The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-05
BOOST THE UNION LABEL

In reviewing the achievements of the
 State Federafion of Labor during the past year, and the many measures enacted into laws on our statute book for the UpIift in the cause. of humanity
 for the stodlers in the various states, whether organized or unorganized, such as the compensation bills ands other measures that have lifted the
 burden from the workers and gave to them am equal opportunity of better ing their conditions in this strenuous battle of toll, let me call your atten- tion to a very important factor that should not be overlooked by the off, eials and the rank and file of organ dzed labor. The weapon in which they
 do not have to depend upon the ipoli-i tician in reality the only weapon 4un-
 der which the 71nfair employer has no control, the Union Label. For years
 and years organized labor had this
 desirable weapon to take the place of strikes and Iockog1tS in it's possession. But the rank and file are indifferent, or not being educated to its full value, through their purchasing power they employ labor and if they are con sistent to the principles Of organized
 labor they naturally would prefer to employ organized workers in prefer ence to the unorganized men and 5wo- men at any industry whose products bear the Union Label. Realizing this most important fact that some em- p1ogers as a general rule do not ap- ply the Label on their products of any orga rizatton for their love for organized labor but for the commer- cial value of the Label. But the or gal1i zation that issues the Label on the product of the manufacturer of such commodities realizes this impor- tant fact that by agreement the issue of the Label gives to the employer or IL nity of receiving better conditions, such as shorter hours and higher wages and better sanitary conditions for the Label on the product of the manuf a;cturer And throwing these conditions does it not appear fair that organized labor should take advan-i tage of the power they possess by pur- chasing only products that bear the Union Label? In my organization, the Tobacco Workers International Union, our men and women receive from 50 to 50 per cent. higher wages than the unorgandzed tobacco workers who are compelled to eke out existence for this gigantic monopoly, the great trust
 The majority of their factories are operated in the South, manufacturing tobaccos and cigarettes where cheap child labor is predominant. And the purchase Eof the trl1st-nade products means the ST11l0lnS or EnS UI0 AD1OO1 of more innocent children to satisfy the greed for gain in tine interest of the greedy captains of industry in the tobacco trade I may say the same of other trades, such as the garment industry, the shoe industry, the hat industry and other trades. TFhe most Important factor for the betterment of the conditions of the toiIers is the con esistent demands for Union Label products, also shop cards, buttons and any other device that will acknowl- edge to the public that men and wo- men are receiving wages that will en- able them to live as American citizens should live in this land of the free and home of the brave.
 So it behooves our state bodies and Aforementioned Unions to educate the rank and file to the necessity of their r,q1rchasing power in demanding Union Label 1oroducts on every necessity or life. thereby giving to the workers I,etter conditions, shorter nouns which means more time for education ana mental improvement, higher wages, which will give unto the worker ana Iris fan1iIy a. higher standard of living, and if we desire to make this world a better place to live in. start today hv being a, consistent Union man In ire purchase of all commodities that 1,aar tahe Union Label. For remember
 thks motto, "Do unto others as you
 would have them do unto you.