The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-11-14


and honest as any OF our critics or op-
ponents, either in their individual or
associated life.
As against any notion that the ac-
clmulation of large funds for the pay
ment Of benefits as well as for protective
features would prove temptations to
dishonesty, the unions which have al
ready established these features mani
testify disprove.
1t may appear paradoxical, but it is
nevertheless true, that there has been
less dishonesty or maladministration in
unions having accumulated large funds
than in those in which large funds have
been conspicuous by their absence.
Unions having the foresight and wis
dom to provide themselves with accumu-
lated funds have also devised systems
to check and prevent dishonesty There
appears to be no good reason for UNI
ion with small funds to devise such pro-
lection and checks. Paupers do not find
lit necessary to provide themselves with
burglar proof safes.
Nor need we fear court decisions or
suits at law mulcting our organizations
and endangering the security OF our
funds, despite the fragrant decisions rem
dered within the recent past. Substan-
tial funds once accumulated for provld-
emit as well as protective feature, will
compel better and higher regard for
their sanctity by both the public and the
bench. And if perchanee through per-
verse Interpretation Of existing law the
funds of a union may be attacked, az
was evidenced in the famous Taft-Vale
decision of the British courts, it would
undoubtedly result in our country as
in Great Britain in so changing the law
al to curtail the power of the Judges
to wantonly attach the funds Of organ
lied labor.
The advocacy of the accumulation OF
funds, the establishment of benefit fea
lures, and the necessity Of higher dues
IN order to insure the payment Of such
benefits, will, Of course, lay us open
again 10 the taunt of trade union oppon-
ents that we establish "dues paying
institutions; but the failure Of any Of
our unions to render every financial as
sistance requisite, and for which the
members in their organization have
neither paid nor contributed, Is taken
advantage of by these self same oppon-
ents, exaggerated, flung in our faces as
d taunt Of trade union ineiIectiveness.
Organized wage earners are not averse
to the payment OF reasonably higher
dues to their unions, providing they can
be guaranteed and feel assured that their
interests as workmen will not only be
protected and promoted, but that they
NAV lean upon their fellow workmen in
union to stand BY them in all the ills or
life: lean upon them and receive their
support, not as charity doled out 70
them, but as right received and toward
which they themselves have contributed.
The failure of union to be Of such sub
stantial support to the workmen, Is to
them sufficient cause to lose faith and
confidence IN organized effort.
It is q notable fact that unions which
make least provision for benefits are
those which suffer most through reduced
membership resulting from either trade
decline or the loss Of a strike, are the
last to recover, and subsequently the
least effective in protecting the inter
ests of their craftsmen.
Unions adopting these benefit features
should be adlnonished in the beginning
against making such large promises
which they may possibly be unable TO
fulfil. Nothing can contribute so much
to the loss OF the workers confidence in
Il union as its failure to fulfill its prom
ises Almost any other association may
close or suspend the payment OF bene-
fits to its members; union, never Time
and experience may demonstrate that
the union is able to pay higher bene
fits than promised I'M the beginning,
when the change can then be made.
1t is gratifying to be enabled to state
that much progress has been made by
our international unions in the establish
ment OF general beneficial features the
accumulation Of funds, and the require
ment of the payment OF higher dues
by their membership; but the advance
is not satisfactory; it is not general; II
is the duty of all to make it 50, aud thus
insure the success, permanency, and con-
tinutv Of our movement, make 1t Of
constant increasing advantage to our
fellow workers, and still greater bene-
fit to all mankind.
Enmity, Where Friendship and Synpa-
thy Should Abound.
1t is my duty to report to You that
another effort has been made to destroy
the trade union movement and the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor. You and the
other officers of our international unions
and of the American Federation of Labor
may be unaware of it; you may not
know, you may not feel the effect, but
a. surely and solemnly as any act could
be promulgated, the international i'm
ions, the trade union movement, and
the American Federation of Labor were
legislated out of existence at Chicago
in June Of this year.
The natural organization Of the wage
earners; the historic development of as
ISOLATED effort of the toiling masses;
the work of years and years; the only
concentrated movement Of the working
people Of our time that has brought the
toiling masses out of the slough of mis-
cry and despond; the organization that
forms the only barrier for their pro-
lection against modern greed and ava
rice, and which has placed us in the
splendid position Of vantage we now
IN sf,.r fbo 4radn t4nfono--fhnsa have