United labor bulletin., 1910-09-22
"WHY | AM A TRADE uNIoNIsT.'
(By F. H. Murray

(By F. H. Murray
The subject OF this little talk l do
not intend to consider altogether in a
personal light, that is, as | the individ-
ual am concerned but take it for
granted that what is intended is the
question in the broader sense,-Why
should any one who is toiler for wages,
in any line of endeavor, band together
with others of his craft in a trade union?
And we answer Immediately: ito better
obtain some desired end So the use of
the pronoun 1, here should not be con-
sidered egotistic. Nor, do l desire to
pose as having something to tell you
that you have not already knowledge OF.
That, indeed, would be presumption on
my part. But, do believe that no mat
ter how wise we may be, it is just as
we'll to be admonished from time to
time, that we grow not too careless or
Indifferent to our own interests, or
'lest we forget" l wish to speak plain
ly, without any attempt at oratory, and
as one who, like you, works under con-
ditions that can be improved, as one
who like yourselves understands what
the toilsome grind of factory life means.
With no theories to exploit, but to con-
slider only that which the hard lesson of
experience has impressed us. "Why am
l trade-unionist?" Because l believe
in higher wages, in shorter workday,
in better conditions generally. And l
am tradeunionist because l believe
that the trade-union is the best medium
that has yet been devised to obtain for
the wage-worker an equitable share OF
the fruits of his labor. And by this just
share of the profits, mean wages, hours
of labor and general conditions of en-
ployment. The trade-union, it has been
said effects fraternal tie and COM
mon code among workers everywhere
even though they may be separated by
great distances. I have no intention of
assailing other methods, adopted in this
and in other countries, seeking the amel-
ioration of the condition of the toilers,
be they social or political, nor have 1
much patience with those who decry the
efforts being made by others, who are
honest in their opinions and are true to
their principles, be it called socialism
or any other plan of which their adher-
ents are true exponents. For it is only
by organization, we'll directed, that any
cause can be advanced.
The most contented trades are those
which have the most perfect trade-union,
where there is unity in every sense, a
unity of purpose and unity of endeavor
in the common cause, where the frater
nal spirit is blended with the cordial re-
lations existing between employer and
employe. And Harmony is the keystone,
as Justice and Honesty of Purpose are
the foundation and the basis of their ex-
istence.
While we organize to right present |
evils, to ward off impending injustice and
to protect and foster those privileges
that we now enjoy, and the topic tonight
is of the present, it may not be improper
to take a retrospective view, to consider |
for a moment the conditions leading up |
to the primitive organization of the work |
ers. In the early ages the burden of
labor was performed by the serfs. There |
was no labor done for wages as we term
it. There was wide barrier, social and |
otherwise. between employer (or mas
teri and the worker. The gradual eman-
cipation of the serfs and the changing |
conditions of the toilers, left them weak, |
helpless, without ambition or crushed to
the ground should they even protest |
against injustice. On the other hand the
employer class possessed the wealth, the |
land and the power, the legislative and |
executive power. But, all created beings
are endowed with the instinct of self
preservation, hence, with the continued |
and increased encroachments upon their
liberties and their rights, the toilers
sought by secret organization to combat
the forces arrayed against them Then, |
coercive measures were enacted into |
law by the Gas we term it today capi- |
talistic class, which aimed to repress or
entirely destroy efforts among the toll
ers to combine for the purpose of secur-
ing more favorable conditions.
About the middle of the thirteenth cen
fury, authorities agree, wages were first
paid for work performed in England, |
where, also the first organizations of
workers were formed. Thus over 600
years represent the time during which in |
some way or other there has been a
clash between organized labor and the |
power of capital.