The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-19
ho iaw-making power Of the constitu


me invite your investigation in this
matter. Go to your secretary OF the
Associated Charities. and ! venture
the assertion that requests for assist
ance from thig source arc few and far
between The several unions have
adopted various beneficial schemes.
which the public learns little OF moth
ing about.
In Illustrating these features, let
me refer to one or two organizations.
While the international Topographic
cal Union does not have comprehen-
siye system OF benefits, It's expendi-
lures along these lines are large Per-
haps the most important feature OF
this organization Is Tue Union Print
ers' Home at Colorado Springs.
where many INDECENT members find
rest and comfort In connection with
the homesis maintained tuberculosis
sanitorium. which Is regarded as the
best equipped In the United States
at the present time. During the re-
cent International Tuberculosis con
gress at Washington. D. c., the mod
est exhibit of the printers was lauded
on all sides, and the officers in charge
of tho army exhibit admitted its su-
periority. In fact so impressed with
the exhibit was the governments
tuberculosis expert that he requested
that it be loaned to him for exhibi-
ton purposes. This institution has
been maintained at an expense OF
more than a half.million dollars, and
more than 800 men and women have
been restored TO health and vigor
,, through its henefactions, which the
printers feel has amply repaid them
for It's outlay.
Another feature OF comparatively re-
cent adoption Is an old.age pension
OF 81 per week TO those GO years OF
! age or older. who have been members
for 20 years OF more This entails
an expense of $1,000 per month They
propose now to extend this feature 10
, all incapables who have n 20year
union record. death benefit of SIS
is also paid. These are benefit feat
ures of the parent body. Nearly all OF
the 700 locals supplement these with
additional grants, and many have sick
and other benefit features. / know of
no record of the amount expended
along these lines by the printers an
nually, but 1t must be enormous. One
| local union alone in the 1903 panic
| spent $4,000 In out-of-work benefits,
while many members of other locals
!, contributed one days work each week,
[ OF Its equivalent, to the unemployed,
| When the earthquake occurred In San
| Francisco, the International Union
placed $4,000 at the disposal Of the
San Francisco members: and dis
I patch from Fernie, b. c. after the
| fire there recently. stated that the
union men had money before the bank
ers. The explanation is simple. The
officers read of the disaster. knew
members were In distress, and sent
them assistance.
Does this not show the spirit OF
) brotherhood Is strong In unionism?
Now. a moment with the organiza-
tions having the most complete bcne-
fetal systematic Cigarmakers. Twen-
ty-nine years ago 1t had In its trea-
! sury S124.55; its balance in 1907 was
| STA, ,703S5. II has sick benefits,
death and total disability benefits,
out of-work benefits, and n system of
loans to travelling member1 Last
year the Cigarmakers' Union paid
S437.270.5S in benefits. of which but
| $4,000 was to strikers. These men
do not receive as high wages as print
erS. are little nearer the poverty
! line, yet In twentyeight years they
have disbursed S7.7S6, ,527S7 in beue
fits. We see in this phase of union
work species OF practical Christian
ity and a distinct service to society,
hot iC IN n
labor unions among the business ele-
ment is evident, and is due largely TO
Misrepresentation and lack of knowl-
edge as to their true character The
continued agitation of the open shop
| policy by union-busters and unfair em-
ployers. as patriotic movement, is
also largely responsible for this senti-
ment OF mistaken ideas,
Mr.. Business Man, have you given
thought to the fact that these
same trade unions are vital to your
interests, and really your protectors2
Do you realize that their membership
stands in a solid phalanX between you
and two great destructive forces.
Frenzied Finance and the Red Flag?
Destroy the trade union, and you Will
surely have both to contend with.
The upbuilding and progress of the
labor union means the strengthening
of this great bulwarll to protect YOU
from such conditions, and your great
est security. as well as my best pro-
lection, lie in so-called CLOSED shop
conditions. This Is not an idle boast,
as ample proof is found in review
ing those organizations most thor
oughly organized Hence, | feel justl'
fed in making the statement that
were 80 per cent of the skilled me-
chanics members of the various unions
strikes and trade disturbances would
be novelties rare indeed
And what OF our progress even sur
rounded by such great obstacles? Let
me say that in my particular calling
when | first joined the union we
worked from 12 to Is and sometimes
longer hours daily Working hours on
morning newspapers were such that
we were practically slaves. We worked
from 6 p. III. TO and 8 a, III. stick
ing" type And In the afternoon we
must spend from 3 TO hours In dis
| tribution OStraciZed from society,
without opportunity to mingle anu
surround ourselves with the eleyatipg
Influences of our noble women, Is IL
surprising that many fell victims TO
the lIuuor habit? Overworked In
| mind and BODY. Stimulants were re
sorted to. The tramp printer today is
a novelty We now work from 3 10
hours daily, and desire for stimu'
lants is fast disappearing. The intro
| Guction OF typesettlng machines is