The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-09-21

IS only IN us eigntn year OF puDi1-
cation. while both that Of the work.
ers in alimentary products and that Of
the federated national unions ola
Berne ~Syndicate") are in their first
year
An obstacle to the national organi-
zation of trade unions frUnion Suisse
des F~ederations Syndicate) is the ex-
istence Of the local labor union" In
his body are mingled men of any
trade or business or profession who
wish to become members, together
with the local unions Of the regular
trade organizations. Commenting on
the disadvantages Of such an ~aSsOcia-
ton, the July Revue Syndicate says
it is "the arena of the champions Of
local politics" Strikes are therein pre-
cipitated and beycOtts instituted deS-
pite the wishes OF the national unions
interested. A ceaseless fight has also
been waged in them against the as
easements, the officials, and the bene-
fit features Of the federated unions.
Further, Certain politicians Of the
locality profit SO much from the local
labor union as a source Of power that
the wageWorkers get disguised with
the movement and quit the devil
to fall into the arms of his grand
mother The Revue" in its ar
ticle. describes these combinations Of
all EOTS OIL people III the local
union" as promoting strikes without
considering their effect and contrary
to the advice of the federated COM
mittees affected. of issuing numerous
subscription lists. of voting assess
ments to support movements that had
long before failed. Neither the reg
ular local union secretaries nor the
editors of the local labor press could
do other than please those polite
ians In power. This description Of
the outcome of the indiScrfminate mix
ing up OF all kinds of alleged social
reformers ought to be Interesting to
those American semi-unionists and
seIni-politicians who are dissatisfied
with the American labor movement
as its exists. And also to the trade
unionists. who are satisfied tina their
course is the right one
In of the Swiss labor papers
a correspondent writing from Mar
tigny takes note OF the efforts of sew
eral of the leaders in religious cir
cles to form a local "Christian trade
union" He adds: the working class
is divided into Catholic, Protestant,
Liberal, and Socialist trade unions"
The clergy who promote the Christian
trade unions defend their course by
sought, often with success, to rule
the unions. are opposed to the church.
Significant!
The activity of the boycott in SWitz-
erland was noticeable. A large to-
bacco factory was asking for a treaty
of peace with organized labor and a
trade agreement in consequence of a
boycott that had diminished it's out
put month by month for several years.
Regarding another article under boy
colt, "LAlimentation." printed this
paragraphs: w recommend to all
our comrades not to purchase it and
to promote the boycott upon it in the
cafes, barber shops. etc" The labor
press of Switzerland is united on his
one subject, if on no other. There are
twenty trade union organs printed in
German, six in French, and three in
Italian, one cooperative organ in Ger
man., French, and Italian each, and
twelve political labor in
German, two in French, and two in
Italian.
OF course, no traveller can pass
through Switzerland h having
his attention attracted to it's hotel
industry" The labor press has its