The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-21
LABOR NOTES or
vide INTEREST
Be Consistent.

If there is one feature OF the labor
movement which has been so persist
Gently called 10 the attention of the
rank and file and which has received
less consideration than the union label,
we 90 not know which one il is.
Every international union whose
members are employed upon commod-
tics to which u union label is attached
has spent thousands of dollars in an
effort TO educate the workers as to the
value OF this insignia OF humane and
: fair working conditions, yet we find that
while there is "A slight increase in the
sale OF union-made goods, it is all out
OF proportion to the great increase of
membership in trade unions.
Why this situation should obtain we
are unable to say, but that this is a
stubborn fact cannot be successfully de-
MED by the most ardent advocate of the
union label and what il stands for. How
can any trade nnonist maintain con.
sistent position who, in his union meet
ings advocates fewer hours and in-s
creased wages for himself and fellows
and at the same time is an employer
of nonunion layori To our mind this
sort of union man is constant men
ace to the trade union movement, be-
cause he embodies the personitcaton
of selfishness, as he cares nothing for
the welfare of the thousands of work.
ers in other trades and is content to
have the money which his trade union
secures for him perpetuate convict,
child and sweat shop labor by continu-
| ally purchasing the goods which are
produced under these conditions.
/ 1t is possible that the system of adj
vertising the union label by personal
! appeal to for their patronage, that ev-
| but we do not believe so, and until we
can arouse feeling in the men and
women whom we have every right to
appeal to for their patronage, that ev
cry time they purchase anything that
does not bear the union label, when it
can be procured, they are virtually
taking the same position they would did
they accept employment in time of a
strike, and in what light would they |
then appear TO their fellows?
True, the union label is not the last |
word in the emancipation Of the work
ers, but it cannot be denied that it is |
potent weapon for good, and we urge
upon the thoughtless men and women |
"hp udet btFu NbAtitSS III THIS dlItt- /
ton to remember the promise they made |
when they joined labor union TO dis |
criminate in favor of union made goods.
In other words, be consistent and prac-
tice what you preach.
Artistians. skilled mechanics, laborers
and other per diem workmen in the
navy yards, arsenals and other employ
es of the government throughout the
country cannot get the annual leave al
lowed them by Congress in 1901 if they
take time off and are paid therefor
under the compensation act of 1908. This
has been handed down by the comptrol-
Ter Of the treasury in answer to an APP
peal by Secretary OF Labor Wilson.
The Square Deal, the local paper OF
jackson. Mich. says that ii is extreme
ly sorry to note the attitude of Senator
Townsend on the sundry civil bill and
continues: The Iaboring men of
Michigan expected much from Senator
Townsend, He claimed TO stand for
progress and we believed him. His ad-
voeacy of labor unions as trusts is ret
repression. 1t reminds one of the old
conclusion that man is an animal, and
SO il a hog; therefore, man is hog;
that trusts are organized, so are labor
unions, therefore unions are trusts. The
premises are wrong and Senator Towns
end may talk from now until dooms- {
lay and he will not be able to convince
any fair minded man that a labor union
is trust" Senator Townsend, like
his colleague, Senator Smith, voted ]
against the amendments which provided
that no money should be spent in prose I
cutting labor organization and farmers
unions under the Sherman antitrust
aw. Y
The government money laundry is in :
ull swing, the treasury department t
having begun operation of four currency
washing machines that are expected to
urn out daily 100000 washed and ironed
lotes, which otherwise would be de-
troyed. Simultaneous with this exper-
ment, the question of forbidding the
Washing of money because of the alleged
anger Of counterfeting it is the inten
ion of the officials of the treasury de-
artment to give the machines fair =
rial, devoting particular attention to =
he danger of counterfeiting. A large =
lumber of bankers throughout the coun 7;
~ have protested against the use OF !,
he machines, declaring that the washed =,
urrency is the "eounterfeiter's delight x
he reason advanced for washing mon ~ =,
y is that it will save the government =
half million dollars or more yearly. g.
With the installation of these machines. !;
is stated that the department ex- -
ects to reduce the working force of
ne bureau of engraving and printing by
DO persons. principally plate printers W
nd their assistants.
During the sessions of the committee
aking investigation with reference to Sc
Re lobbyists in Washington, Senator 70
herman of Illinois took a rap at the La,
Dor unions. He made the following or,
larges: "The only improper influences sic
'er brought to bear ON me We're by m,
of labor unions. They VS.
lreatened to exterminate me-" This
,sertion was entirely gratuitous and =
e nature of the investigation did not
II for any expression of this chsrac-
r. 1t is a well known fact that the
merican Federation OF Labor and 9th
large organizations maintain legis-
tive agents at the national capital
he legislation sought. however, is not n,
behalf of private interest. but, on