The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-05
UNIONS MOTIVE
and PURPOSE
PORTLAND NEWS TELLS HOW
UNIONS CARE FOR WIDOW AND
ORPHANS OF DECEASED sRETH-
ERN-WHAT is REALLY ACCOM-.
PLISHED.

Portland News: A widely known
millionaire once made remark which
was published all over the United
States. This remark applied TO the
methods and objects of labor unions.
and went something like this:
Labor unions are organized for the
purpose of securing more wages and of
striking in order to secure them"
How many people have gotten firmly
fixed in their heads the idea that to
kick for higher wages and to inaugur-
ate strikes are the only reasons for
existence of labor unions?
But are they?
Read this:
A widow sat alone yesterday in a
little home in ST. Johns. About her
feet played a little child; in her arms
she held another. There were two
others in the room. The oldest was
only s years of age. The youngest was
a, babe in arms. The children had been
i'll with the measles. They were getting
better, but there was no joy I'm the
home. There was only sorrow-ssreat
heavy, overburdening sorrow. for a
day previous the husband and father
of the family had been killed, killed in
the performance of his duty, and while
earning the money which should pro-
vide for the little family.
The morning before he had gone TO
work, strong and in good health and
filled with the vigor of ripe manhood.
That same day at noon he lay a corpse,
and the widow had to face the world
alone.
There was a grocery bill to pay,
there was a little bill for meat, the
woodshed was almost empty and soon
the rent would be due.
If the husband had only been a mem
Der of some labor union there would
have been plenty of helping hands ex-
tended to the widow, there would have
been death benefit, enough at least
to. pay the expenses of the funeral.
But the husband, while he had once
been union member, had allowed his
membership to lapse. For months he
had paid no union dues. and thus the
obligation of the order to him had been
nullified.
1t was dark. blank outlook, and
as the widow gazed upon her four lit
tie ones, the years ahead doomed large
with fear.
But
There came a knock at the door.
Three men entered. Two of them were
strangers and one the widow scarcely
knew.
These men at once took charge of
Kings, They paid the grocery bill, the
little meat bill was settled, large and
generous load of wood was purchased
and placed In the woodshed. other
little accounts We're quietly taken up,
and finally a purse containing a. neat
little sum of money was handed the
widow. enough to tide, her over present
difficulties. And there was promise
made of more to follow.
Why should you do this for me?"
the widow asked
Your husband was our brother. .
was the answer, and our union looks
out for its people,
The widow who sat and mourned
yesterday was Mrs. Ed Laxton. wife of
the lineman killed Monday on pole
at First and Taylor streets. The three
men were committee from the local
linemen's union.
Laxton had paid no dues for months,
but the union still looked after the
loved ones he left behind. and they will
look after them still further.
Does this little example of union
ism look as though the sole mission of
labor organizations was to kick for
higher wages and to inaugurate strikes.
or would 1t appear that there is mob
Ter and better foundation for union
ism?