The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-11-22
- = - 3. - ! 80
SOMETHING or UNIONS

II
There is no law limiting the scope
Of trade unionism; :. neither - there any
artificial barrier to check the useful
ness of growth and development. The
function and benedcence are: as
broad as the universe, and as protec-
! tive as human ingenuityscan dsvise:
With growing intelligence. and the
elimination Of narrow selt1shness, the
trades unions can fulfil a mission.
oyershadowing the best and noble1t
traits OF human endeavor and char
acter in the worlds progress. 2.
The scope of the trades unions IN
developing from: the growth Of or
ganizatiOn on permanent basis; the
keystones to the arch Of permaheney
are the protective and benevolnt
failures. What we need Is a wider
scope. rising above petty selhshnels
and the apprehension Of timid minds
A more perfect organization of labor
on trades union basis. is the most
stupendous work Of modern times;
1t has no parallel in history. PreJu-
dice, ignorance, seldshness and cow
ardice are some Of the obstacles In
the path Of progress, which have to
be removed. ~ @.:' Il = ~.:
| The scope of a trade union, as CON-
stttuted at present, embraces many
| valuable features; a. :,.,. -. y
It Is Protective Organization--It
raises wages and prevents reductions;
1t equalizes wages Tor equal work per-
formed; it#endeavors to secure a. liV-
| ing totall. 1t establishes q minimum
wage for common work; Ii restricts
cut-throat and unfair competition. i
It is - Fraternal sAssociatfon-It
sympathizes with the sick an zsa1flict-
ed and the unemployed by. tho pay
ment of stipulated BENEFITS: Ia: case
Of special distress the help extended
is Of substantial nature ;s:.; IT,.
| It Is an Insurance: Society-The CO.
operative Insurance in case Of death
and total disability IT,, superior and
less costly than the rates charged by
the ordinary ! insurance: companies.
| with a class iof high salaried ofaciah
and agents absorbing excessive pre-
miums., It Is mutual, safe and eco
nomica1. r. @r: -"
It is Savings Bank The trades
union enables the worker with linz
tied means and not 3overburdened
with thrift, and tho habit Of saving
for rainy day to depoGit weekly
small sums Of money IN the shape Of
dues and assessments, which are. re-
| turned to him when most needed:
when sick, out OF work, travelling,
etc. The deposits being scattered
over large territory. make them
absolutely. safe; the amount lost by
tn failure Of few banks does: not
exceed fraction, Of one. per cent.
The deposits draw interest for the
benefit of all membrs.
It is g. Legislative Body-It plans,
adopts and amends the constitution
and local bylaws without any inter
| ference and advice from outside par
ties. Mistakes can be rectihed speed
| lily whenever necessary. There Is no
conflict Of interests to any appreci-
able extent; local difference can be
adjusted in the interest OF the gem
eral welfare, Viewed from = !. broad
standpoint. '.'SS'..: : :. ..>
It is a Direct Legislation League League
The initiative and referendum which
| are the cardinal features In. the
structure of the constitution. enables
a small number. of unions to propose
amendments and substitutes. They
are submitted to a referendum vote.
with or. without any discussion, ,-aa
the case may be- and approved OF
rejected. This form OF legislation il
simple, direct and effective. So. j. ;,
| Il It Is q School on Economics-The
Manchester School Of Political Eco
nomy, from Adam Smith to the pres
ent day, has evolved school of. doc
trines and critics OF all shades. al,d
colors; It has evolved a system: OF
speculative philosophy not based on
concrete cases and facts, Numerous
books have been issued on the func-
lions Of capital, the value Of labor.
the rate Of wages ana profits, the
laws of supply and demand, 4:of ex-
change, finance. etc. The trades. union
has, in the attempt to improve the
conditions ), OF the worker, exposed
these economic fa1acies. = It 10 de-
veloping new school. which 10 pure
and simple. and based on facts and
scientific Investigation. sz .'.; - !.
| b, It is a. Debating club rhee b,s,isi-
ness 81 the union. be it OF 4 routine
nature. involving questions 81 Vital
import, require discussion and .delib-
Grafton. Points Of order are raised
which require careful. discussion; the
motions under debate are, amended
and substituted. Parliamentary skill
IT, brought into play; the Natural