The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-20
WORK FOR THE LABEL
Organized Labor Should Push
the UTiOn Emblem.
A WEAPON OF GREAT POWER.

Goods--A Plan OF procedure 6ug
uested.
The policy advocated In the follow
Ing article from the Shoe Workers
Journal may be adopted with profit BY
all labor organizations:
If the members Of this union realiz
ed the value OF our union stamp, with
ill its uhdeyeloped possibilities Of ben
eft to the shoe workers, they would
Immediately get together and boost II
to complete success.
The union stamp. properly under
stood By all members, would furnish
the basis Of that degree OF harmony
and united effort which would enable
our union to vanquish every form Of
opposition that now confronts 1t.
1t is not enough to preach the gos-
pei OF trades unionlsm to the thought
less, needless horde, but II must be
driven into them by sheer force.
Organization being recognized as a
prerequisite to any scheme Of improv-
ing the condition Of the shoe workers,
the question Is how TO get it.
Where the individual member or or
ganizer fails TO induce the nonunion
worker to join our ranks, the union
stamp il the imperative demand Of
the united unionists OF the nation
that the procrastinating nonunionists
shall get out or get In line.
The union stamp, then, being the
one and only force that can and will
bring the obstinate into line, common
sense would seem to picture that its
power be developed and utilized to the
utmost. SO that complete organization
may be brought about ia the quickest
possible time.
We would suggest here brief state
ment OF a programme that II carried
out, would vastly improve the condi-
tons OF the workers in our industry,
and do ii In vastly less time than the
shoe workers have spent In bitter In
ternal quarrels.
First, make tremendous campaign
Of agitation for the union stamp
among all wearers of shoes, by visiting
union meetings. by lectures. by dis
trlbuting souvenirs, By advertising in
all ways. No matter what the cost
make the shoe dealers call on the shoe
manufacturers and demand shoes bear
ing the union stamp. Second, let every
member and officer Of the union back
up this campaign and drown every
knocker who opposes 1t. Bury person
al differences and grievances for the
time being and all pull together for
the common good. Third. as fast as
the manufacturers apply for the stamp
accept them on straight arbitration
contract. III you drive them away by
attacking conditions You not only have
nothing TO say about future conditions
IN that factory. but you have checked
the growth or your movement Well
come each manufacturer and use his
goods as competitive club to drive
In another
The union stamp is not high wages.
1t is the tool by which may be secured
TINT degree Of organization whish in
turn can secure high wages.
The union stamp is the means by
which the necessary power Is 10 be
secured.
Tho union stamp can be prevented /
from being Of value in accomplishing |
broad and general results by attacking
q few local conditions
A Silly attempt 20 use power before |
you get 1t may prevent you from ever
getting power,
Don't say this cannot be done, be-
cause It has been done The member
ship Of this union was multiplied by +
ten IN three years. A complete union
ling Of our craft was prevented only
by a sudden desire Of the shoe work
ers to fight each other
Our resources today are tremendous
when compared with 1890. and II we
unite our efforts now III support Of the
only policy that put us where we are
We win achieve the greatest success
ID modern trades unionism.
The more united we are the shorter
The time.
To those who are impatient and who
want to do something now we say.
seep your eye on the goal and do not
be sweryed from the main track for
rifles.
Then you can announce one step at
/ time and enforce q programme some
hing like this:
Abolition Of child labor
Second.-Shorten the hours, thus in
,reasing the demand Cor labor
Third Establish minimum rates OF
wages
FourthLevel wages upward, rails
ng the low paid.
Fifth More wages for everybody.
Sixth. Higher wages.
These successive steps can be car
led ont il done singly and with that
and faiFaess to all employ
rs which is made possible only by
he organization OF an employees.
There IS not and there never was
ny argument that could stand against
he adoption Of this policy. and strict
difference to it Until the desired end
5 reached {
This policy made Brockton a union
ity. and the minute Brockton depart
d from this policy its union interests
rere threatened.
Let us pledge anew our fealty 10 thu
My policy that has made the success
+ this union possible
Let us rally round our union stamp
: NH. .-ln..i-... -.lnA.rs- .-l.i.h h z