The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-12-04
LABOR UNIONS AND GOOD CIT
lZENSHlP.

Many people consider the trade
union merely as a machine for the
adjustment of wages, hours, and the
material conditions of work. Such
matters are necessarily often its first
concern, because men cannot cultivate
their minds and souls until they are
clothed and fed and sheltered and re-
lieved from excessive drudgery-
The truth is, however. that the labor
union is quite as much concerned with
broad civic and humanitarian prob
lens as with the immediate nccessi-
ties OF its own members. Next to an
enlightened press the labor union
holds more potentlality for good cit
izenship than any other force in soci-
ETY..
The labor union finds its largest
and best sphere of usefulness in edu-
cational work. The worker finds the
union his club his school, his debat-
ing society where he learns his duty
10 his fellow-men. 1t is his own free
and democratic Institution.
NO man lives for himself alone"
might be the motto of the labor un-
ion. This is one of the most import
ant truths which it teaches.
The labor union always keeps before
its members the high ideal of good cit
izenship. in which all share. Class
limitations and narrow prejudices are
replaced by the broad patriotism
which seeks TO uplift and inspire.
Our country has developed so mar
yelously in an industrial way in the
past 30 years that much care is need
ed TO adjust the relations between
the employer and the workmen in or
der that the wOrkmen may not be de-
priyed of the reasonable wages the
short hours, and the time for recrea-
ton and education which are neces-
sary for good citizenship. No man is
likely TO become a good citizen who
has not the opportunity for a com
Portable home, and the means TO edu-
cate his children TO the limits that
our public educational Institutions viii
permit
The labor union takes the workman
from the moment he lands on our
shores and starts to make him good
citizen, and it is so far, the most val
liable and efficient agent that we have
for that purpose. In fact it is about
the only agent to do that work.
The recent strike at McKees Rocks
showed how shameleSsly immigrants
were treated by certain employers
and how little any force in society
concerned itself that these poor. foS
elgn worhmen should be educated and
made good citizens. Owing to the
great influx Of immigrants the trade
unions have not been able TO reach
all OF these in time 10 prevent their
exploitation, but much has already
been done. especially for those en-
rloyed as miners.
If the labor union was assisted by
other forces for good in its task OF
organizing and educating. it could
make good citizens Of all the poorest
and most ignorant of our slum popu-
lati0n The unions, however. cannot
do the whole work of the nation.
There is no man so poor, so ignor
ant, but the labor union will take
his as a member and put at his dis
posal all the educational forces of in
dustrial organization. in order that he
may retain his Self-respect, that he
may have no hope for the future
and may be encouraged TO Join with
his fellows In securing those rights
and privileges which make a good cit
izen, He gets new individuality by
his union affiliations He learns that
he is not alone Ia the struggle. There
are those who care for him and will
help MIN TO that full development
which is the best expression of good
citizenship.
In the union man learns to respect
the rights of others. He realizes the
power Of associate effort, He sees
by contrast of how little account is the
individual standing alone In our pres
ent complex society.
The union is constant education
i'm self-government 1t Is a constant
education In self-reliance II is a con
stant sermon on honesty. integrity OF
character, and self-contrOl
In fact, many believe that the non
partisan character of the union makes