The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-08-15
SYSTElN,A TIC FINANCING
OF LABOR CONFIIC TS

= y 8G.. ~ - - L. -
lions ana resist enr o "a lhments upon
their rights " htch in ions must have 1
is the power to- effectively strike, or
to- resist q lock out. The fact that at
any particular time. the workers fail
to enforce their Just demands by the
strike, II necessary, IS evidence Of
their conscious Wea kness; and the !
cause OF us weakness lies very
largely in the absence Of system in
financing the strike; the workingman
cannot fight, even to defend himself,
unless provision is made fol. his needs
while earnings at his calling are SUI
spended. ,,:,t-.. ls.#5.
The labor unions Of the American
Federation are increasing IN number
Of members, but they will not In
crease. nor even hold their own, in
power. unless they stand. closer to-
gether on this question Of the strike,
and lockout. They must return to the
recognition OF the fact that the final
sanction for AL human: law, il; physi-
cal force-not-necessarily its applica-
ton. but thesability to use it prompt:
~ when needed. s= 5s2* Nh 4. N 5
There shoul be such an under
standing brought about between the
NATIONAL and International unions of
North America and the American
Federation Of Labor that whenever
any strike sEsor lockout occurs of g.
national character, or large scope in
which the general vital interests Of
the labor movement are involved, the
Federation-or such com osite board
as may be determined upon could
levy an assessment of 5 or 10 cents
upon every member affiliated, pro-
vide for it's collection, accounting and
payment to the national or interna-
tional union involved, for its mem
bers;- and also srepeat=:an continue
the assessment from week to week so
long as the need therefore existed.
~. ;Centralize Power. +'
If this power, properly regulated
were possessed by the Federation,
and 1t caused it to be publicly and
generally known that the Federation's
policy was to promptly use this pow
or to defend its membership, there
would be much less willingness on the
part Of employers Of ,labor-big or
little-to enter into unjust quarrels
with unions already established, or to
seek to prevent the formation Of I'M
ions by the workmen in their SER
vice. And when a contract was made
by them with labor union it would
be entered into honestly and with the
intention OF living up to It without
evasion, because Of the knowledge
that any other course would meet
| with the punishment it deserved
Such power would increase the stabil-
ity OF contracts when made.
The "big stick held in the firm
grip Of organized labor, and energet-
ically used when necessary, would do
more to infuse a sense of economic
justice into the minds OF the employ
ing class than "a century of begging
has done. i: s4.&@.1,- f. III, i
This method Of protection would
cost the workingmAn but little indi-
Ndually, and an actual assessm ent
would not have to be made often, be-
cause the ability and: determined ion
to- act promptly would, In most cases,
avert the -trouble-and at the same
time win the contested point If be-
ing prepared for trouble is Of any
merit as preventive Of trouble, then
it is time to prepare in earnest and
thus establish and secure prolonged
peace by becoming too big and strong
to permit Of attack ss z%: : ..:,..-.;
To the 30 per cent OF labor which
Is unorganized the fact that they
could get some real protection in the
union under these conditions Of pre-
paredness would be greater motive
to enter the union ranks than any
heretofore presented to them. 49,
The present method by which the
Federation issues call upon the sew.
eral unions for an assessment to meet
any extraordinary requirement is toe
slow, is not certain Of results, and
any aid given Is too late to be Of
much service.
It will be said that such a system
would be no more rapid than thu
present method. II the proper rule.
are provided this would not be tn,
case. Almost all the national ant
international unions carry cash funds
on hand from which advances woult
willingly be, made in the interval be
tween the first assessment levy aht
it's collection. The repayment Of thi
advance would be certain : an.
prompt, Tor each international Of
} national union would handle. the. col
lection Of that portion Of the assess
ment levied upon its own members.
!. Labor strikes are not desirable TO
, anybody, unless they are necessary
but when they do become necessary
) they should be made az big. and a
], strong and swift as It Is possible to
, the great body .of united organize,
labor to make them, by the best sys
/ tenn Of financing and manasemen
they can devise.
(To Be Continued Next ,Week.)