United labor bulletin., 1910-09-29
ARE UNION MEN TRUE TO THEM
SELVES AND THEIR Or
GANlZATlON?
(By A. R. Wyatt, Newark, N. j.

(by A. H. wyatt, Newark, N. J.J
During my twenty-five years in the
labor movement 1 have made a careful
study of the workings of the various Ia
Dor organizations, and the characteris-
tics of the men that belong to them. an.
while watching the movement as it pro-
gressed I find that the individual mem
ber is not as true to his fellow men as
he ought to be, and he is lacking in his
efforts to help better the condition of his
fellow men, as well as his own. I also
find that the attitude of some individuals
whose object is to control and build
fences for the purpose of protecting their
own individual interests, and the achieve
ments of the projects of their personal
and intimate friends, is one of the great
est evils in the labor movement Are
such men true unionists? No, they are
not; they are not true to themselves or
true to their organizations. When a man
joins labor organization he does 1t for
the purpose of protecting the interests
of his fellow men as well as his own
and the little ones dependent upon him,
and not for the purpose of simply better
ing his own condition. If man is a
good union man he will keep watchfui
eye upon his organization and those who
of accomplishing something for himself.
The only way to do this is to attend the
meetings of the local union and watch
any movement that would tend to inter
fere with the good and welfare of his
organization and teach the members
thereof the justice, wisdom and nobility
of the labor movement. Teach him the
power of the union label, teach HIM why
he should demand it and see tnat it is
on all the goods he buys. If all the
working men in this country would do
this and prove themselves true to them
selves and their organization and true
to the labor movement, there would not
be a non-union product on the market.
and why? Because there would be no
sale for them. The trouble with the
working people in this country is that
they are too much concerned in them
selves and pay but little attention to the
welfare of their fellowmen; they are like
the fence builder who builds his fences,
and for what? For the purpose of con-
trolling his organization to accomplish
something for himself. The only way
to do the other fellow. Are these men
union men? Are they true to their or
ganization? No, they are traitors to the
honest cause of organized labor. If a
man is good union man he will do
right, he will fear no man; let him fight
for that which is right and tremble not
in the presence of his foes, for his cause
is a just one. Therefore let every man
be true to his organization, and if he is
true to his organization he will be true
to himself and the labor movement, and
to be true to the labor movement he
should demand the union label at all
times and by doing so we will force the
goods made by union men and women on
the market and cause to be removed
from the market the products of the scab
and strikebreaker, the destroyer of the
peace and happiness of the cottage fire
side. Let us hope that the time will
come when all working men and women
will demand the union label on all goods
they buy, and the non-union man will be
something of the past, but in order to
do this we must be united and work to-
gether for the benefit of all concerned,
and we are bound TO win. lie US remem-
Der the famous words of Lincoln in his
famous debate with Stephen A. Douglas,
in the contest for the United States SEN
atorship of Illinois, when he said: "A
house divided against itself cannot
stand" Therefore let US stand side by
side for one common purpose and defend
those rights that justly belong to US and
better the condition of the great toiling
masses.-The Carpenter.