Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-12-12
. CONCERTED ACTION.
GOOD DISCIPLINE NECESSARY IN
 TRADES UNIONS.

sensiOns a Serious Obstacle to suc-
 cess. j.
 Discussing the need of good disci- pline in trades unions, the Shoe Work ers Journal in a recent issue says:
 Many unionists view the trades union movements in superficial way. The Improvements gained and the policy which secured them, the power the union interposes between the employ CTS and reduction in wages, are inva riably overlooked in the desire to secure added increases in wages and other betterments. The obstacles standing in the path of the union and preventing it's fulfilling the aspirations of this get betterments-q quick element of all un- ions are not seriously accounted. 5
 Not the least of these obstacles, al- though those most apt to escape atten- tion and be given not due importance by the minimizing, are lack of dis cipline, lack of individual support and a steadfast holding together in com men cause. The obstacles presented by employers disposed to be unfair and antagonistic = employers associations taking advantages of every opportuni- ty and weakness of organized labor to reduce wages, retard union progress and later swoop down upon it and ex- terminate 1t; citizens alliances, anti boycott and antiunion societies satis- fed with nothing less than the annihi-i lation of unionism-are given more or less consideration, but the obstacles within the ranks of unionism are passed over.
 These latter are the real serious ob- stacIes that oppose the efforts Of off, cers and active unselfish workers and the execution of any successful policy that may be devised. By some miracu- ,lous process the officers are supposed to accomplish the objects of the union in the face of factions, dissenters in ternal strife and lack of discipline, which negative their work and in some localities and districts make i'm proved conditions impossible. Never theless in those localities the national organization is scoffed at and censured because improvements do not immedi- ately follow the wishes of those ele- ments in the union that are responsible for obstructing the way to success.
 The higher wages, shorter hours, inn proved conditions and union shops pre- VaiIing in some localities are actually used as an argument against the na- tional organization for not securing similar Improvements in the other To- caIities. @ 1tE
 In those localities where the highest wages and best conditions prevail this satisfactory state of affairs can be in- yariably traced to the fact that the workers are effectively organized and well disciplined and the local union working in harmony with the national policy. Where the lower wages and poorer conditions prevail this undesir able state of affairs can be invariably traced to the fa'cf7 that the local tthiotr is not and makes no attempt to be self helping. It's most prominent features are factional fights, dissensions, knock ing, maHgnity to and obstruction of the\work and policy of the national union. The portents of the times do not impress these personal and fac LAO4AdL4 S1Ldb04C1Ss 100SCuSA VI WC4A A44GT ciplined effective locals capable of ben efiting, and improving the workday conditions Of their members along the successful lines laid down by the par ent organization there exists an undis- cipIined, ineffective, useless organiza- tion. incapable of uniting on and car rying out any successful policy. This practice is suicidal, 5 ,s~.
 Each local and national union must introduce and enforce more effective system of discipline, Between the local union and parent organization and on the part of the entire member ship there should be a thorough appre- citation of the necessity of intelligent discipline-at least working discipline that would enable the adoption of ways and means and carrying out of policies made necessary by tue growing menac ing attitude of employers associa tions and aRtiunion societies. If this is not done organized labor, locally, par ticularly, and in instances nationally, will receive sound thrashing.
 The organized opposition to organiz- ed labor is growing in power and abil- ity, to carry out It's destructive de signs, not because it claims public sympathy or support to its cause nor because its efforts to alienate public sympathy from organized labor have been successful, but rather because it has succeeded in gaining local victories against local unions whose personal and factional squabbles, dissensions and lack of discipline have rendered them impotent, both extensively and defensively. . -..
 This has been accomplished by we'll directed movements backed by pow erful disciplined organization pulling together in the carrying out of an es- tablished policy.
 If organizations of labor expect to successfully meet the attacks of em- ployers' associations, defeat further en- croachments and preserve their own potency and usefulness they must in- troduce high degree of discipline and a determined, enduring pull together spirit; otherwise they will be taught a severe lesson through defeats at the hands of better disciplined associa- tions. -s .,
 ErRewA 0R Civilization ,