The wageworker., 1910-11-04
MARKOF MANHOOD
Importance to Labor of the Trade
Union Label.
NOT USED BY ALL CRAFTS.

Many acknowledgements Against
tho Use of General Sign.
There are three forms in which the
trade union label, using the term in it's
widest sense, is used--frst, mark at
tached to a product; second, a shop
card to distinguish place of business,
and. third, button to distinguish a
workman. The majority of trade un-
ions use the label only as mark
placed Oh an article, and ordinarily
the term "union label" indicates this
form of label.
In 1903 the membership Of the trade
unions using the labels attached to the
product was sos, 600, or approximately
21.9 per cent of the entire membership
of the American Federation Of Labor.
Those unions which use cards and
buttons embraced approximately 3o9,-
600, or 1873 per cent Of the number OF
workmen affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor. There are still
other trade unions which use the label
Of the American Federation Of Labor
either because off the weakness of
their organization or because their
products. are ''subsidiary" to sau COM
plete product. ID !,s ..i, .,sg t..s:
Some trade unions are precluded
from the adoption of a label because
Of the nature of the cmMft. The gram
ite cutters and stone Iaaso:ps, forr. ex-
ample, cannot use a label upon the
stone because it could BE readily re-
moved and the employers refuse to
above any design to. be 8 cut ia, she
stone The glass. bottle blowers hay,c
the same difficulty.
Three factors enter into the determi-
nation Of the efficacy Of any. form Of
trade union label-pubIisify Of the
hfbel : the nature Of the !1naterdsal| CT
which I'll lie latrelt isE made .aa1d the, de.
siresaof the 'purehaser.n ayos II sn4:.i
The, label .must be sufficiently prom
ineaty to be. ,readily. qahser,yeead. qah yet, the
character, Of the product to. which the
label is attached Influences the meth
Cd of attachment to be adopted. Cigars
might have the label OF the box or
even on ethe Individual Hei@;irs,sif the
cost Were not too great. But hats and
clothing aust haxec an attachment. of
theaAabeLa (which Mesear:yes reasonable t1 abe
puA9Aeity: with9ut esiviaa oaen1Ssses If 1Sss to
Tfs * fo1Ii n' of /; fibsl + aeaSnfad easeI M 81 the
hatters flfastrs;iiifies tlie'Infiuance 81 these
fa5fbrs Ness1 N7es1ye we'll III: isa. f;ti'hea to the
inside of Sire faai@usisitsF ti,se Fow iSf the
r4Dbvlf :iila Z ne ton,sst t.anlnind. and is
stitc hsdpii, such a y:ty arHst 4hea hread
must pass thr,M@h be bow. The label
is concealed. and at the same time it
may be readily found by any one de
sirous, of having the >laa,eii ON the pred
uct. ! -aste>. sst; alS:> f:za sas 4
They clothing trades are governed by
the same considerations ia ,the>ir IL s & hoice
| Of a mode, of Attaching the label.
Many suggestions have appe;tred for
a general label of the An1erican Fed
el-ation ofFsI.abor to be used by all
affiliated trade. unions The hatters.
united garment workers. shirt waist
and laundry workers. meat cutters and
! BUTCHER work men. 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 ard shoe workers have opposed
: any such proposal. 4 Their arguments
! ~. aaas ~ A3,s* 49, ss.a tss%
.xasessss.,