The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-01-28
UNI0N|SM'S CRITICS,
They Profess Friendship, but
Weld the Hammer.
TRADES UNION HYPOCRISY.
manifests Itself In Various Forms, but
tho Worst Offender Is the Gard
Holder Who Buys Nonunion Goods.
Labor Wants Action, Not Words

adays has something to say about the
union. and almost invariably he pref
aces his remarks this way: ''Now,
I'm firm believer in labor organiza-
ton. but
Many who read this can fill out whot
generally follows this eternal reserya-
tlon but" But" we will .enumerate
some of them and ask our readers If
they do not sound familiar.
1.-THE leaders are crooked" s.The
unions force the employers to pay MS
much to poor mechanic as to good
one" They go too far" "The leaders
are too radical" 1.-THE workers won't
stick together etc.
And SO goes the song of the critic.
and he is in all walks Of life, the me-
chanic, the farmer. the professor, the
clergyman, the banker, the author and
almosteverybody believes in the union,
but"
The man with his union card be-
lievcs in the union and belongs to it,
may attend its meetings and be active
in his local, ''but'-hfs epicurean taste
has been developed to an apprecia ton
of q certain brand Of nonunion tobacco
which he buys regularly.
The advocates Of trades uniouism
from college and church indorse
heartily the ethics of organized labor,
but they get better FITS from u
nonunion tailor.
The woman who is in accord with
the unions effort to abolish child Ia
Dor, raise wages and wipe out the
sweatshops speaks Il good word for it
on every opportunity and may be n
member, but union shoes hurt her
feet.
The man with the high brow who
discusses labor matters fiucntly speaks
his piece constantly in favor Of organ
ization of the workers, "but" he works
in factory where lie does not have to
belong to the union, SO has not thought
of joining yet.
We could go on indefinitely pointing
out the various forms of trades union
hypocrisy, and it is to be regretted
that the number OF those who fail to
practice what they preach greatly ex-
ceeds those who do.
The most ,damning witness against
You on the witness stand in court Is
the one who Processes to be Your
friend. who has known you many years
but"
Those cities who profess to support
the union cause, but find fault because
at some point 1T does not quite meas
ure up to their standard of perfection.
are reminded that none Of us, and not
even they themselves, are perfect
The labor movement is as good as or
better than the average goodness Of
the average worker and the average
goodness Of the average worker is as
high as or higher than the grand aver
age of all walks of life.
Surely no one will deny that the
moral life Of the working class is of
higher standard than that of the idle
rich.
The wage Garner often sees his dear
ones in want of common necessities.
and he struggles on, hoping against
hope, depending upon his union for his
standard Of living for himself and his
family
The union movement represents the
life struggle of the toiling men and
women who lead honest lives and who
are rearing the vast majority of the
citizens Of the coming generation. who
are likely to make the laws governing
the lives and property Of the sons and
daughters of the wealthy classes of
the present day.
If 4 person believes in the union
movement. let that belief be manifest
ed by some act instead of mere words
An advocate of trades unionism who
is sincere will help in the actual con-
struction Of 1t. and the best channel
open to him to practically do so every
day is through the purchase Of union
made goods.
A man who is Il member of Il total
abstinence society and drinks intox-
icants is no greater hTpocrite than Il
member of n union who buys nonunion
goods.
The critic outside the union who
dwellS upon what seems to him an
Objectionable detail and celebrates
upon it, almost always In error as to
the facts Of the point in question, Is
hypocrite when he proclaims he be
lieves In trades unionisrn because it IS
his continual endeavoT to find Il fay
by which to denounce the whole fabric
Of organized labor.
The hammer is no less effective be-
cause it is welded by hands that pro-
fess to be frien .ly
The universal interest ia ken in trades
union affairs is not strange The union
is endcavoring to deal with the great
est subject of the ages. The ma crlitude
OF the undertaking of organized labor
Roadway toward the accomplishment