The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-12-30
LABOR'S CHIEF WEAPON

Inc StTlke and the boycott are ef-
fective weapons when rightly used, and
the labor organization without g. strike
clause in its constitution is as help
less as a babe. A labor union stripped
of weapons Of Offense and defense is
as useless in the cause Of labor as an
army without leaders and stripped of
It's guns. But the armory of unionism
contains weapon far stronger than
the strike or the boycott, and it can be
welded In times Of peace with far more
effect than the other two can be WELD
ed in time Of war
OF all tho weapons by which unior
labor can fight the battle for advance
ment none Is equal to the Union Label
1ntelligently and consistently used it
can overcome all opposition; allowed to
rust and mildew from disuse it be-
comes more dangerous to the owner
than to the opposition. -s. :... e..
When the day comes-and God speed
it-that union men and women every
where demand the label on all that
they buy, then will be the day Of vic
tory and rejoicing. Cunning and in
trigue and force cannot prevail against
this weapon when it is rightly used.
Militia and injun ctions cannot prevail
against it. Prison walls cannot con-
fine it.
But II any provide not for his own,
and especially for those Of his own
house, he hath denied the faith and is
worse than an idfldel."
This is as applicable to the labor or
ganization as it is to the church. The
union man who smokes scab cigars,
wears n-union clothing and shoes, &C
cepts coal delivered by non-union tenn
sters, patronizes a non-union barber
shop, fails to ask tor the clerks card,
never thinks of demanding the label,
has denied his union faith and is worse
than a scab." The union man who pro-
vides not for his fellow unionist by u.s.
ing only the products Of union labor
Is worse than even the "scab" who is
either too ignorant to know or too VIC
ious to care for any save himself
The union man who buys non-union
goods because it is handler than to
hunt up the union made article is union
in name only and has yet to learn the
first principles of unionism. Such a
man is failing to use the most potent
weapon in the labor union army, and
is not doing a union mans part in re-
sisting the onslaughts Of those who
would crush organized labor. There is
absolutely no excuse for any union man
or woman to buy non-union made
goods. Everything that is needed to
eat or to wear, or to- indulge in as q
luxury, may be found bearing the union
label If dilligent search Is made for
them. It is estimated that union labor
in the United States has a purchasing
power of over $1o0,ooo,oo0. This vast
sum If diverted into channels Of union
trade would revolutionize labor con-
ditions forever, and the open shop"
agitation and make unionism an ac-
complished fact instead Of an ideal that
must be worked for and fought for
every hour in the day and every day in
the year. Men may talk, women may
work and labor newspapers may agi-
tate from now till the crack of doom
for the advancement of labor's cause,
but until union men and women take
hold in earnest and push the label, all
the work and talk and agitation will be
in vain.
Convenience must be forgotten. Pre-
JUDGE in favor Of this or that merchant
must be laid aside. Personal preferences
must be set aside. The one thing that
must be done, If organized labor is to
win in Its great battle, is to push the
label night and day. There is no ex-
cuse for a union man or woman buy
ing non union made goods. Organiza-
ton has been perfected in every trade
and calling. and the unionist can buy
art goods, beer, bags, bottles. baskets,
brooms, boots, brick, bakers goods, bar
Der work, candy, cigars, chinaware,
carvings, cutlery, carriages, caps, car
pets corsets, dress goods. busters, cleo
trical supplies, engines fireworks, fenc-
ing. files, ginghams, guns, glass, hemp
goods goods, hats, harness, horse goods,
iron ware, jewelry. knit goods. ties,
leather goods. liquors, linens. maps,
machinery, matches, music, musicians
services, mattresses, newspapers, or
gans rugs. pianos, printed matter,
presses salt, queenswar rope. soap.