The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-11
UNION LABEL NOW
MARK OF MANHOOD
Its Importance to Trade In
ions Is Now Being Gen.
orally Realized.

There are three forms in which the
trade union label. using the term In It's
widest sense. In used-frst. a mark ut.
tached TO . product: second. shop
card TO distinguish place Of business,
and. third. . button to distinguish n
workman. The majority OF trade un-
ions use the label only AZ a mark
placed on an article. and ordinarily
the term "union LABEL indicates this
form Of label.
In 1908 the membership Of the trade
unions using the labels attached to the
product was $4,000. or approximately
2S.O per cent OF the entire membership
Of the American Federation Of Labor.
Those unions which use cards and
buttons embraced approximately 300.-
600. or 1873 per cent Of the number OF
workmen afiiliated with the American
Federation Of Labor. There are still
other trade unions which use the label
Of the American Federation OF Labor
either because OF the weakness OF
their organization or because their
products are subsidiary" to a CON-
plete product.
Some trade unions are prccluded
from the adoption Of a label because
Of the nature Of the craft. The gran
lite cutters and stone masons. for ex-
ample. cannot use a label upon the
stone because 1t could be readily re-
moved and the employers refuse to
allow any design to be cut IN the
stone. The glass bottle blowers have
the same dlficulty.
Three factors enter into the determi-
nation Of the efficacy Of any form of
trade union label-publicity Of the
label. the nature Of the material OF
which the label II made and tho de-
aires Of the purchaser.
The label must be sufficiently prom
inent to be readily observed. yet the
character Of the product to which the
label IL attached influences the meth
Cd Of attachment to be adopted. Cigars
might have the label on the box or
even on the individual cigars. II the
cost were not too great. But hats and
clothing must have an attachment Of
the label which preserves reasonable
publicity without giving offsnss to
sense Of propriety.
The form Of label adopted BY the
hatters illustrates the influence Of these
factors very well. II Is attached to the
inside of the hat under the bow Of the
ribbon on the outside band and Is
stitched In such q way that the thread
must pass through the bow. The label
II concealed. and Mt the same time It
may be readily found by any one de-
sirous OF having the label on the prod.
uct.
The clothing trades are governed BY
the same eonsiderat lions In their choice
Of q mode Of attaching the label.
Many Suggcstious have appeared for
q general label Of the American Fed.
Grafton Of Labor to DO used BY all
amliated trade unions. The hatters.
united garment workers. shirt waist
and laundry workers. meat cutters and
butcher workmen. iron molders. uphol.
sterers. retail clerks. BARRIERS and tai.
lors have taken the lead In advocating
the adoption OF one form Of label for
all crafts. The cigarmakers and the
boot and shoe workers have opposed
my such proposal. Their arguments
are a. that the distinctiveness Of the
label Of each trade would be lost and.
since the needs Of each craft are diff
ferent. the principles upon which any
demand for the label In u particular
trade might be- created would thus be
destroyed aud CO that the American
Federation Vt Labor under such sys.
tenn would Of necessity control the
label and the propaganda for II. The
policy Of the American Federation Of
Labor would thus lie abandoned and
the Industrial form of organization
would Of necessity replace the existing
form Of truce utiiliation. - Alolders'
Journal.