The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-12-29
The LOCAL union
Importance Of Keeping It Up to
Full Efficiency.
POWER OF UNITED EFFORT.
Numerical Strength Not q Safe Meas.
ure Of the Value of a Labor organi.
zation-Benefits of Unionism Only
Won by Loyalty and Hard Work.

ure Of the Value of a Labor Organi'
zation-Benefits of Unionism onI,
Won by Loyalty and Hard Work.
We have tried to impress upon the
local unions and members the duty
that they owe the movement in which
they are engaged and the duty thai
they owe to themselves, in so far as
their personal interests are to be pro
NOTED by the success of the genera
movement, Of joining collectively and
individually in doing local union work
calculated to increase the strength and
efficiency of their own local union
while at the same time adding to the
strength of the general movement and
to the power Of organized labor in gen
eral.
The strength of local union is gen
orally measured by the number OF
members 1t has in proportion to the
total number Of workers employed in
that trade in its locality. says the Shoe
workers Journal.
But this measure of strength is some
times deceptive. A local union may
have on its membership roll the names
of very large percentage of the work
ers in its trade within its jurisdiction
and yet at The same time the local
union may be extremely weak. even
though the members pay their dues.
The quality of efficiency must be
taken into consideration, as well as thg
consideration of numerical and finan-
cial strength And efficiency in Il la
Dor union means that the union shall
have at least 100 per cent or possibly
more of the strength shown by its
numerical and financial statistics.
We say possibly more than 100 per
cent for the reason that as men asso-
ciate together in effort their power
multiplies, while, on the other hand, as
men associate together in idleness they
become ciphers.
The success of labor union will de-
pend upon the amount of team work
there is among its members and just
how far each member is efficient in the
doing of his union duty.
1t is passing strange that there are
so many members of labor unions who
do not appreciate the Importance of
giving to the cause that represents
their struggle for the bread and butter
of life, that represents the welfare and
education and future of their children
and all that is dear to them, at least
an equal amount of loyalty and effort
as they will give to other far less i'm
portant matters.
Let workingman invest % cents III
some get-rich-qu swindle and he
will be busy hustling to make sue
cess of it in the hope that it may pay
him 20 or 40 per cent on his little in
vestment But in his labor union, from
which he expects heavy dividend on
wages each year and from which he
usually receives a whole lot higher
wage than he would otherwise receive
running into sum that will pay LOCO
per cent upon his investment in dues,
lie does not appear willing to eXpend
the same amount of effort. He wants
all the benefit of union success, but he
is not willing to work for it.
There is no line of effort that will
pay the union man so much as it will
for him to try to strengthen the union
cause Should he induce new work
man to join the union he has taken
one from the ranks of the unorganized
and added one to the ranks of the or
ganized, which comes pretty neal
counting double. Now. if he would
go further and get that one absolutely
converted to the idea of buying union
made goods and nothing else he will
have multiplied that power.
If he will continue his effort in this
direction his example will inspire 9th
ers to do the same kind of work. and
as he mingles with the workmen OF
other trades in attending their union
meetings for the purpose of obtaining
their support for his own union labe
and for the purpose of supporting all
other union labels himself and advo
eating them with the persons with
whom he comes in contact. an element
of personal work and support that sets
a good example to others and leads
them into the same line of effort. the
result will be that the power of union
ism will be multiplied again and again
gradually and surely leading up to the
day when the workers will be 100 per
cent organized and several 100 per
cent more efficient In the performance
of their union duty and in working
for the cause in general.
We do like that word efficient. and
we feel that, since there are mum
Der of people abroad in the land who
express desire for efficiency" there
is no reason why they should not get
it. only let it be Of our type and not OF
thtirS