United labor bulletin., 1912-10-10
THE TRADE UNION
THE RIGHT THING
Establishment of Economic Move
ments--HoW the Trade Union
Movement Has Advanced
Wy Grant HamiIton.)


conditions imposed by employers and ac-
centuated by the ever increasing desire
to make still further profit upon the
product of the toll of workmen. The
struggle to raise the skilled and un-
skilled laborer above the absolute neces-
sity line has been intense, and the his
tory of all working people has been one
replete with the sacrifice and self-ab-
lnegation of the blazers of the trail which
has led to improved industrial condi-
tions.
| The nineteenth century witnessed the
firm establishment in every country of
the civilized world economic movements
by the working people. Arrayed against
| the organized effort of workmen stands
| a minority of the total population but
| lying between the two sections men
| toned is that great strata of society,
| the unorganized and apathetic, called
the public. Environment, previous and
present conditions of life, workmen in
ured to deprivation, ignorance of the
rights to which man is justly entitled,
cautiousness impregnating the minds of
| unorganized workers owing to the thin
partition between penurious living and
actual want, hereditary helplessness and
an inability to conceive the possibility
of at least partial control of industrial
conditions, presents in a meager way the
prODlem WHICH cOHlTOHtS lHe dposlieS vi
| the trade union creed.
The scheme of nature does not include
in it's curriculum state of perfection.
That state is but the mythical standard
toward which indefatigable effort is di-
| rected for the purpose of enthusing the
latent qualities of individuals into an ac-
tive and impelling force against the
wrongs which exist.
The trade union is constructed of un-
polished material and squares to the
needs of every workman. Fretwork and
other embellishments are conspicuous
by their absence In the program of the
trade union there is no mysterious
legendry Practicability is the chief
characteristic. The ownership of man in
himself constitutes the groundwork upon
, which the philosophy of associated ef-
| ford is founded The right to sell labor
| at the highest price is business propo-
sition and not sentimental. There is no
sentimenrality on the part of the
butcher in selling a beefsteak at 30
cents per pound. Organizations and
combinations in various forms envelop
the entire commercial world, with but
| the single end in view-to obtain for the
product of labor the highest attainable
price and to reduce the labor cost to the
very lowest minimum The difference
between the combined cost of raw mate
rial with labor cost added and the selling
price of the finished product constitutes
the manufacturers profit The organiza-
| tions of commerce are continually seek
| ing to make this margin larger. Com
merce today is in high state of organi-
! zation, and it is this fact alone that
makes possible the tremendous profits
reaped by organized business.
| If this condition obtains in the busi-
ness world. it alone is sufficient reason
why workmen should follow the same
course and organize. The individual in
industry today is but an atom, incapable
OF accomplishing anything in behalf of
himself Complete and effective organi
zation is essential in dealing with any
economic question. The workman of to-
| day is rarely known by name by his en-
| ployer. He is but segment in the great
cog of industry, and his weak cry of dis
tress is unheard by the great captains of
industry. and. if heard. he is quietly
| dropped from the pay roll.
In dealing with an adversary in the
Industrial field it is good business policy
to adopt the same weapons for defense
as does the employer. If the employer
by organization with other employers.
of if combination of men can fix
and control the price of various COM
modities, SO also can the workmen by
similar combination among themselves
fix the price and conditions of labor.
Students of human activity, as well as
the public generally, realize that in this
age of constantly changing methods in
industry, with the rapid advance of labor
saving devices, coupled with the tight
ening of the lines which bind vast COM
mercial enterprises, that workmen, in
self-defense, must combine to meet this
growing power that they may meet
the employer on more equal terms. With
strong organizations of laborers they
will be able to traffic with their employ
ers and have a voice in the establish
ment of wage scales and conditions OF
labor.
The Steel Trust today is the mon
arch of the industrial field in the iron
trade of commerce. Its employees are un
organized, and the steel organization, the
most perfect yet devised, is absolute
master of the labor market. The price
paid to labor is that which the Steel
Trust determines, while the workmen
must accept what it offers or seek other
employment.
Employees of the trust work long hours
and receive low wages. But this condi-
tion only exists because the workmen
themselves do not pursue the same meth
DDS as does the Steel Trust. If the work
men employed by the steel concern were
to organize unions and fix the price Of
labor the wages of workmen would
rise, hours would be lessened, and the
conditions of labor would be improved.
There is today shortage of steel
workers. The Steel Trust wants more
men But it does not want to pay any
more wages than is absolutely neces-
sary.
That's in accordance with modern
business methods Then, Mr.. Workman,
why don't you adopt modern business
methods? Why don't you organize and
! fix the price of the labor you have
| to sell?
| The history of the steel combine is one
long story of injustice to its workmen.
| 1t seeks to retain in its employ the
| tongues of the earth. The Hungarian,
Slavonian, Lithuanian, Polish, Italian.
Austrian, Portuguese Greek. Belgians,