The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-04-07
.UNIONLABEL
BESTFRIEND
End to Prolonged Strikes
and HardShipsLiesin use
of This Simple, Effective
Weapon
By Herbert L. Morely.

No band of crusaders, no army of
conquest, in all of the worlds history,
had battle standard that aroused more
devotion in its followers, or impelled
them to do more good deeds in its
name, than should be inspired in the
hearts of the toilers of America by that
emblem of industrial justice the union
label
Guarantee Of fair wages and health
full conditions assurance of humane
treatment of the worker, proclaiming
the sturdiness and manliness of the in
telligent and competent craftsman, this
peaceful little emissary should command
the respect and enlist the sympathy of
all fair minded people, and particularly
of those who have interests in common
with the toilers whose lives are in part
bound up in the finished product upon
which it appears.
Especially upon the members of or
ganized labor should be impressed the
value of the union label and the neces-
sity for its earnest support While we
are to be sincerely congratulated upon
the steadily growing conscientiousness
in this direction, there are still far too
many instances in which the obligation
.of union men in this respect is disre-
garded This must be ascribed to either
thoughtlessness or indifference; for it is
indeed hard to conceive that a true
union man, struggling for improved con-
ditions in his own trade, would wilfully
assail brother unionist by the employ
ment of "scab." Yet this is precisely
the effect of the purchase of non-union
goods.
The purchaser is the Ultimate employ
er, for he must create the market for
the product of the worker. Every cent
spent by union man is therefore spent
in the employment of some kind of la
Dor. If non-union goods be purchased,
"scab" labor is therefore employed. Not
only that, but by this process the union
man retards the building up of a force
in other crafts that will prove of i'm
mense benefit to him in the securing of
his own demands. 1t is believed that
when these facts are impressed with
sufficient force upon the minds of trade
unionists, we shall see the last of the
union man in the role of the employer of
the "scab" and the union label will re-
ceive its greatest impetus.
And when all the money earned by
trade unionists is spent for union made
products, think of the great force for
good that viii be thereby eXerted. With
the consequent greatly increased DE
mand for such products, how much cas-
ier it would be to secure further i'm
proved conditions in all crafts-in yours,
too. brother unionst, if you please; how
securely each craft would be intrencned
in its position; how many accessions
would come to our ranks from those
thus compelled to recognize the benefits
of the trade union; to what extent such
a condition would tend to clarity the la
Dor question and bring labor truly into
its own It is surely no mistake to say
that the union label is the most po-
tent weapon of he toiler, and if earn
estly ana consistently supported will
demonstrate that it contains the com
plete solution OF practically all of the
problems of labor.
Trade unionists can do much good by
spreading the doctrine of the label out
side our ranks At the close of a meet
ing addressed by the writer few
months ago one who had been in the
audience threw his cigars in the street,
with the statement that after what he
had heard he would smoke none that
did not bear the union label. Thousands
of converts can be made by acquainting
them with what the label stands for.
And every convert thus male is eXerting
an ever increasing influence for the bet
terment of your condition in creating
demand for your products and those OF
your brother mionists.
When you consider how much pow
er to uplift the wage Garner is bound
up in this little harbinger OF industrial
good, pleading your cause and elamor-
ing for your just and humane treatment
to every one whose eye it reaches, is 1t
too much to ask that you do your share
to increase its effectiveness, when you
Mr.. Toiler, are the one for whom 1t IS
carving its storyl Surely not-you
should be prompted by desire for your
own advancement if by no other motive
Let our slogan therefore be; Buy only
union label goolsl" and let US make
these emblems Of the various crafts
@first in war. first in peace and, best
of all. "first in the heart of the union
man"