The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-07-22
The REWARDS OF LIFE.
Self Betierment IS a Universal
Desire.
70 SECURE BETTER WAGES.


Everybody wants good wages,
For any person in or out OF the
trades union movement to loudly pro-
claim his belief in the desirability Of
higher wages should not attract ex-
traordinary notice, for be only voices
the desire of every human being.
Though all humans may not work
piece work or day work, vet all work
for wages In the sense that every ona
is trying to get something In return
for the energy he expends, and wheth-
er the desired return be money wages
or pleasure or honor or success, no
matter what 1t Is men strive for. they
are never satisfied with what they
receive, but want more.
This unrest that exists IN every hui
man being containing an ounce OF
gray matter Is the saving salt Of am.
bition that makes progress possible to
the human race.
No one dares to say that the uni
versal desire to accomplish self better
ments Is q detriment to the human
family or that the desire in Individual
cases to improve ones condition is In
any way reprehensibIe.
1t is therefore generally admitted
that not only does everybody want
more, but also that such desire IL
praiseworthy, and the effort to attain
II should be persisted in until success
full.
Union men, therefore, need not spend
any time discussing whether they want
more wages because everybody does or
whether their desire II commendable
because everybody comedies IL is,
It Is one thing however, to want
more pay and to know you ought to
have II, and it is quite another thing
to get 1t.
To secure improved wages and con.
ditIons 1t Is necessary that the issues
be well and carefully considered, well
framed and ably presented. The condi.
ton OF the employers business, the
condition Of the industry generally, the
relation Of one employee to another,
competitive comparisons on the points
In dispute, the condition Of the union
locally and generally, all these and
many more should be considered By
the ablest executive board a union can
select.
Even with the ablest board actuated
by the highest motives and with most
just cause 1t is no easy matter TO raise
wages. Such a board may be laboring
under some trivial instruction from
the mass that, applied TO the particular
dispute, may be fatal to success or such
board may make an innocent mis-
take Of tactics with the same result
Such board, however, will achieve
permanent results where 1t does sue
coed and win not try to face members
with counterfeit successes.
We will cite two Illustrations Of what
we mean by counterfeit successes.
Suppose sole leather room employs
forty hands, four of them being sole
cutters at S2.T5 per day, the other thir-
ty-six receiving less than $275 and
down as low as 81. Assume board
desires TO pose as successful leaders,
and they make a settlement for two
years, giving four men % cents per
day each, making So each, while at the
same time the other thlrty-slx are tied
for two years with nQhope Of increase.
Such a settlement as this would cost
the employer 81 more per day and IS
mighty cheap wage Insurance for him,
and. besides, from such board he
would naturally obtain some other con-
cesslons OF value TO him.
Next in order will be for the trucu-
lent board to announce vociferously
that ethe sole leather workers Of Blink
vile are getting SO per day." So they
are 90 per cent of them.
Suppose In another department a
method Is employed that costs more
than another method that might be
employed az far less wages than the
men now receive. The men re-
celve comparatively good wages; but,
taking advantage Of temporary condi-
lions, an advance IS forced on the ex-
listing method, thus Fastening and of
fering a premium for the introduction
OF the cheaper and low wage method.
The first Illustration is sacrifice of
80 per cent OF the members involved,
while the latter partakes Of the phil
losophy that kills the ben that lays the
golden egg,
Both of these illustrations show ex.
tremely bad tactics
Too often has the decision In these
matters been carried by the man with
the loud mouth and empty head, and il
behooyes the level headed, conserva-
tive members who have too long stayed
at home and whose future bread and
butter is at stake to attend the union
meetings and defend their interests
against incompetency and lunacy.
elbow much the lesson VIII cost we
do not know, but some day union men
will learn that the way to secure bet
ter wages Is first TO become better or
ganizcd as better units In a better
ulDn They Will learn that any wage
movement not built upon this founda-
ton, no matter what temporary sue
cess It may achieve, is poor tactics.
They will learn that selfish division
Of the craft will weaken all and that
the employer win once more, as In for
mer but not recent years. apply the
rule, "Divide and conquer"
II has been said, "Thrice armed is he
whose cause is JUST fine sentiment
to go into battle with, but celebrated
warrior remarked that the Almighty
was usually on the side with the big
gest battalions James, symondg In