The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1913-11-21
4 UNION MENACE.
NonatteAdance of Members a Sc
rious Handicap.
DRAG ON UNITED EFFORT.
Nothing 10 More Important to the
ToiIer Than the Welfare Of His
Trade Organization-Union is Strong
or Weak az Membership Wills.


ToiIer Than the Welfare Of His
Trade Mon is Strong
or Weak az Membership Wills.
Some recent court procedure, While
aimed at the very existence OF the
trade unions, will nevertheless be pro-
ductive OF good if it impresses on the
individual! member his responsibility
for the acts Of the union irrespective
rs to whether he was or WAS not pres
enr ut the meeting at which certain ac-
ton may have been taken. Ihe stay
at home element is the greatest drag
20 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 it 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 Iabors, for these directly ar
feet the enjoyment OF life aud the pur-
suit OF happiness.
Radicaism used in It's worst and de-
structive sense means the ruinatlon or
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 he and possibly will he
that the disintesrati0n OF the trade un'
ions will be cause for additional So
cial unrest, but it 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 c0ntented
member, the member with the idea
that he is socially superior to his en-
yironment and his fellows, the self
conferred member-ln brief, the short
sighted and unwise member who alb
sents himself from the meetings of his
trade union-1s directly and surely aid
ing the disciples OF radicalisn to
achieve their masked desires.
Remember that YOU are responsible
for your union and its welfare. You
cannot shirk that responsibility. 1he
union Is what you and your colleagues
make it, It can and should he pow
erful engine for Justice for the wage
Garner The wage earner's future Is III
his own hands. He must work out his
own destiny. He has an instrument
ready at hand IN his trade union for
his elevation 10 higher and better
sphere. He must use that instrument
with care aud discretion.
DO your duty to yourself and those
dependent upon you.
Attend the meetings or your union.
That many Of the evils OF which we
complain nearly all Of the misunder-
standing and 4 great proportion or the
untounded criticism would be ellmlnat-
ed il we had better attendance at
union meetings is an opinion formed
by me as result Of many years OF
trade union experience, both as Il
member OF local union, al officer or
that union aud an officer Of the inter
national organizati0 zion. The men ana
women who get to the union meetings
understand the policies that are being
made effective and, as 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 num-
Der Of our local unions the rebate SyS-
tenn Of dues is in effect and seems Z"
be giving satisfaction. or at least
brings about large attendance or
members. But whatever method may
be adopted, if it will result in more
members at the meetings it is bound
to be a source Of strength TO the I'M
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
ganiZatiou from attendance at loca! m
ion meetings.-James NJ. Lynch, PreSl-
dent international Typographical Tn
ion.