United labor bulletin., 1910-09-08
ORGANIZE.
(By John Mitchell.)

perity and retarded in days of adversely,
but gaining wisdom and experience in
periods of adversely it rushes on to new
heights with each recurring period of
prosperity An examination of the re-
ports of membership submitted to the
American Federation of Labor by affili-
ated national and International unions
for the past two decades would seem to
indicate that the growth in membership
has been in cycles; that is to say, the
increase has been much greater in some
years than in Others This fact may be
attributed to number of circumstances,
but it is due principally to the state of
trade as it is affected by industrial activ-
ity or stagnation. In running over the
periods which mark the most rapid prog
ress in the years gone by and comparing
industrial conditions then with the state
of trade now, it would seem that we have
reached another of those psychological
moments when the work of organization
should take on new impetus, and unless
all signs fail the present and the next
year should see our organizations in a
stronger and better condition financially
and numerically than ever before.
1t goes without saying, of course, that
labor organizations do not grow automat-
ically. They do not evolve from strug-
Cling, impotent unions into strong, effect
i've organizations as caterpillars evolve
into butterflies or as boys evolve into
men. While it is true that in some
trades having strict union shop agree
ments the organizations may recruit new
members and gain strength without any
special effort being put forth by the
members or representatives of such or
ganizations, yet union that depends for
it's success or progress entirely upon
either its label or upon those who come
forward unsought and unbidden is not
likely to enjoy a large measure Of sue
cess or to become an important factor in
the family of unions comprising the
American Federation of Labor.
Nothing in this world is worth having
that is not worth fighting for, and If the
of labor are to attain their
greatest strength, If they are to rise to
their fullest possibilities, everyone-ofi-
GERS, organizers, members alike-must
put forth some earnest effort. every one
must be willing to make some sacrifice
to bring within the fold of the union
every man eligible to membership. And
a good union man will not cease in his
efforts when his own trade is organized; +;
because there can be no real security, no
permanent and lasting progress, until all
the workers In all the trades are men,
bers of their respective unions, and
united under the standard of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor.
During the present period of ascend
ing wages and Industrial activity an ex-
effort should be made to per-
unionized trades and to establish new
unions in the unorganized districts.
There are, of course, tremendous OBJ
stacles in the way and great opposition
is to be overcome, but the history OF
past efforts and successes should give
us courage and confidence to move on
to new victories and greater achieve
ments. Indeed it will be found in the
future, as it has been in the past, that
not the least of our difficulties will be
the indifference of our own members
and. in some cases, the inexplicable hos
tility of the unorganized workmen.
1t is, of course, much easier to dilate
upon our failures than to present a
specific method of bringing the morgan
lied into communion with the organized
workman, yet we may all profit from the
experience of others, and perhaps 1t
would be advantageous If men having
long experience in the labor movement
should give the benefit of that expert
ence to one another.
The usual method of organizing wage
earners is through public meetings, at
which addresses relative to the subject
are delivered, through correspondence,
etc In other words, the
work of organization devolves, IN large
measure, upon the salaried officers, the
business agents, and to a lesser extent,
the local committees. And yet 1t Is safe
to say that no system of organization
can prove SO effective as one wherein
the individual member of the union takes
an active and substantial part. Let each
member be ever alert and constant in
to make his union tower
Of strength, a protection to himself, his
and a blessing to the
and all workmen In the VI
,inity who are employed at the trade
will be brought within the fold OF that
union. Unfortunately, however there are
too many trade unionists who feel and
act as though in paying their dues and
they have discharged their
full responsibility and that no further
effort should be required Of them. Is 1t
any wonder that thousands Of workmen
fail to join the union when they observe
SO much indifference on the part OF those
already holding Membership?
If the 100000 organized workmen OF
this country could be awakened to a
sense of their personal responsibility; II
each one of them should become imbued
with a realization Of his own strength,
and If these forces were applied inteili-
gently and enthusiastically, how long
would 1t be until every man and woman
working for wages be member OF the
union? If every union man should con-