The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-06-27
SEEKS TO ELEVATE.
CsjEcT or TRADES uNloNIsM IS TO
uPLiFT THE PEOPLE.

ized Labor Invariably Ignore Its
Good Features.
It is a fact that in come trades-~ili
fact, In all trades where a union con
servatIvely ana capably conducted ex-
lists uliions nre the greatest operating
force for tile prevention of strikes rath-
en- than the promotion OF them, as Is
stated by malignant and ignorant crit
les
La those trades the old time belief
that employers and employees are
deodly enemies IL gradually being sup
planted by the belief that a friendly
relationship between both is essential.
Referring the condition OF the wage
workers is the primary object Of trades
unions. The employer Is the barrier
standing in the way OF improved con-
ditions in many directions and abso-
lutely refuses to grant or permit Inn
provements until sufficient pressure Is
brought to bear on him to force conces-
sions, but the workers are themselves
to blame for not securing improve
ments In other directions,
The psocess by which the conditions
OF the wageworkers can be improved
and maintained must be slow and grad
ual, but this is not thoroughly grasped
by large number Of unionlsts.
While Objectionable features are at
tached to the operations Of unions, they
often outweigh the needed improve
ments sought aud make the securing Of
those improvements far more difficult
With the steady perfection OF organ
ization these Objectionable features are
being eliminated
Labor leaders and prominent union
except as last resort and the history
OF all conservative unions for the past
decade has shown d steady decrease In
the number Of strikes and increased
union effort TO that end
Thus we find that, although support
ing strikes or hoycotts when all other
methods fail, one Of the objects Of UNI
ions is TO prevent strikes.
About every practical method that
the degree Of organization will permit
lis In vogue in the conservative union
to prevent strife, llasty and unrestrain-
ed action BY the individual or conbina-
tlon Of members and promote good will
between employer aud employees.
The work Of labor unions Is not a
purely selfish work in the interests Of
their members only. but reacts to the
well being Of all workers and the great
mass OF the people. Their efforts are
not confined 10 increasing wages and
shortening the worktlay, but are de-
voted to all forms OF public improve
inent They are in fact the greatest
public Improvement society in exist
ence, continually striving to promote a
higher standard of citizenship and a
better world, not for one element, but
for all elements, OF society TO live In.
From the child to the incapacitated
adult the benign efforts Of labor unions
reach out. Beginning with the birth OF
the child. the labor union advocates
and demands laws that will protect 1t
against insanitary tenement house
conditions and impure adulterated
food, ii demands sanitary schoolrooms
and efficient educators, at least a com
mon school education for all and an
age limit at which they may so to
work without stunning their mental
and physical growth. After casting his
lot in the work place the youth finds
the labor union advocating and striv-
ing to secure the enactment OF improv-
ed laws for the protection OF his life,
limb and health. and when he reaches
old age he still finds the labor union
advocating homes and in some In
stances supporting them for the aged
workers.
Labor unions are the foes of poverty
and ignorance and never cease to strug.
| gle TO promote conditions Of enlighten-
ment and comfort for the masses.
Aside from their struggle to improve
Industrial and educational conditions
and secure laws 10 protect life, limb
and health, the labor union is public
benefactor In other ways. II advocates
playgrouudss parks and recreation
places where the child, the toilef and
the poor can enjoy breathing spell
away from the close. stuffy tenement,
crowded street. buzz of machinery and
squalid quarters. 1t seeks 10 civilize
and elevate. not brutify and lower, the
standards of the great mass Of the peo-
pie.
Labor organizations assist its sick
members by paying sick benefits, rang
Ing from So to $40 per week, for pc
RODS covering from i've to twenty or
more weeks Of year, and It is not .
rare proceeding for labor unions TO rs
sist the sick and needy who are not
members. All manner OF deserving
charitable enterprises number their
wellwlshers and generous contributors
among the labor unions. In sick aud
| death benefits alone the amounts paid
out by labor unions aggregate q vast
sum yearly
Tile efforts Of labor unions are not
confined alone to increasing wages and
shortening the workday, but reach out
| in diverse directions ia an endeayor TO
educate and elevate the individual, pro-
tect his life, limbs and health and make
bis home happier. They promote the
highest type OF citizenship and the pub
lie health and we'll being
II 1.-THE of the charity which organ
lied labor expcnds and feels for the
great mass Of the people was extended
to organized labor It would be heard Of