The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-07-02
ORGANIZED LABOR
IS NOT SELFISH.
Prominent Writer Gives Utterance to Some
Thoughts on the Philosophy of Labor Movement
Advises all Labor to Unite.

The organization of workingmen
was not formed on a selfish prin.
ciplc, 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 ad-
vance the price of working men of
their craft, for as I see it, this
would be selfishuess of the first
degree, and l 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 in.
terest but their own. Third, but
not last, they are sure to be the
first to desert the ranks in case
any trouble arises between employ
ers and employees. Th IN let us
look well to the welfare of our diff
ferent unions, in passing on the
applications of persons who seek
admission to our local bodies, let
us look well into their past, in
qnire impartially into their object
and motive for wishing to join the
ranks Of the organized working
men.
The writer honestly adheres to
the principle that to be true blue
organized working men, we must
first of all get out the idea of self,
and put forth all the efforts to bet
ter the conditions existing among
his fellows who from lack of pro-
per encouragement and advice, are
slaves to the greed of Jew design
ing employers, who call themselves
bcnetactors to the race. Therefore
let us study for a short time their
actions in regard to their employers
from the unbiased standpoint of
the honest working man.
The employer puts a price on
the product that he furnishes to
the general public, and requires
MS employers to turn out so much
OF that product per day, and in
most cases discharges any employee
who does not finish the required
amount, or reduces his pay ac-
cordlngly. Take an Illustration,
an employer engages your services
as 4 mechanic at the prevailing
price III your line of work, say SO
per day, he sends you out to do a
piece of work that he has contract
Ell Tor SO; you finish it in five
days and it required S. so worth
OF material to put the job in first
class condition. Yet when YOU
nav" completed it and. it is salts.
factory to all concerned he saws to
EoH' why did it take you SO long
to uo that work? or You should
nave done it quicker. Do you
'hlnk ne is benefacto1a No. A
thousand times no! You have
mad" him by your own skill as a
mechanic as much as the job cost
MN To have it put up and a large
Percentage of these employers have
between ten to fifty men employed
a'h IN this manner grows fat not
on has ability or labor but on
yours. His family has the best
n" lard affords. Does yours?
ii'@ wife and children hold their
a."us and revel in the pleasures of
ms !iie does yours? He is organi-
le'. You are not. He looks to
,Ae interest of all employers, there
- leceiving help from all other
employers. You are not organized
am. therefore not looking to your
""" interest, or to the interest of
me working man in general, there.
~ mndering the progress of con-
'I''onS to your self and to all who
~ the sweat of their brow"
''leiy make enough to keep soul
''" body together.
Fellow working man, have you
gone home after your days
.' .'.'f was over and seen your own
81. and blood-your own child
begging for things that are
10y necessity; yet you could
satisfy their little lingings, for
.''a vas not able! Haven't you
.t2t silently because of these
..'HSs? You say what can I do to
'"tain these conditions? The
f'-- "er Is to join with your brother
liking men in your craft and
.,".2 Them to better their condition,
'.' you will have all the men
.a..ai are OrpapiveH in yor,r. GRO ft to