The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-11-24
EBENEF|T To SOCIETY
Of ORGANIZED LABOR
James Duncan of National Granite
Cutters Union Gives Good
Answer.
Tells Something of the Benefits
F., Coming to Members of His
F.! Union.
RY James Duncan.

BY James Duncan.
It would be easy to mention a num-
Der Of great benefits that society has
reaped through the advancement of
organized labor. In the field with
which l am directly concerned, I can
specify few such benefits
Organized labor has been the chief
instrument in greatly increasing the
amount OF money in general circula-
ton and thus adding to the revenue of
nearly all classes.
For example: In the Granite Cut
ters' international Union there have
been, let us say, in the last Is years,
an enrolment Of 10000 members. In
that period of time there has been a
net wage increase amounting to an
average of rs cents a day. Assuming
300 working days in the year, we find
that this daily increase amounted in
the case the individual to the sum of
1925 year. In fifteen years it has
amounted to $S,375. Multiplying this
by 10000 the number of members
whose average increase Of wage has
been the original rs cents a day, we
have the stupendous figure of $685.
100000.
Membership In the union has cost
the individual member during that Pc
Rod OF Is years the average sum of
20 cents month. That would amount
to $40 year and for Is years would
amount to $1,266. Multiplying this
sum by 10000, the number of mem
bers, we have the figure of 100000.
Subtracting this from the sum Of $685.
100000, representing the gross in
crease of wages, we have $32,490,O00
as the net increase of income for Is
years to 10000 members of this union,
brought about by the action of or
ganized labor.
1t Is easy to Sc how this tremendous
addition to the spending capacity of a
community or number Of communi-
ties alone constitutes a great general
benefit to society. 1t has had the ef-
feet of supporting a variety of business
enterprises, of giving employment to
great number Of persons by the de-
mand for labor to supply the increased
trade created by the innumerable uses
of the increased income.
Not less important than the increas-
ed wage has been the deceased work
day. Through the efforts of organized
labor the eight-hour day has been es-
tablished, and the workingman has
been able to enjoy the advantages
which some degree of leisure provides
for mans higher development. With
the higher wage and the shorter work
day, the workingman has lived better
IN various ways. He has had more
comfortable surroundings, better food,
better clothing, more of those means
Of healthful, wholesome enjoyment. of
life than he would have had. = ="
To greater extent than he would
have done he has patronized places of
harmless amusement, has sought more
and better means of recreation. He
has improved his own mental, moral
and physical conditions, and has in
creased the advantages of his family
in this respect.
He has invested in real estate and
other forms of property, and thus has
been a factor in the growth of his
community and the development of
Its resources. =.
All these things have been brought
about mainly through the instrument
atty Of organized labor, which de-
serves the credit Of the increased wage
of 32,500,000 In one union and of the
shorter workday generally
Among the numerous other benefits
that organized labor has rendered to
society in general, one more may be
described. It is that which has flowed
from the agitation against child labor.
A tremendous task Is still before us
in this field, but much has been &C.
complished, and much more is on the
eve of realization.
AS it is, thousands Of children have
been taken out of mills and factories
and shops and placed in the way of
obtaining the advantage of education,
while in the place of the children thus
removed from what in their case was
Industrial slavery, employment has
been provided for adults who could
hope for industrial freedom.
Organized labor certainly has rem
dered two very distinct benefits to
society when it has so materially i'm
proved the conditions of the adult
wage Garner and SO powerfully aided
in the effort to provide for the grow
ing child the means of mental, moral
and physical development, which are
Indispensable to the equipment of the
best type of citizen in the generations
that follow 0lrs