The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-09-26
A union MENACE.
Nnnattendance of Members a Sc
rious Handicap.
DRAG ON UNITED EFFORT.
Nothing 10 More Important to the
Toiler Than the Welfare of His
Trade Orsanixation-Union Is Strong
or Weak as Membership Wills.

Toiler Than the Welfare of His
Trade Observation-Disclosures Is Strong
or Weak as Membership Wills.
Some recent court procedure, while
aimed at the very existence of the
trade unions, will nevertheless be pro
ductive of good If 1t impresses on the
individual member his responsibility
for the acts of the union irrespective
IS to whether he was or was not pres
ent at the meeting at which certain ac-
ton may have been taken. The stay
at home element Is the greatest drag
to trade union effort. The trade union
Is the most important society with
which the wage Garner is affiliated
1t Is his bread and butter organization.
Under our present wage system 1t fixes
the conditions under which he works
and the money return for his labor.
Nothing can be more important to the
toiler from an existence standpoint
than the wage and conditions under
which he labors, for these directly af-
feet the enjoyment Of life and the pur-
suit of happiness.
Radicalism used In it's worst and de-
structive sense means the ruination of
the trade unions and the consequent
and sure deterioration in conditions
which have been established by trade
union effort under the trade union sys-
tenn. 1t may be and possibly will be
that the disintegration of the trade un-
ions will be a cause for additional so
cial unrest, but 1t Is also asserted that
with this additional social unrest will
then depart the most effective weapon
for the satisfaction of its legitimate
aims.
The hypercritical member Of the
trade union, the SNUG and contented
member, the member with the idea
that he is socially superior to his en-
vironment and his fellows, the self
centered member-in brief, the short
sighted and unwise member who alb
sents himself from the meetings of his
trade union-is directly and surely aid
ing the disciples of radicalism to
achieve their masked desires.
Remember that you are responsible
for your union and its welfare. You
cannot shirk that responsibility. The
union is what you and your colleagues
make 1t. 1t can and should be a pow
erful engine for justice for the wage
Garner The wage earners future is In
his own hands. He must work out his
own destiny. He has an instrument
ready at hand In his trade union for
his elevation to a higher and better
sphere. He must use that instrument
with care and discretion.
Do your duty to yourself and those
dependent upon you.
Attend the meetings Of your union.
That many of the evils Of which we
complain nearly all OF the misunder-
standing and a great proportion of the
unfounded criticism would be eliminat-
ed II we had a better attendance at
union meetings is an opinion formed
by me as a result of many years Of
trade union experience, both as 8
member of local union, an officer Of
that union and an officer OF the inter
national organization. The men and
women who get to the union meetings
understand the policies that are being
made effective and, as a general rule.
are we'll satisfied with the progress
that we are making But whether
they are satisfied or not they know
what they are talking about, for they
have the facts first hand. In a num-
Der of our local unions the rebate sys-
TEN of dues is in effect and seems to
be giving satisfaction. or at least
brings about large attendance Of
members. But whatever method may
be adopted If it will result in more
members at the meetings 1t is bound
to be a source of strength to tho IN
ion. We want intelligent criticism,
and we want suggestions that are
based on knowledge and experience.
This criticism and these suggestions
will come in greater proportion Of wis
dom If the members first learn Of their
local union and their international or
ganization from attendance at local I'M
ion meetings.-James M. Lynch, Presi-
dent international Typographical On
ion.