The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-06-27
HOUSE UPON SAND
Insecurity of So Called Independ-
ent Trade Unions.
FALL WHEN STORMS ASSAIL.
Folly For Labor Organizations to At
tempt to Fight the Battle of the
ToiIer AIone-Unity of Effort the
Only Weapon and Shield.

! tempt to right the Battle of the
ToiIer AIone-Unity of Effort the
Only Weapon and Shield.
In the Scriptures (Matthew vii, 24
we read. in the Sermon on the Mount,
! the parable of the wise man whose
| house was founded on the rock and the
foolish man whose house was founded
| upon the sand, the fall of the latter
| house being described as occurring
when 1.-The rains descended. the floods
came and the winds blew"
1t is a long time since this parable
was used by the Carpenter of Naza-
reth, and it would seem as though men
ought to have learned the folly Of
founding house upon the sand before
this time, but it seems that the folly
still exists with some men, which is
the only way one can account for the
existence Of independent unions.
In the Carpenter, the official maya
zine of the Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners, appeared an article from
which we make quotation which all
wage earners who have independent
tendencies should read.
A trade union or branch thereof that
holds aloof from the parent organiza-
ton or kindred trades, is like q house
built on sand. 1t cannot weather the
storms that never fail to strike its
Vulnerable parts. nor can 1t withstand
the attacks of the invisible enemy eyer
lurking under ground, and in time it
will tremble and fall. Without a solid
foundation and left to it's own limited
resources, the Independent, isolated
union becomes an easy prey to the ele
ments which lack neither ammunition
nor energy in the efforts to destroy la
Dor organization,
Yet, unfortunately. there are some
national trade unions who go it alone.
refusing to affiliate. claiming to be
strong enough to carry themselves to
the goal of fair living, to maintain hui
name working conditions, decent hours
and wages with clearance to provide
for a rainy day.
There are also some unions of mere
lOCdl CudIuClcI NnItu are DTOuu W Dt
called independents" and refuse to af-
filiate with their national or interna-
tional organization. Such unions,
though they may for time be success
full generally being used as tool by
the employer. will soon find them
selves shaken by their very independ-
ence, and they totter and fall. And
the larger the organization the more
terrible the catastrophe will be.
Let us picture for moment a house
or structure where the different mate
rails it is to be built of would refuse
to assemble What would a brick wall
be should the mortar refuse to attach
to the brick? Not substantial wall, |
am sure. And what would mortar be
if not brought in contact with masonry
on account of its adhesive power? A
heap of rubbish.
SuppOsing the wood, the iron or 9th
er materials were to be Independent.
what kind of a house would result? A
meaningless mass. And what would
we think of the man who designed such
structure? He would very soon find
! himself in a padded room as unsafe
and dangerous.
What, them should we think of lead
ers Of these unaffiliated unions who are
living in houses built on sand and be-
cause the weather happens to be favor
able preach independence?
Should we not rather turn to the sane
and farthinking men who preach uTi-
FA, A. he
| leaders who tell you that the weak Sis
ter union which you assist today may
| grow strong. and when adversely
comes to you will return the favor by
extending a helpful hand?
How often, fellow unionists, do you
find the employers divided? Yet, even
though they may be bitter rivals in
! business matters, when the Builders
Exchange meets to consider q demand
| from the men for an increase in wages
or a reduction in hours they always act
as a unit. You don't find the boss
bricklayer at odds with the boss car
penter. They know their interests are
identical and that in order to protect
these interests successfully they must
act unitedly
Let trade unions, then, copy from the
book of corporations and present a
united front in all matters. Let us
show our employers that we are what
we proclaim Observation-Disclosures By
SO doing we will give our house a
sound and solid foundation; our organ
ization will then be built on the rock
of unity instead Of the sands of indie
| pendence