The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-12-26
GOOD UNION MEN,
Many Reap Benefits Who Have
Not Earned Them.
OVERLOOK THE UNION LABEL

Confusion Of Hypoorits" Puts the
Matter In q Clear Lisht--How Every
Organized Worker Can Help He
Brother ToiIsr Got increased Wages.
On being asked to write an article on
the use Of the union label, it occurred
30 me that personal confession would
be Of more benefit than an essay.
The reason why any one. particularly
a union man. should be insistent upon
the label may be stated in q very few
words: | ought to be sure that when
employ labor | am as fair to my en-
ployees as want my employees to be
to me When | buy any article which
is the product of labor I employ labor.
The only way ! can be sure that the
labor whi,'h | employ Is performed un-
der the best conditions and paid for at
the best rates which collective bargain
ing has been able to obtain for It Is by
seeing the label of the union which
exercises Jurisdiction over the produc-
ton OF that article.
And there you are. SO IL you have
seen the light and become convinced
that it is your duty and your privilege
to be against the men who are striving
+ TO better their condition In life you can
spare yourself any further pernsal Of
a screed which you may fnd more or
less tiresome If not, perhaps you can
benefit by the experience Of one who.
after considerable number OF years
as q member Of union and consider
ing himself pretty good union man,
has gradually awakened to the knowl-
edge that he could qualify as a frst
class hypocrite
What kind Of unionism is 1t when a
man contents himself with paying bis
dues to his union, attending its meet
ings when Ii is not too much trouble,
never kicking about necessary as
sessment and obeying the laws of the
union? These things are all right TO
do. but the union pays us cash for do
ing them. whether we do them or not
II we do these things we do only our
duty. II we do them not we are reap
ing where We have not sown.
In all these years during which l
have been calling myself good union
man have looked at things only from
the standpoint OF the typographical
union. To be sure. my hat has-al-
| most-aIways had a label in 1t; my
shoes generally and sometimes my col
lars have borne the la bells OF the crafts
which produce these things. But In
many cases this only happened SO
The unjcn. which control these crafts
had 80 developed themselves that in
many cases the merchants sold me the
articles bearing the labels without my
asking for them. In such cases | had
not helped any.
But ! did not when | went to buy
bread make sure that the bakers label
was on the loaf | could. you know.
but ! did not When ! went to the
barber shop did not think to look for
the shop card on the wall. The butch
ers' shop card was a total stranger to
me-and is yet am sorry to say. but
ask for IL That has a tendency to
help. you know. When | went to buy
a suit of clothes | looked at the quail
ity OF the cloth. and | looked at the
price tag. but never looked Just In
side the pockets for what should be
one OF the chief requisites In the eyes
OF a man who considers himself fair to
those who work for him.
AS for underwear and socks and
| neckties with the label on-why.
| didn't even know there were such
things. And yet there are such things.
and can get them by taking little
extra trouble TO ind them.
And yet was a good union man"
What do you know about thatf
Now. wonder Just how lonesome
ought to feel In making such confes-
| nion as this | am inclined to suspect
that IL there were not quite lot OF
union men like me these unions which
are now having 80 fierce a time to es
tablish conditions and wage scales TO
iift them just little way out OF their
| misery would fnd their road a good bit
| easier TO travel
Look the Held over for yourself and
| see II there is not some place where
you can help, somewhere you ought TO
help. somo way in which you want to
help-Charles P. Ingalls, In Organized
| Labor.