The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-05-08
tnTthe value sof q paid-up membership
the investment sof dues BY the indi-.
vidual member returning q very high
Yer $500. .
Biographical Union Il. I.

:. .'.-=
The International b. Typographical
union maintains p strike benefit OF 81
per week for heads of families and IS
per week for single men. In addition
to this it maintains y. at COLORADO
Springs, olo.,sa home for aged and
INDECENT members, portion of4which
has been set apart for the treatment
Of its members afflicted with, tuber-
culosis. It is one OF the most magni-
ficent institutions in the country and
is conducted in an ideal manner. It
Is entirely supported by the member
ship, and no charge of any. character
is made or can, be made. to any in
mate:' If the applicant is entitled to
enter, it is without cost of any kind.
The motto, Its bounty is unpurchas-
able" adorns the principal arch over
the driveway entering the grounds. A
continuous, membership Of five years
is the first qualification for admis.-
sion. i Nj ~ VISA: .@%tt s. e.. 4'-':"&> -
Other :lnternationals. Il:
There, are also other international
unions, notably The Iron Molders and
Boot and Shoe Workers., which are
adding beneficiary features. ~-.~. ;. = ~,s !.
The officials .of. trade unions, out
| side Of the Instances noted, in this
| country are and have been indeed
| slow In recognizing the fact that high
| err dues and Increased benefits have
an influenceEtoward solidarity and ef-
fectiveness that can be obtained in
no other way. The revenues gathered
by the fraternal orders, ought to q
great" degree be diverted to the trade
unions by the trade unions installing
themselves as the beneficiary source
for the workers. Of our land. The in
come . Of fraternal societies would be
available: to Organizations of labor II
the unions Of workers incorporate thu
beneficiary features of the fraterna.
societies and the structure thus form
ed would make organized labor prac.
tically invincible. So. =: - ..-->
- British aTradeunionists. r.
The British trades, organizations arr
advanced :: in. this regard. beyond thu
American ones. The officials o fthest
foreign unions have learned by ex-
perience as also have the members
some Of the truths concer ming man
kind, and have crystallized this knowl-
edge into appropriate provisions il
: the conduct, OH their organizations
Too much effort has been expended
in the direction of acquiring member
ship, rather than: formulating and put
ting into effecf measures that: will
increase: the efficiency Of the loca
unions. AS stated, beneficiary pro-
visions not only. have a salutary. in;
fluence in regular ,paymbent of dues
but strengthens.the ties that bind til,
members to the organization. Man!
labor Officials; while realizing til!
! great benefits ITO be derived by tn
increasing. .dues.with a consequent in
crease in the ability of the organiza-
ton to add further beneficial feat.
ures, are fearful Of a loss of member
ship. 1t is a foregone conclusion tina
: any advance in the fixed charges o
any international union will decrease
it's membership for the time being.
is neVertheless~-ar fact. that this de.
crease is only temporary, for as soo1
| ais the additional features become un-