The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-10-23
POWER OF UNIONS
Measured Largely by Their FL
nanCiaI Strength.
LESSONS OF EXPERIENCE.

Learned-CareIessness and IMPROVE
dence Sources of Weakness-The
Price of Strong Organizations.
Those who carefully scan the field of
trade unions must become convinced
that there are great differences in the
! power and influence welded by them.
Some organizations with great natural
| advantages operating in their favor are
weak and uninnuential, while others
with great natural barriers hindering
their progress are strong and influen-
tial in their dealings with employers.
The person who will take the trouble
to search out the cause for this condi-
ton of affairs will generally find back
of the weak unions a lack of willing
ness on the part of the membership to
bear the necessary burdens of organi-
cation. The very fact that they are or
ganized is evidence beyond dispute
that they are willing to share in the
benefits to be derived therefrom.
The world is full of people willing to
accept anything that comes without
effort on their part, but those willing to
| pay the price of progress and improve
ment are all too scarce and in this re
gard the trade union movement Is no
exception to the general rule. The
| movement does not suddenly and en-
tirely change the course Of nature,
though it does have a tendency to curb
greed and stimulate unselfishness
among its membership.
The workingman who joins a union
must bring himself to a realization
that'if he gets anything he must pay
! the price for it. While union men
quite generally are willing to help their
! brothers in distress, the organization
which depends upon such help instead
of fortifying itself through self help
must of necessity meet with many
reyerses and disappOintments, because
no man will guard the other fellows
interests as vigilantly and carefully as
his own. 1t is because too many
unions depend upon other unions for
financial assistance in the hour of
trouble that we are compelled to gaze
upon so many sorry spectacles in the
trade union movement.
labor movement is rapidly passing
away. More and, more is the trade
unionist coming to realize that there is
but little use in trying to help the fell
low who will do nothing to help him
self. The organization which fails to
provide the means for sustaining a
short strike and which must call upon
the labor movement for aid right in
the beginning starts with tremen-
dous handicap and in the natural course
of events must suffer as consequence.
Another thing the labor movement
has learned through experience is that
the organization which is unmindful
of its financial appropriateness for
trouble is generally just as careless
in its effort to avoid strikes and reck-
lessly plunges into them with a blind
disregard of the possibilities for sue
cess. On the other hand, the union
which is thoughtful enough to provide
in advance for such occasions Is
usually cautious in its dealings with
employers and is able to convince the
stubborn manager that if trouble
comes the union is in a position to
prosecute the strike with vigor and to
successful conclusion. Employers
are not all fools, and it does not take
them a lifetime TO determine what
manner of union they are dealing with.
When doing business with the care
full. cautious and forward looking
union they are not quick to provoke
controversy. Thus doubly is the union
protected which is willing to bear the
burdens incident to the accomplish
ment of the purposes Of the trade
union movement.
In calling attention TO the absolute
necessity of those who desire strong
unions paying the price such unions
cost it is not the purpose to encourage
the prodigal expenditure Of money.
Rather do we believe that those who
are thoughtful enough to know that If
they dance they must pay the fiddler
will also be shrewd enough TO insist
that in the expenditure of funds there
shall be a reasonable adherence to the
rules of thrift And by thrift we do
not mean niggarlliness There should
be wisdom back of every expenditure,
and profigate dissipation of funds
should be religiousy prevented.
The trade union movement is no field
for the gambler. the daredevil who is
willing TO risk all upon a single turn
of the cards. There is so much involv-
ed in it and so much depends upon its
success or failure that only sensible
and careful men are fit TO guide its
destinies in order that 1t may be use
full instrument in reaching the goal OF
better things for the teller and those
dependent upon him.
The differences pointed out here are
Just those that distinguish the weak
from the strong unions. They are the
barriers that stand mutely between
success at the brow of the hill OF
achievement and failure nj its foot.
/ Wisdom directing energy succeeds.