward: and not downward
No limitations should be put upon capa.
| cities except for reasons Of health.
BY observing these rules the union.
would make their position impregna