The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1914-05-01
union LABEL FOES
Employers Pay High Tribute 10
Organized Labor.
MANY MEN SUBJECT TO FEW.
Efficiency Of Trade Unions Unwilling
iy Praised by an Enemy-Manufae-
turer Charges That Only Per Cent
Of Workers Arc Organized.

turer Charges That Only Per Cent
Of Workers Arc Organized.
In general way we are accustomed
to look upon union hating employers
rs the enemies Of the union label, and
this, too, not without some reason 1t
has been noted In one OF our ex-
changes that the last convention Of the
National Association Of Manufactur-
ers. held in Detroit, gave, as usual, a
great deal OF time to the consideration
Of ways and means Of defeating or
ganiZed labor, and particularly the
closed shop principle that the union
label represents.
The article from which we quote
says: According to press reports one
of the speakers said: If all who labor
were members Of the closed shop un-
ions or even sympathizers with them,
one might consider it political wisdom
for the party In power to manifest its
sympathy with closed shop ideals as
II has done However, the number OF
people in closed shop organizations
would not equal per cent of all the
laboring people In this country Yet
1t seems the per cent are being given
special privilege which cannot help but
work injury to the 95 per cent"
This Is the strongest testimony in
favor OF the efficiency Of labor unions
/, that we have ever heard. Ordinarily a
trust is presumed to control a consid-
erable majority OF its product before 1t
can be considered trust. Monopoly
means control, but In the above quo
tation we have new theory that s
per cent constitutes control of 95 per
.. cent. II labor unions SO increase the
efficiency of s per cent that they con-
troll the other 95 per cent, then we re-
peat that this is the strongest testi-
mony for the efficiency OF labor unions
that we have ever heard.
AS to working injury to the 95 per
| cent, the labor unions are composed OF
| working people who desire better
wages and conditions Of labor, who de-
sire to keep their children in the schools
| and their wives at home. Every new
| desire Of the wage earners Is for i'm
| proved conditions OF life, which would
benefit not only the per cent which
! the speaker conceded as organized, but
| also would benefit the 90 per cent
| whom the speaker conceded would be
| controlled by the per cent Just In
| what>way better wages. shorter hours,
better living conditions, better food and
clothing would be an injury to the 95
per cent who are enforced beneflciaries
| Of the 5 per cent we are not yet in
| formed.
To cap the climax, this convention Of
| manufacturers has a committee on
union label, not, Of course, for the pur-
| pose OF promoting the demand for un-
ion label goods. but Of trying to bring
| force TO bear to crush the union label
| idea.
| We are very sorry for the National
| Association OF Manufacturers and for
| It's grief at the idea that five horrid
union label men shall dominate ninety
| five other laboring men who would 9TH
| crwise be free. The only thing we can
consider would be q worse condition
would be to have one employer com
| pletely dominate all bis employees. AS
we understand 1t, the prime purpose OF
the union label, through complete or
| ganization and the union shop, is to
| prevent the employer running the
whole show and is 70 give permanency
| to organized labor through organizing
their purchasing power, which. of
course, the National Association of
Manufacturers fully understands and
is determinedly opposed TO.
| Perhaps the most refreshing thing
about these conventions Of manufac-
turers Is that In their continual on
| slaughts on the union label and all that
| goes with 1t they are apt to cause q
larger and larger proportion OF wage
earners to love the union label for the
enemies 1t has made. This would Ger
tainly be most desirable result and
| one in which the National Association
OF Manufacturers have our hearties,
| good wishes for their success.-Shoe
Workers Journal.