The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-08-30

are union man; what would your
answer be?
Would you base it wholly on the
fact that your membership in your
union guarantees you a better wage
than you could get as non-unionist?
| If you would, then you are not true
uniorist.
| Would you base it wholly on the
fact that you are personally bene-
flied by shorter hours? If that is your
sole reason, then you are not as good
union man as you ought to be.
You should be able to give an in
telligent and convincing answer to the
question, why are you a union man,
l am union man because by as
sociating myself with my fellow work
ers l am able to accomplish more for
myself, my family and my fellows
than l could hope to accomplish acting
singly and alone.
l am a union man because it per-
mits me to do the maximum of good
with the minimum of individual effort
ables me to better care for my fam
lily, giving my children an education
that will fit them better for the bat
tie of life.
I am a union man because as an
indi1 idual my protests against injus-
tice, both to myself and to my fel-
lows, would be unheeded, while as a
union man my well founded protest
will have the sanction OF millions and
thus secure hearing.
l am a union man because union
ism teaches me the lessons of fra
ternity, brotherly love, kindness, char.
ity.
| | am a union man because union
ism puts me in touch with my fellow
workers, gives me the benefit of their
sympathy and help, and permits me
| to be of most assistance to them in
time OF trouble
l am union man because mo man
liveth unto himself, and no man dieth
unto himself"
| | am a union man because I am
unwilling to share in the benefits of
the toll and sacrifices of others with
out making sacrifices on my own part
to show that l appreciate what others
have done for me-
| l am union man because l want
to be in the best position possible to
pass on to others the benefits that
/ 10 ~
unionism of others.
! i am a union man because union
ism makes the toiler equal in the lists
with capital, political prestige and
corporate power.
| l am union man because I wan!
to pay my fair share of the expenses
incurred in the battle for better
wages, better hours, better safeguards
to life and limb and better conditions
for the toilers of earth.
| l am union man because 1 do
not want to be classed with those
free and Independents" who are will
ing to profit by the sacrifices OF
others without making any sacrifices
themselves.
| l am union man because union
ism means the emancipation of the
child slave, the abolition of the foul
sweat shop" and the equal remunera-
ton of men and women when engaged
in equal work.
/ am union man because my union
stands between me and my fellow
workers on the one hand, and indus
trial slavery on the other.
| l am a union man because I am
unwilling to ask anyone to do for me
anything 1 am not willing to under.
take for myself.
1 am a union man because trades
unionisn1 is the best school of patriot
ism, the best exemplification of the
lessons against the evils that infesj
the land.
l am union man because my unior
enables me to have some voice il
the disposition of the only commodity
| have for sale-my labor.
: l am union man because UNITED
we stand, divided we fall
!. l am a union man because l wan
to be identified with those patriot:
who have fought for industrial free
dom, as my forefathers fought for pc
litical and religious freedom.
These are some of my reasons fol
beingxa union man. And because
am a union man am always willing
to stand forth and give the reasons
for the faith that is within me, with
out waiting for some selfish employer
reasons for being what President
Eliot calls a "hero'-a "scab" and :
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