United labor bulletin., 1913-01-09
LabelLeague Department
EDW. J. HINES, Sec'y-Treas.. p. O. Box 75o
Building


during the year that is to come. None
of us is so perfect in our unionism that
there is not room for improvement in
some particular. All have failed to carry
its principles into execution in some re-
spect, great or small.
One avenue of unonism opens up
greater possibilities for improvement
than any other, yet it is the easiest OF
all to bring about the desired change.
The demand for the union label is not
nearly so strong as it should be, due to
apathy very largely on the part of the
men and women of labor, principally on
the part of the men, who wear all sorts
of non-union garments, thus employing
convicts in penitentiaries while the
union garment workers search in vain
for employment
Let all of us resolve that during the
coming year we will demand the union
label on every article we purchase ana
see what strength 1t will give TO all the
organization of labor
The policy of letting the other Fellow
create the demand for the label until it
becomes more convenient for us to do
so has gone on long enough and 1t is
now high time we were doing our part.
Every union man is obligated to demand
the label and every time he fails to do
so he is guilty of unfaithfulness to that
obligation and traitorous conduct toward
his fellows.
Some union men seem to think that
demand for the label confers a favor
upon the organization whose label Is
asked for and that medal should be
awarded for being so thoughtful, when
as matter of fact they are simply
carving out solemn agreement en-
tered into by them purely as voluntary
proposition when they Joined their
tn, q
idea and view the situation as it actual
ly is. and as right and justice demand it
should be-a duty to be religiously OBJ
served.
When trade unionsts begin to give
the union label the consideration its
value to the movement warrants 1t in re-
ceiying, then the progress OF the move
ment toward better things will be much
more rapid than at present. The rate
of progress rests entirely in the hands
of the unionists themselves. What are
YOU going to do with your power for
good next year? Are you going to use
it. or are you going to allow the cheap,
greedy employer to laugh at your stu
pidity in the future as in the past? This
is the time of the year for the passage
of resolutions for change for the better
1t is also the earliest possible time to
begin to carry out your good intentions.
Do it.
During the coming year there are
many problems to be solved, many OBJ
stacles to be overcome, many wrongs to
be righted, and it is the duty, and should
be the purpose, of every member to put
a shoulder to the wheel and help in the
work of improvement.
Conscious of the Justice and righteous
ness of the cause every member should
work for the progress of his own and
other unions in order that New Years
day, 1914, will. find. us far in advance of
our present position. In order that each
may be able to do this, attendance regu-
larly at meetings is essential to the ac-
uuirement of knowledge as to just what
work is most urgently needed. The
stay-at-home member is of little value to
an organization because he cannot pos
sibly have a grasp of affairs sufficient
to enable him to intelligently work out
the vexing problems with which it is
confronted. Inquiry from your neighbor
in the shop is a poor way of keeping in
touch with union affairs The informa-
ton gained in this way. at best. is sec
ond-hand, and therefore not likely to be
accurate Attendanc at meetings, where
the problems are discussed from everv
angle, by every kind of mind, is the only
thing that will enable a member to be
really good union man. The fellow
who simply pays his dues and assess
ments regularly is not the best kind Of
union man. because he does not thereby
fulfill his duty to the union. There is
work to be done, and in the very nature
of things much of it must be done nv
volunteers, and gratis. therefore the
member failing to do his share neces-
sarily saddles upon some other member
duties which do not belong TO him. This
is very common brand of negligence.
Very frequently we hear a union man
saw "Oh. I don't like that sort of thin0.
and there are others who do, SO let them
have It," The same man would not
think of allowing others to handle his
purely personal business because he did
not like 1t and others did. Yet here 's
an institution dealing directly with b's
means of earning living. the real. vital
problems having to do with his bread
and butter. still he is unconcerned and
willing to leave It in the hands of Others
There is something wrong with the mind
OF the man who reasons thus. He is
mentally laggard and incapable OF
looking ahead. He is surely not pro-
gressive.
Let your resolution be. on New Years
day. If YOU have not been an active, IN
terested member in the past. that thc
coming wear shall find YOU doing al
Won rossiblv can tn advance the inter
ests of your union Be real union man.
Labor Clarion.