The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-05-15
HOW ABOUT 1T, Mr.. vANcLEAvE!

HOW ABOUT 1T, Mr.. vANcLEAvE?
In the May number of American In
dustries," the official organ of the Ma,
tional Association of Manufacturers,
James w. VanCleave. president of
the association. announces that he will
not be a candidate for reelection. Al
ter reviewing the work of his admin
istration of the associations affairs,
in which he shows his colossal van
ity by pointing to himself as the
mighty force that has accomplished
so much, Mir. VanCleave winds up
as follows:
"ln closing ! want to point out that
our organization is fighting the bat
ties of every man in every calling
in the United States And here let
me ask what does the country think
what do those individuals themselves
think-of the manufacturers. who
while accepting all the benefits which
the iahors of the National Association
of Manufacturers bring them. remain
outside its ranks, and thus refuse or
neglect to shoulder any of its bur-
densT"
And there You have the whole Ques-
ton of unionism in a nutshell. Deny
ing labor the right 10 organize in its
own behalf. VanCleave urges employ
ers of labor 10 organize in their be-
half.
And here let The Wageworker ask
what does VanCleave think of the
workingmen who. while accepting all
the benefits which the labors of the
Trades Unions bring them. remain out
side of its ranks and thus refuse or
neglect to shoulder any of its bur
dens.
Speak up, MIR. aVnCleave. and an.
swer the question,
Who shortened the working day for
unionists and non-unionists alikee Not
VanCleave and his ilk. certainly. II
was the trades unions.
What does Mr.. VanCleave think OF
the workingman who. while accept
ing all the benefits which the laborS
of the Trades Unions bring them, re
main outside its ranks and thus re
fuse or neglect to shoulder any OF
its burdens?
/ Who brought about the enactment
of employers liability laws: the laws
demanding sanitary conditions in mills
and factories: the laws safeguarding
life and limb in mines and on rail
roads; who raised the wage scale;
who put brake on the exploitation
of child labor; who secured a higher
standard of living for the toilers; and
who stands between the exploiter Of
human flesh and blood and the sought
for victim of his greed?
Il Not vanCleave and his ilk. 1t was
against the opposition of such mer
that the trades unionists fought an6
struggled until they secured These
blessings for themselves. and in Sc
curing them for themselves secured
them for the non-unionists as well.
What does Mr.. VanCleave think Of
the workingman who. while accept
ing all the benefits which the labors
of Trades Unions bring them, remain
outside its ranks and thus refuse OIL
neglect to shoulder any of its bur
denss
Speak up. MIR. Van Cleave. and an
swer the question:
Ever hear of VanCeiave 'oper
shop" that reduced the hours and in
creased wages at the same time
Union employers have done it man,
a time.
Ever hear of a aVnCleavite fightins
for better sanitary laws to safeguar,
the health of workers? You never did
Trades unions have been fighting TO
such laws for century.
Ever hear of Van Cleavite fightin;
for the enactment of a safety appli
ance law Not in your whole life
Trades Unions have compelled tn
enactment of a national law alon:
that line. and also compelled nor
than one-half the states to enact 9th
, er safety appliance laws. The trade
) unions have never asked for something
calculated to benefit the worker. eth
er as to safety of health or limb, o
as to hours and wages, that men G
the VanCleave stripe did not oppos
; it with all their might of money an
/ political pull. And all the benefit
l that have come to labor have com
through the toll and sacrifices of tn