The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-05-14
A Menace and a Clog to the
Labor Movement
AVOID ALL RESPONSIBILITY
Although Taking No Part ii the Cow
eminent Of the Union, He Is a Ready
Critic--The True Trades Union
ist Shirks NO Labor.


Organized labor, by reason of Its
constantly increasing power and com
plexity, has assumed an importance
that wildly reminds the wageworker
that eternal vigilance Ii the price OF
liberty. In its constituent parts there
are SO many defects that must be REM
edied before it Gun fully accomplish its
mission that it Is difficult at random to
determine which should be given prec-
cdence, but feel sure the average I'M
ionlst will agree that the member who
ahsents himself from the meetings and
takes but little or no interest iii Its
affairs Ii capable Of much harm and
greatly retards the progress Of the
movement.
The absent member falls an easy
prey to the wiles Of the hot head and
the demagogue and seems ever ready
to lend his support to wildcat schemes
conceived In ignorance and born OF in
experience, that always threaten the
stability and many times the existence
OF the union.
The absent member considers him
SELF the smnrtest man In his local. and
be Is sure to have at his finger ends
any part Of iabors history that treats
OF disaster and defeat. He can give
you day and date for every mistake
that was ever committed: be knows
Just where the worst routs occurred.
the precise court that launched q death
dealing injunction, the names OF the
men who suffered Imprisonment for
failing to obey the legal writ. the exact
sum In damages mulcted from trades
unions at various times, and be Is sure
to point out TO you why the whole la
Dor movement Is doomed to destruc-
ton.
He feels convinced that most labor
leaders are corrupt, and II the policy OF
local officers or general officers Of his.
union does not coincide with his views
he Immediately advertises his brother
union men as egrafters,. and IN the
event OF an election no chicanery is too
despicable for him to resort to to ac-
compllsh their defeat.
His morbid reasoning Is never salts
fed until with jealous eye he goes
through the whale catalogue OF Unions
| and voices his cohdemnatory opinion
OF every man therein who in the past
or the present has taken any active
/ part in the work.
The absent member II also. as well
as a member, critic. veritable Sol
ONION. SO profound, so wise, so far
seeing is he! And IL when he occa-
sionally visits his local union bis views
on union regulations are not adopted
be is overwhelmed with surprise and
gives this sometimes as q reason for
not taking more interest IN his organ
ization.
The absent member unfortunately
does not confne his carpings to things
| generally. but applies them directly
4 to the policy that tried leaders hy ex-
/ perienee have found to be correct
There is not single thing done that
suits him. Every rule that IS passed is
wrong. every one defeated Is right
every plan adopted faulty. and his pre-.
diction OF swift and sudden disaster
sufficient 10 alarm all except those who
know the pesslmist at his worst
The absent member is never satisfied
with the officers hts union selects, and
II II should chance he accidentally at
tended meeting on election night and
his name was proposed and defeated
his lugubrlous prophecies are all the
more nauseating.
He is not pleasant or encouraging
person for nonunlon man to meet
There ia nothing In his philosophy cal
culated TO encourage a fellow work
man to join a trades union. and be car
rles such settled air Of melancholia
that 1t takes a courageous man 70 60
into the same organization with him
II Providence In perfecting the grand
scheme OF creation left niche for this
kind Of union man, It has never been
discovered, but until 1t Is we must snf.
fer patiently.
True trades unionists are those who
have learned that not only are they
who have rights "who dare maintain
them,' but that patience and sacrifice
are moro essential than turbulence and
brute force. Some light has been
brought into the life OF every worker
however sodden 1t may have been, and
thinking men cannot contemplate with
composure the possible destruction Of
the organized labor movement. If It's
progress or permanence depended on
carping critics. absentees, stay nt
homes or the laundering policy Of the
ncrvously impatient, the path to eco
nomic betterment would not be blazed
as plain as II is today The trades un-
Ionist breaches a doctrine OF cheerful
ness and encouragement II he points
to starving women in hellish sweat
shops or fatigue stricken babies IN
southern cotton mills, he also outlines
plan for the relief Of the sufferers.
The men and women in the labor move
ment are patient courageous and will
Ing to sacrinces--John Roach, Secretary
Amalgamated Leather Workers
Or His Own.