The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-02-28
cITIzENsHIP AND UNION MEMBERsHIP.


Several very eloquent and able patriotic speeches
delivered in Duluth Sunday the occasion of the
celebration of the anniversary of the birth of George
Washington The that impressed most was given
by John T. Armstead at the Masonic Temple. and in
which speaker made strong appeal citizenship
in the United States. :. -. II
We don't think very much of man nowadays who
lives under flag, claims the protection laws.
shares in the benefits of institutions enjoys the free
dom and the prosperity of land and refuses
to become full fedged citizen of the United States.
There is no law statute books which compe1s
resident alien to become citizen That is to say
there is no legal way by which force aliens to
take out citizenship papers, But there is unques-
tonable moral obligation the part of all who claim
the protection of laws life liberty and
happiness within borders to become members of
glorious Union. X
This is bad reasoning, it? 1t is not un-Amer-
lean either to give utterance to such sentiments Indeed
it is the very What is true with relation
mans obligation to the country in which he lives and
from which he seeks protection is also true with rela
ton to other human institution that
him the mantle of protection. -''
We may be pardoned for taking advantage of this
thought to drive home some trade union philosophy
Without trade unions all who work for wage in
America would be grounds to atoms. Wages would be-
lower, hours of labor would longer and conditions
of toll would be less bearabe. Through unions
laborers have been able lift their heads straighen
out their backs and stand erect They have been given
larger share Of the fruits of their labor leisure
time and greater of industrial liberty, which
they could not have enjoyed though their united
efforts in the trade unions
And in achieving these good things for members of
trade unions their benefits have accrued all
the country who their bread by the of their
brow OF course mistakes have been made just the
people in general make them but should
of labor be destroyed the Industrial liberties boast
of would be taken away few at time may be- but
they would ultimately all other liberties have
gone, where the people have ceased Externally
vgilant.'
The same view of moral obligation that leads to
expect every resident alien in the country to become
citizen of the United States also prompts demand
OF every workman that he becomes member of
industrial institutionthe trade unon-that
and which maintains for him all the social advantages
that he as wage Garner enjoys
The wage Garner who refuses to become member
of the trade union that has raised his
takes advantage of the benefits
ing his share of the burden In this he morally wrong
Our government has advantage the trade union
institutions must share in the government
The fact that he is not citizen relieve
financial obgation-taxes-for the support and main
tenance of free governmentscty, state and national
The non-union workman who enjoys conditions Sc
cured by the union financial responsibility
not be made to pay for the benefits he enjoys as
his union fellows do until he becomes member the
union. Surely there is ethical standard be set
in this contention that teachers of ethics not
sstently ignore.