Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-06-23
What Unions Haze Done

~ Hull OlttUNO 4AAt1G OVHG
- HE Ascentifc dreamer who complains that Labor
I7TI unions do not help solve the Labor problem,
vi leaves facts behind him when he argues. il Lal
Dor unions had done nothing else in their exist
they have raised The standard of living, and that
great deal.
Of course it is true that the Labor union even in
its perfect state increase wages and shorten hours
Having control distribution it cannot nix the sell
ing price of the products of its members and not owning
the tools of production it cannot wipe out the profit TAKEN
BY those tool owners which the Of all our evils
1t is true ALSO that though wages have been increased
and working day shortened that the increase machinery
efficiency has been so great that production has oudt
anced pay and the workers pay will today buy smaller
proportion of his product than ever in history.
But on the proper consideration of this phaze great
deal depends. The workers pay will buy smaller pro-
portion of his product than before BUT IT BUYS
MORE OF HIS PRODUCTS THAN EVER BEFORE.
This seeming incongruty is explained by the double fact
that machinery has increased and cheapened products
the standard oflliving has been bettered.
Labor unions have taught holy dissatisfaction to their
members Workers. through the teachings received in
their organizations have to realize that they who pre-
duce all the good things of this earth entitled to some
of them Today the working people who belong to unions
have carpets the floors and lace curtains at the windows
1t is not find in their homes baths and tee
phones Their supply Of clothing is better and more var
ied their travel more extended their list of pleasures
more elevated.
In short the organized workers. speaking generally,
are getting out of life than the common lot OF
workers in the old days. They not getting it because
of the philanthropy Of the industrial masters nor because
of the intervention Of the church. They getting more
life because their Labor unions have given them thesop
portunity Of exchange Of ideas and to extent the
opportunity of realizing them.
The fact that the workers product is sold at high
figure than that received by them for the producing is
not the fault Of the workers Of their Labor unons it
is the fault Of capitalism itself Yet is serious fault
for that margin between the pay for production and the
cost of selling that private profit the part that brides
legislators and mares American mionaresses to titled
foreign ders It fault serious that the Labor pro-
bem will be settled while it exists for the lntel
gent worker cannot support able bodied dlers in complete
harmony and happiness.
But the Labor union that taught it's members that
unity is strength will find ways to that united
strength to the interest of its MEMBERS the Labor union
that taught its members the beauties OF fuller freer LIE
will look upward to an ever fuller, freer life
This is normal natural. Unions will change as IN
dusrial conditions change and they will meet the new
conditions Unionists will go into politics. because that's
necessary too but they will rot forsake their unions for
even the best laws for the workers might take sixty days
to enact and the unions sometimes have to act in sixty
minutes.
Though we organize politically and capture every
public office for the workers. the unions still necessary
and they will continue to be necessary as long as wages
are paid anywhere
Absentee UniOniSm.