The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-04-21
OFFICIAL
CIRCULAR
From Union Label Trades Depart
ment of the American Federation
of Labor.

To the Officers and Members of Organi-
zed Labor:
Dear Sirs and Brothers:-I beg leave
partment is engaged in an effective cam
paign to bring about better results in
the direction Of the sale of various pro-
ducts bearing Union labels and a better
patronizing of establishments that dis
play Union store cards of various or
CARNATIONS.
This department, though organized but
one year, has already in utilization thirty
seven National and International Unions,
with an approximate membership of
about 100000. In connection with our
work, the organizing Of local sections in
utilization with this department, the vari-
Gus central labor unions have been auth
orized to organize these local depart
ments, and the work is now going on with
4 considerable degree of success where
the conditions warrant these organi-
cations.
1t does not need any extended argu-
ment to show the desirability and neccssi.
ty for better patronizing of Union
labeled commodities. The antagonism
shown by the National Association of
Manufacturers, the Kirbys, Van Cleaves,
and the Posts against labor organizations
and Union Labels should be OF sufficient
friends to realize their duty not only to
themselves, but to their felow-workers
as well. Whatever else may apply, there
is no process known that can prevent q
Union man or 4 Union woman, or their
friends, from purchasing Union-made ar
ticles, and it should be borne in mind
that whenever purchases are made of
non-union goods in n non union establish
ment by the members of organized labor
that they are assisting non-unionism and
are doing something to their own detri-
ment.
There is scarcely an article made that
comes into every day use, upon which the
label of the organization whose members
are engaged in producing that article,
but that the label should and can appear
We have already collected information
as to where goods of almost every char
acter bearing the label can be obtained,
every organization upon application.
One of the disadvantages that we have
labored under in the past was due to the
fact that our members and friends were
not at all times able to give information
to merchants who are friendly to our
cause where Union la beled articles could
be obtained from the manufacturers
nj inf &c
and if our members and friends will take
interest enough to make inquiry, and af
ter having received the same convey that
information to friendly disposed merch-
ants it will be of grent advan tage to all.
Your attention is called to the valuable
assistance that can be given our move
ment by the organization of Woman s
Union Label Leagues in utilization with
their International organization, and
with Central Labor Unions and local
Label Departments as well. The import
ance OF this great purchasing power must
be fully realized when it is understood
that possibly seventy per cent of the
wages earned by the bread winners of
the family is spent by their wives and
daughters. These figures in themselves
should be of sufficient argument to demon
strate to our members not only the ad-
visibility, but the absolute necessity of
organizing these Woman IS Label Leagues
50 that their purchasing power can be
used in the patronizing of Union made
goods.
The department is in position. and
is extremely anxious to circulate to the
widest possibly extent, not only to or
CARNATIONS of labor and their friends,
but all other interested individuals. the
names and addresses of manufacturers
who are using the Union Label of the
various affiliated organizations upon their
product
Yours fraternally,
Thomas F. Tracy,