The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-11-21

ton of these evils without labor's ap-
piled effort in organization. The
union girls at the cigarmaker's bench
or at the printers case work the
eight-hour day, and receive the same
rate of compensation as the men en-
ployed in the same industries, and
this is not true of the girls in the de-
partment stores, or the unorganized
factories. This ought to tell the
story.
Competitive industries found relief
from ruinous prices some years ago
by consolidating, and today they have
federated under the community of
interests plan Of organization. The
homes are now purchased under COM
petitive prices, but at monopoly
price.
Competitive wage conditions are
pauperizing American labor, and are
forcing our work people to- labor be-
low a living wage. It is within the
power Of labor by organization, and
only by organization to fix mimi
mum wage scale above the bread
line, sufficiently high to secure for. it
the necessities of life, emergency
protection, and old age relief.
Labor has the practical way for
seeking it's own relief, but it's effort
would be much easier If it had be-
hind it the influence of the great
moral agencies of the times, such as
the forces represented in this confer
ence, who have within them the pow
er which moves public thought.
Principles As Applied to All.
L have discussed very briefly the
general and idealistic purposes Of Or
ganized labor, and have attempted to
point out how closely allied were our
movements. In doing so I have had
in mind the application Of the prin-
ciples involved to all working men
and working women, in whose well
fare this conference is assembled.
/ But we have within our organiza-
tions a system of protection for
which the membership pays, and
! which is absolutely free from any
thing that savors of a gratuity. For
this reason charitable societies are
rarely if ever troubled by appeals
from members of labor organizations
for relief
The older trade unions furnish the
best examples Of what labor can dc
by learning to help itself. The money
! received as dues offers four-fold pro:
lection. A portion is used to protect
the membership in industry by help
! ing to maintain the working condi-
| tons secured there. The balance II
distributed into three funds ais fol
lows: The out of work, the sick anj
accident, and the funeral fund. Some
Of the advanced trades have in addi-
ton to this established an old agl
fund. When new fund is. created tn,
dues are increased according to tn
needs Of the fund. However, ever!
instance is based on sound business
principles.
How Cisarmakers DO It.
A few of the trades have estab
lished a funeral fund for the wife .
a member. The cigarmakers have :;
loan fund, and members may secur
without brokerage charge; and witfou
interest, a. loan sufficient to It'd
them over any brief period Of dis
tress. r f. IfT|
The printers by. a very moderat
assessment upon the active member
ship, maintain home = at, sColorad
Springs for the aged and infirn
printers. They have. also in connec
ton a ,sanitarium, maintained by gth
same fund, for the care Of any a
their members afflicted with .fubsreu
losis.. m addition to this the slocs
unions, provide q fund for the care; q
the families OF the afflicted lurin
their stay at the sanitarium. = s.ts
The plumbers are. now negotietin
for a site tor q home for aged, an
4 infirm plumbers, and preparationssa al
being made Tor the levying Of an al
j sessmeent for Its = acquirement an
maintenance .Hs ss. sis..5 .5ss:.5,
/ - Old Age Benefits. i tses
The British trade unions have ii