The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-01-16
An American Mechanic
Writes of Trades Unions

side workings of the labor unions. II
IS OF the very greatest Importance
that the members of our churches
should get the viewpoint of the labor
ing man in all things, especially in
this matter of the labor unions, which
SO closely concerns our national vel
fare. We have never sen this view.
point better presented than in this
article
We had a queer experience the
other night at meeting of our labor
union. We initiated five candidates,
and it required the services of as
many different interpreters. There
was Swede, German, Hungarian,
a Bohemian and a Frenchman.
| The fellows had lots of fun about
| it, but it was serious business to the
officers who were doing the job.
Every one Off the candidates went
| through the entire performance with
out smile. These foreigners were
certainly solemn crowd
The ceremony reminded me again
| and again of the pledge required by
the American Federation of Labor
that its members will never iiscrimi-
j nate against fellow-worker on ac-
count of creed, color or nationality. Z,
Once on time we macllinists were
bound to introduce into our lodges
only white candidates. But about a
dozen years ago the American Fedora
tion of Labor told us that either we
should have to cut out the word
white or they would cut us out
4 We cut out the word. The lodges
that are still using the old form are
doing it against the laws Of the union.S
It isn't to be wondered at that in some
parts of the country there is this feel
ing against the colored man among
some trades unionists, because there
are many eminently respectable citf-
zens in the same communities who
keep them out of their churches and
all other organizations with which
they are identified. It's easier for
colored man to join white mans
union than it is for a colored man to
join white mans church.
It's harly a square. deal to hold
against the labor union the charge of
discrimination, when. these folks in
the supposed better classes are doing
the same thing.
Americanizing Foreigners.
But when it comes to an olit-and-
out proposition with reference to the
foreigner, you can't find an organiza-
ton that does more than the labor
union to Americanize him
All you've got to do to get the proof
is to go to the stockyards district in.
Chicago and. study the influence Of the.
labor unions over the thousands Of
foreigners of different nationalities
that work in the yards.
Or, if you Travelled through the coal
!, fields of Pennsylvania among pretty
nearly the same class of people, you:
would find that John Mitchell's or
ganization has been great civilizing
agency among them, The miners
union has its. constitution. translated
into nine different languages:
/ Most of these foreigners come to
this country with the idea that the
word government means oppres~
, sion. Through the labor unions they.
soon come to know that it means
friend.
The immigrants are real flesh and
: blood people, with human hopes and
aspirations, with human needs ana
human hearts. They are men, a0x
they must be so regarded.
Perhaps it is because this has been
recognized by organized labor that
the union is so influential with the
) immigrant. The public school has its
: place in educating most familiar with
American institutions and customs
; through the labor organization of
, which he becomes q member.
Il Here he gets rid of his clannish In
, stinct. He comes to know more about
the solidarity of the human race, the
brotherhood of man. Here his stand
I ard of living is elevated. Here he
: learns his first lesson in democracy.
RI To the trades unionist the immi-
{ grant has no romance. Whether he
o comes from sunny Italy or from
8 stormy Russia, he is looked upon as i
workingman who needs help and who
in turn, may give help to those Of his
class.
There has been no sentimentality
= about the job, but the union has sue
Continued on page 81