The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-10-25
HIGH AND LOW DUES
Every Local Union Should Have a Coed
Healthy Treasury.
DUES MUST BE PAID PROMPTLY
In Order to Make Trade Unions Sue
cess at all Timcs---Needsd for
Safe OF Conduct of Union.


\ good many unionists consider
the dues they pay III their various
locals are enormous, and iii many
instances find it very hard to ply
the same.
In the first place, conditions are
better, surroundings are more con-
general and better feeling exists
among your fellow-men; in the
second place, shorter workdaS.
and in the third place, increase in
salary, averaging from % to 80
per cent. per week.
Now, is there Il member of any
organization that would not give
mp some of his pleasures to save
his money if he knew he WIS going
to receive from % to 40 per cent.
interest on it per week {! In other.
words, where is the man that would
not sacriiice some of his pleasure to
save - Il week if he knew he was
to get from 30 To 50 cents a week
for SO doing? Nevertheless, that
Is what many organizations are do
ing for Its members, and it is re
Srcttable they do not see it in that
light.
The greater majority of demands
made by the organizations in the
past Were just demands Then
why We're many OF them lost, The
members have as much grit and
are willing to sacrifice as much as
members OF any other organization.
but 1t was the same old story
.Iacil of funds.n When such Il
condition presents itself so perSis-
tently ii is time to look it square IN
the face and make an effort to pre-
vent the same occurring in the fu-
ture- 1t is high time every craft
should take business view OF tt
situation and adopt such methods
that will enable them when Il de-
mand is made to win the same
without suffering TO its members or
their families. There was not a
just demand made by a labor
organization in the past 10 years
that could not have been won if
there was money enough III its
treasury to keep its members from
actual want, and why should we
not profit by the failures of the
past7 1t is the only sure way To
success. Where is the corporation
or successful business that does not
create contingent fund or lay
aside some of its earnings, so when
the time of reveIses come il is able
to meet them without injury to the
business or suffering TO itselfG Re
verses are most apt to fall on u la
Dor organization; consequently the
more need for larger resources.
y large financial backing is like
Il government with very power
ful navy.the enemy will think
twice before attacking it. Cnpital
must be fought with capital. or
nine times out of ten will result in
failure. Fought with clpital, our
just demands ninety nine times out
of Il hundred will be successful.
Never mind your high initiation
fee; you never saw Il good member
made out of high initiation fees. \
strong treasury Will do more to
strengthen your organization than
if you charged SlG0 for initiation,
and You can rest assured that high
initiation will never strengthen
your lTetSuIN NOV. We Nilibh
this subject worthy of discussion,
and should be taken up and de
bated on freely in every local
union. Let the officers or any
member look up the conditions ex--
isting before the organization WAS
formed and point out the benefits
derived, and the member that VIII
refuse to Day dues, knowing the
facts-well. we will have to place
him in the :.trust Glass; which
wants everything for nothing.