The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-05-24

VI caltlhS strike. The men do
not hiindlN follow his dictates.
! lhe9 business agent can order a
strike strike only when the question has
neen5Notcd upon by the members
OF the union. He then simply-
\ NNOI NOES the strike. Some.
5 times he is given power to order a
.Stflke by the men themselves, in
an extraordinary case, hut even
uhder such circumstances the ac-
tlon must be endorsed by those di-
I reclly concerned. 1t is not his
business to stir up troubles for
I peacefully inclined workincn,en.
he lsgconSidcrod Ne most success
{; ful business agent who Keeps his
men at work Frequently he winks
az open Violations of stipulated
agreements on the part of the en-
ploNer, III order to prevent |: strike.
He is really the ..pastor'' Of his
union; lie visits the sick, he finds
work Tor the unemployed, he cares
ior Those ndistress of any kind.
( CHARACTER OF LABOR LEADERS.
The officials Of organized labor
are men OF lnQueStiomed character.
/ AS mall other organizations, un-
desirable men will at times succeed
III securing an Office, but in the
great democratic labor movement
such men can be easily removed,
and are removed. Character. sta
hlllty, perseverance, and unscliish,
ness are essential qualities in the
men who retain official positions in
Il labor union. Many Of these Of
hclals, business agents, local oliici-
ais. and officials of national and in
tcrnational unions arc members
and officers in the various church
cS. Moreover, their efforts as un-
lonlsts are directed to secure i'm
proved temporal conditions for the
workers. that will make it possible
for them to direct their attention
to things ideal, beautiful, spiritual.
MEMBERSHIP OF TRADES. UNIONS.
1t has been and is now asserted
that labor unions admit immoral
and even vicious men to member
ship. The charge is malicious.
Trades unions have character quail
llicationS. and men arc required to
be sober, steady and Industrious
workmcn' before membership can
be gained. IL would be foolish to
assert that the trades unions did
not have immoral and even vicious
members, but not to IL greater ex-
tent than other organizations that
are supposed to have II higher
standard of ethics.
1t is not fair to condemn the
trades union and trades unionist.
1t is not fail to always judge them
by their worst, when all other iii
Stitutions and their dcvotccs are
judged by their best.
THE ':cLoSED SHOP
The principle OF the so-clllcd
''closed shop il, accepted in every
day business life; why may not an
organization Of workingnen sini
larly make Il bargain with an
organization Of employers?
The dealer will agree with the
to handle only IA
certain kind of goods. This is con
sidercd perfectly legitimate. Why
docs il seem unconstitutional when
precisely the same bargain is
entered into between the employer
and his employees! The labor
union says to the employers: eve
will agree to furnish you with com
petent men at SO much per day.
We can control the men in our
organization. They Will abide by
the contract that we shall make.
We cannot control the men who
are outside Of our organization, SO
we ask you to employ only our
men, thus making your shop a
union shop. If these outside men
Will agree to make the same con
tract with you that we have made,
we shall be glad to have them come
into oui. organization, thus giving
them the same privilege that we
enjoy.
The average employer who fights
so strenuouSly for the "God given
right of the non union working
men to exercise his privilege of re-
out of the union if he SO
desires, declaring that his shop
must be an ''opcn shop for free
men. viii usually dcbar the man
who exercised the same God given
right by becoming a member of
the trades union, 50 that practical
ly his bosted 1sopen shop policy
na.,,S =, t.cloSnI Sbn,,t' tn thx.