The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-09-14
NO Selfish PURPOSE
N QRGlAN|z(D LABOR
Writer Gives Utterance to Some
Thoughts on the Philosophy !
Of Labor Movement.
Looks at Question squarely, and
Advises All Labor to Unite in
Trade Unions.
(By T: ]. Black.)

?"i* ---* $aNA
(By T: J. Black.) i,
The organization Of workinemen
was mot formed on selfish principles,
or to further the interest of a few
men in mechanical lines of this nation
or to put in positions Of responsibility,
a few men to advance the price of
working men of their craft. for as I
see It, this would be selfshness Of the
first degree, and might say here that
he who alligns himself or herself with
an organization from such motives as
this, is to be feared and avoided, first,
because they will create discomfort, in
our ranks. Second, they look to no
other interest but their own. Third,
but not least, they are sure to be the
first to desert the ranks in case any
trouble arises between employers and
ploYes,- Then let us look well to
the welfare Of our different unions, in
passing on the applications Of persons
who seew admission to our local bod
les, let US look Well into their past,
inquire impartiallY. into their object
and motive for sasWt shings to- Join the
ranks Of the organized working man.
The writer honestly adheres to the
principle that to be G. true blue organ1
lied working man, we must first of
all get out the idea of self, and put
forth all his efforts to better the con-
ditions existing among his fellows,
who from lack or proper encourage
nlent and advice. are slaves to the
greed of few designing employers.
who call themselves benefactors to
the race. Therefore. let US study for
a short time their actions in regard
to their employees from the unbiased
standpoint of the honest working man.
The employer puts a price on the
product that he furnishes to the gen.
eral public, and requires his employees
to turn out so much .of that product
per day, and in most cases DISCHARGES
any employe who, does not finish the
required amount, or reduces his pay
accordingly. Take an illustration, an
employer engages your services as a
mechanic at the prevailing price in
your line of work, say 50 per day, he
sends you out to do piece Of work
that he has contra cted for $45; you
finish 1T in five days and 1t required
$3.50 worth Of material to put the
job in first class condition. Yet when
you have completed it and it is salts
factory to all concerned he says to
you, why did it take you so long to do
that work? or you should have done it
quicker. Do you think he Is bene-
factor? No. A thousand times no!
You have made him by your own skill
as mechanic as much as the job cost
him to have 1t put up and a. large per-
centage Of THESE employers have be-
tween ten to fifty men employd and in
this manner grows tat not on his abil-
1ty or labor but on yours. =. His family
has. the best the land affords. Does
yours? His wife and children hold
their hands and revels in the pleas
ures Of this life, does yours? His
wife and children hold their ha nds
and revels in the pleasures of this
life, does yours? He Is organized
You are not. He looks to the inter-
est Of all employers, thereby receiving
help from all other employers You
are not organized and therefore no,
looking to your own interes4, or to the
interest Of the working man in gen.
eral. thereby hindering the progress Of
conditions to your self and to all who
"by the sweat Of their brow barely
make enough to keep soul and bod,
together.
Fellow working man, have you no.
gone home after your days labor wa:
over and seen your own flesh ant
blood-your own childrer-beggin,
for things that are really necessity
yet you could not satisfy their little
lingings. for papa was not able
Haven't you W pt silently because O.
these things? You say what an
do to obtain these conditions? Tn,
answer Is join with your brothe,
working men in your craft and hell
! them to better their condition. the1
! you will have all the men that ar,
! organized in your craft to help you
Is this not sound business proposi.
ton? Therefore for your own benef1
get into the union and be benefited
| and benefit others.