United labor bulletin., 1909-10-08

work. The worker finds the union his
club, his school, his debating society,
where he learns his duty to his fellow
men. 1t is his own free and democratic
institution.
mo man lives for himself alone"
might be the motto of the labor union.
This is one of the most important truths
which it teaches.
The labor union always keeps before
its members the high ideal of good citi-
zenship, in which all share. Glass limi-
tations and narrow prejudices are re-
placed by the broad patriotism which
seeks to uplift and inspire.
Our country has developed so marvel
ously in an industrial way in the past so
years that much care is needed to ad-
just the relations between the employer
and the workinen in order that the work
men may be deprived of the reasonable
wages, the short hours, and the time for
recreation and education which are nee
essary for good citizenship. No man is
likely to become a good citizen who has
not the opportunity for a comfortable
home, and the means to educate his chill
dren to the limits that our public educa-
tional institutions will permit
The labor union takes the workman
from the moment he lands on our shores
and starts to make him a good citizen.
and it is so far. the most valuable and
efficient agent that We have for that
purpose. In fact it is about the only
agent to do that work.
The recent strike at McKees Rocks
showed how shamelessly immigrants
were treated by certain employers and
how little any force in society concerned
itself that these poor. foreign workmen
should be educated and made good citi-
zens. Owing to the great influx of immi-
grants the trade unions have not been
able to reach all of these in time to pre-
vent their exploitation, but much has
already been done, especially for those
employed as miners.
| If the labor union was assisted by
other forces for good in it's task of or
ganizing and educating, it could make
good citizens of all the poorest and most
ignorant of our slum population. The
unions, however. can not do the whole
work of the nation.
| There is no man so poor, so ignorant
but the labor union will take him as a
member and put at his disposal all the
educational forces of industrial organ.
ization in order that he may retain his
self-respect, that he may have new hope
FD, tlA
to join with his fellows in securing those
rights and privileges which make a good
citizen. He gets new individuality by
his union affiliations. He learns that he
is not alone in the struggle. There are
those who care for him and will helI
him to that full development which is
the best expression of good citizenship.
In the union a man learns to respect
the rights of others. He realizes the
power of associated effort. He sees by
contrast of how little account is the in
dividual standing alone in our presen
complex society.
The union is a constant education il
selfgovernment. 1t is a constant edu
cation in self-reliance. 1t is a constant
sermon on honesty, integrity of char
acter, and self-control.
In fact, many believe that the non-par
tisan character of the union makes it q
far better school for citizenship than the
ward club or political convention where
we have developed some rather auto
cratic and questionable forms of pro
cedure, even though the illusions of per
sonal freedom and individual choice are
maintained, to encourage the voter tC
use the franchise at all.
Labor unions concern themselves with
the kind of immigration which comes tc
the United States, for large proper
tion of our citizens are of foreign birth.
They are not prejudiced against immi
grafton but they believe that if the i'm
migrant has sound body and clear
mind and can read and write when he
arrives, he is better material for goot
citizen than the criminal, the ignorant
the pauper, or the defective. Organized
labor joins with all other forces for gooc
government in the endeavor to secur,
, a higher standard for immigration thai
now obtains.
The union really educates it's member
} to higher ideal than do our politica
, instructions, because it often takes elah
crate precautions by referendum vot
and otherwise-that the individual mem
ber shall express his opinion and hav
, it recognized. individuality finds NOR
complete expression in the trade uniol
than in any other institution known t.
? civilization.
EVA MCDONALD vALESH.
r r + r
The Curtis theater-always our friend
: will produce a big new melodram;
i