United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1910-06-23


Imagine, If you can. single team
ster of Denver becoming dissatisfied
with his pay and hours OF service, and
then imagine that lone worker going to
his employer and pleading for more pay
and shorter hours What do you think
would be the answer? Suppose he should
represent to his employer that his fam
lily could not exist on the wages receiv-
ed or that he was running his health by
long hours and hard conditions of serv-
ice. his employer would Immediately
discharge him and fill his place with
some one who would be on hand ready
and willing to accept half loaf rather
than have no bread at ALL
Why is it that teamsters are poorer
paid in Denver than in cities where they
are thoroughly organized? Why is it
that you have not a word to say about
the terms and conditions of your en-
ployment? Why are you compelled to
accept what is doled out to you or re-
main idle? Why is freedom of contract
which employers are so fond of prating
about is denied you? Why is it that
less than four per cent. of the teamsters
of Denver own their own teams? 1t
seems to me that all these and many
other questions that crowd upon the
mind in relation to the hard lot of the
teamster may be largely answered by
the suggestion that you have too long
contented yourselves with humbling
yourselves before your employers and
accepting what he had to offer You
have been content like him OF old to
beg for the crumbs that fall from the
rich mans table instead of asserting
your rights as free born American citi-
zens to participate in the enjoyment OF
/ portion. of that prosperity which is so
much heralded throughout the world, but
SO seldom enjoyed by those who are the
principal factors in producing it.
Another phase of the question Of
unionism which is too often overlooked
by nOn-union workers. and l fear by
some who are in the ranks OF organized
labor. is the opportunities for mutual
helpfulness among those crafts which
are organized and affiliated under COM
mon central body. Let every craft or
ganize and all cooperate for the COM
mon good and it would not be long until
labor should come into its own. If union
teamsters cooperate to sustain their
own crfta in obtaining a fair days wages
for a fair days. work. they will readily
see the necessity of assisting the broom
makers to obtain the same result and
so on through the endless chain of crafts
and trades.
Another reason which | wish to urge
upon the transfers of Denver why they
should organize is that the recent cleo
ton has demonstrated that the people OF
| this city are awakening to the import
ance of Kidding the community OF the
dominion OF political graft guided and
controlled by the utility corporations.
This means a tremendous struggle for
civic and industrial freedom. It involves
| the great central principle of human lib
erty. because this struggle will deter
mine whether we are to be a community
in which men are of more worth than
money. In this struggle the poor are
relatively more Interested than the rich.
the employe than the employer. Isolat-
ed workers dividing their strength In the
industrial field are really fighting each
other without knowing t. Isolated work
ers dividing their strength and activi-
ties in the political field by some sup
porting one OF the old parties and some
another are not only neutralizing each
others efforts. but are making it easy
for the corrupt politicians OF both
parties to get what they want at the
polls, but to effectually block all legis-
lation tending to improve Industrial con-
ditions.
In conclusion. let me urge the team
sters of Denver TO carefully study indus
trial conditions. to think for themselves.
and not to let corporation newspapers do
your thinking for you. Cease begging
for your rights. Oganlze and demand
them. What is the reason that the
Trades and Labor Assembly organizer.
wac is one OF your number has not got
you all in the fold2 In union there IS
strength. sUnited you stand divided
YOU viii surely fall Get together.