The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-12-10
Ignore the Good and Magnify
the Evil.
THEIR VIEWPOINT PREIUDICED
Condemn Entire Movement Because of
Individual Lapses-What Trade Or
eanizations Have Done For Human
ity-A Glorious Record.

through chosen representative who
knows all about the game, because he
is Il Specialist ON that sort of deal. He
knows the tricks that are commonly
pracUced on workingmen, so that he
can properly represent our interests.
He goes TO the boss and makes him L
proposition that the union which he
| represents will furnish him with com
petcnt men. These men are to work so
many hours day, and all other de-
| tails are to be settled by mutual agree
| nent.
Our business agent can control the
men in his organization. They will
abide by the contract which he has
| made. We cannot control the men who
are outside our organization, so that
we ask the employer to employ only
our men in order to have perfect har-
| mony.
If these outside men will agree to
make the same contract that we have
made with the boss they come In on
the same terms. We ask no more of
them than we are willing to do our
selves.
I'll admit that it isn't Il square deal
to force Il man into the union if he feels
that he doesn't want to join. But il
! he will not come i'll then he has no
| right to the benefits which come as the
| result of our fighting and sacrifices.
Many IL wOrkingman who says that
he has conscientious ScruplcS'' against
joining the union simply means that he
Is against paying dues and assessments
for 4 Thing which he believes he will
get anyway, because the other fellows
will do the lighting for him.
It's all nonsense to say that the
! hos how -,
out the help of the union. They don't
do things that way. Some of them
| would if they could. but unless the
bosses as Il class were compelled to do
so the better type Of employers would
find ii hard TO compete with the fell
lows who decline to advance wages.
AS it is. under the union rules they
are all on Il common footing, and each
knows just what every other employer
IS compelled to pay his men unless
there are special reasons why he may
| pay moro o. less. but in such Il case
the thing is balanced up in some other
way, $" that they are in the same class.
| y coed many folks say that we have
the boss ut II disadvantage because we
are not Incorporated. He cannot hold
us to our contract. while he himself is
| liable to damages.
It isn't 50 far as his dealings in q
business way are concerned. for all
contracts these days are "subjcct to
strikes and loclouts"
1t isn't true concerning his relations
| with us. because an lnincorpOratcd
| concern can neither sue nor be sued, 50
| that we are still on common basis.
AS we are not looking forward for
weeks and months of idlcncSS. there is
| II" particular laundering for long pc
| RODS Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, II Noc should
go out on Il Striil" guess that the loss
| would y" pretty nearly even. AS Il
| matter of fact. il is usually in favor Of
| the boss. for. whereas our wages are
| lost forever. because we cannot work
| on the days that arc past. the boss in
| most cases can increase his force and
| make UP much of what has been lost
during Il time of strike or lockout.
| But about this whole business of
| Judging labor unionS-why does every
body gau@" us by our worst points.
| whereas they themselves expect to be
| Judged by th"ir best?
| Folks don't treat any other orcaniza-
! ton rs they do ours in this respect.
| Its hardly I square deal. When the
average man thinks of the labor union
| his mind runs at once to the last union
''SlugginC" story reported by Il sonSa-
| tional newspaper. which in all proba-
| hilitN was greatly exaggerated and for
! which organized Ia Dor does not ut all
| stand.
! 1t might not I've amSS to tell about
| tn" way in which organized labor has
elevated the great mass of workers.
| Thctr labor halls have become social
c"nters where lecture courses are
| - nd WI ll,.