The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-12-15
DEMANDTHELABEL
1t Is an instrument of Progress to
the Labor Movement.
STRONG AID TO UNl0NISM.

Goods Helps to Support the Enemies
of Organized Labor-Many Trade
Unionists Fail In This Respect.
The following article from the Wo.
mems Label League journal expresses
forcibly the value of the union label:
The possession of a union card is
supposed to indicate that the holder
is union man. This is true in theory
only, for the man who purchases non
union goods when label goods can be
obtained-and it is frequently done
is not a union man. The genuine
trade unionist demands the label, and
If all members did likewise he would
never fail to get it.
1t was our fortune about fifteen years
| ago to be in a city in which there were
/ but three unions, and they were strug.
/ Cling along with just about enough
members to hold their charters. A
vigorous campaign of organization was
started. and the various crafts repre-
/
about 10000 souls were brought-se
cretly. for open organization was i'm
possible-together and organized. 1t
required about three years to institute
about a dozen unions and place them
upon sound, substantial basis.
A delegate to the recent Typograph-
ical union convention who came from
the city under discussion informed us
that they now have forty odd unions,
all strong and healthy. And" said
he, do you know we have built up
these strong organizations principally
by label agitation We have advertised
the label in season and out, and as
direct result we have four absolutely
100 per cent unions in the city. be-
lieve that the unions having labels
can be built up faster by earnest label
agitation than by any other MEANS
pretty strong argument as to the
efficiency of the union label How
ever. there is no doubt that the great
ma iority of union men do not fully re
aliZe the value Of the label as an in
strument for the advancement of the
entire movement. They have not look
ed into the subject deep enough to ap-
precate the widespread influence that
every purchase of union label goods
has on the labor movement. 1t is far
rea ching in its effects and if the mem
bership could be brought to a realiza-
ton of the enormous power for good in
demanding the label the progress would
be much more rapid than at present.
That union members spend five times
as much to keep nonunion concerns in
the field as they spend for the support
of union establishments there can be
no doubt. Every dollar spent with
concern without the label is dollar
put into the hands of the enemy with
which to destroy the unions. Ever!
dollar devoted to the purchase of union
label goods Is d dollar directed toward
preserving them.
1t is said that union men spend in
this country $1500,000.000 annually
FOR the necessaries of life. The $500,
900 union men in this country would
| If they demanded it, soon find union
label on all their purchases. Were
this the case it would not be long until
there were 100000 union workers in
this nation instead of 2,500000 as now
As n result of the working conditions
that would necessarily follow such Il
transition there would be happier
homes, more air and sunshine III fac
| tories, more men at work Mt living
wages, more children in attendance in
our schools. fewer persons in our poor
houses after age had crept upon them
| fewer sorrows and more joys. fewer
4 tears and more smiles and a higher
happier standard of life for all work
ers.
The possibilities are so great and
| the manner of accomplishment so sim
pie that no excuse can be justified
Always demand the label-it is more
| than worth while. Be one of the in
struments of progress in the move
ment rather than a drag that holds it
back. 1t may be to some little bit
embarrassing at times, but it is worth
! il a thousand times over not only to
the union whose label you demand. but
to you. You will reap your reward in
genuine material benefits in the end.
Keep at it.
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