The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-11-26
TIE POWER OF UNITY
What Trades Unions Have Done
to UpIift Humanity.
TRIUMPHANT OVER GREED.
6eneficent Child Labor and Compulsory
Education Laws Enacted at Behest Of
Organized Workers-United Action
the Toier's Only Hope.

Education Laws Enacted at Behest of
Organized Workers-United Action
the ToiIer's Only Hope.
The 100000 headquarters building
OF the United Brotherhood of Carpen-
tiers and Joiners of America recently
dedicated at indianapolis is the first
owned by either national or interna-
tional union in America. Frank Nor
rison, secretary of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, delivered the dedi-
catory address. part of which was as
follows:
We are here today - the 22d Of
July. l909-to dedicate to the cause of
organized labor this beautiful build
Ing erected in response to the will Of
more than 100000 carpenters, members
Of the second largest branch of the
American Federation of Labor-the
United Brotherhood Of Carpenters and
Joners of America
A building in which its officers will
conduct their official business. a shrine
which shall stand as monument to
the power and glory of the brother
hood. temple that was erected in its
entirety by members of organized la
bor each of whom worked but eight
Lours per day, thus complying with
that shibboleth of the trades union
adopted as warcry in their struggle
for shorter workday:
Eight hours for work,
Eight hours for sleep
Eight hours for what we will.
1t might not be amiss to point with
pride TO a few of the achievements of
this organized labor which is praised
on the one hand by those who know
what it Is doing to arouse the minds oil
the wageworker to realization of
what can be accomplished by united
action and on the other hand is de.
nounced and derided by those who
fear that each new success of the
trades union may mean their undoine
and for that reason, and that reason
alone, are with relentless hatred en-
deavoring to destroy the unions and
discourage their members.
Let me now call your attention tC
some Of the more tangible things thai
organized la Dor has done, Is doing and
will continue to do as long as the ne
cessity for organization exists.
Organized labor has placed child
labor law on nearly every statute book
of every state of this Union. One state
and two territories have not a child
labor law Of some character-H Hawaii.
Nevada and New Mexico-the three
states in which there are the least
number of organized workers.
Organized labor has compelled the
enactment of compulsory education
laws and placed free text books In the
hands of the pupils; but, my friends,
day thousands of our little children OF
tender years wearing their lives away
in mines. mills and factories. In the
states where labor unions are weak
there you find that the greed and ava.
rice of owners of mines, mills and fac
tories know no bounds. There the only
hope for the salvation and protection
of their youth is that organized labor
may soon be in position to go to their
rescue.
In this city few years ago a man
with hatred in his heart formed an Or
ganization with the avowed purpose of
destroying the wageworker's defense
against the heartless and pitiless en-
ployer-his union. This man sprang
upon the horizon. heralded with glad
acclaim by the representatives of ev-
cry union hating corporation. His
false and malicious denunciations Of
organized labor were published broad
cast in the press of the country.
branches of the organization were
formed in every city where a man
could be found who had the slightest
antipathy toward organized labor with
the expectation that they would be
able to destroy its strength and power
and prevent its members from secur-
Ing improved conditions. Attempt aft
or attempt was made to make good
their proud boast, but the efforts OF
these destroyers fell by the wayside.
The force OF their attacks was not suf-
ticient to turn. let alone stem. the tide
and growth of unionism among the
workers. After several years of impo-
tent effort on the part of this organi'
cation to destroy the unions we find
that the unions still live. and this
union hater, this organizer of discord,
this lost soul. who ragged over this
land screaming out his hate. is forgot
ten Why? He is forgotten because
every organized body whose sole rea-
son for existence is for the purpose OF
destroying those organizations whose
efforts are for the uplift of humanity
and which have brought happiness and
contentment to countless thousands
will not. must not and cannot long
survive In this Christian land of ours.
Unionism a Business Proposition.