United labor bulletin., 1909-12-03
In Union is:
Strength

cannot be too often repeated.
The father who o. his death-bed as
sembled his sons ar asked them to
break bundle of sticks, and upon their
failure to break the bundle, himself sep
arated the bundle ald with his waning
strength broke the wigs one at a time,
with his dying brea sought to teach
his sons how strong they could be if
united and how weak they would be if
divided.
History abounds in almost innumer
able instances to show the value of COM
bined human effort
In ancient times thTee heroic Romans
held the gate against a hostile army,
while the bridge Vas destroyed, thus
saving the city.
These men were brave, but bravery
alone did not sufiice-it was necessary
that they should fight together-in union
and at the right spot. Here was
strength in union.
Napoleon, generany credited as the
greatest military genius the world has
ever seen, was defeated because one of
his generals did moi appear until the
battle was over.
Here was strength without union.
1t signifies little that those who do the
work of the world are many. while those
who profit are few. for everything de-
pends upon the perfection OF organiza-
tion, or union. exist tng in the opposing
camps.
If there are 2O0.00b shoe factory work
ers in this country they are not making
any history except 50 far as they are or
ganized and pulling together.
The factory operative without union
is a mere piece of human driftwood at
the mercy of wind h. tide-subject to
every whim of the n loyer or his rep
resentatiyes-
One hundred mer working under the
same roof, each inde andent OF the other,
are of about as much consequence as
one hundred hies-5ut when the same
hundred men form union, they become
potential force Immediately. The
measure OF their united strength is de
termined by the degree OF intelligence
underlying the formation and direction
roundings and affiliations, and the de
gree OF loyalty. effort and self-sacrifce
contributed by each member.
The fact that Blucher was an able
general did Napoleon no good at Water
loo because Blucher was not there when
needed.
1t is not enough ior the worker to be
nominally a member of the union, when
the highest success of the union de
mands that he shall be always active on
the firing line.
Napoleon's cause vas not worthy, but
it serves to illustrate.
Napoleon and his army were French
because Blucher and his troops were not
in the fight, Franc was defeated.
The troops with Napoleon were united.
and the troops with Blucher were united,
but the troops of Napoleon and Blucher
We're not united.
In union is strength" finds'its highest
expression of power where the union is
complete-not fragmentary.
Moreover. Bluchers failure to appear
was accidental and not by design. Had
the French been purposely divided in
several Independent or hostile armies,
each operating in5ependently of the
other, they would AVE been noted for
their military failures. rather than
achievements. long hefore Waterloo.
No one ever achieved military fame
who was not big aud able enough to see
beyond his immediate company or regi-
ment.
The same PRINCIPLES of organization
and discipline that IRE essentia, in mill
tary affairs are essential in the field of
labor.
That is to say perfection of organiza-
tion is essential TO success in either case
Take the shoe INDUSTRY for example.
Competition is gen, raj throughout the
industry. therefore he unions must be
united by companies, regiments. brigades
and divisions. into one army of shoe
workers to achieve he highest success
The nearest approach to a well-organ-
lied army of shoe workers within the
memory of man is he Book and Shoe
Workers Union. which has accomplished
more and better work than all the other
unions of the shoe trade. that have ex.
listed. put together.
This good work has been accomplished
in spite of very large per cent. of the
shoe workers remaining nonunion. and
the further fact that there are no less
than six different groups of ambitious
individuals who now and for some time