Denver labor bulletin., 1915-11-13


employers to raise howl against the
business agent or union representative
whenever the opportunity presents its
self. Upon this hard working indivd-
ual is laid all the blame for trouble; he
is made the goat. When he pulls job
according to instructions from his or
ganization, or insists on the enforce
ment of rules. insists upon the payment
of wages or observance OF hours, he gets
slammed good and hard. His criticisers
never give him credit for the good he
does Often, after he has worked his
hardest rhis organization, they retire
him and when he seeks employment at
his trade the bosses with whom he has
come contact blacklist him and he il
compelled to go elsewhere and start all
over.
1t should be remembered that the
business agent is not boss, and can
do nothing but obey orders. The men
he looks after are his employers and
1 frequently COMPEL him to do thing
that can not help but initiate against
the organization. But he has no other
option than to go through or quit.
There are quite number of busines-
agents constantly on the job in Denver.
They are all men who are selected by
majority vote of their brethren or
organization and consequently must b.
men of recognized ability. The fact
that Denver's unions get along with but
little trouble is an indication of the lev.
el medicines of the men who have
been chosen to handle many intricate
and delicate situations. Lately mum
Der of articles have appeared in the la
Dor press dealing with this subject, and
we reproduce two OF them they are
very interesting. The first one ap-
peared in the Omaha Unionist and was
written by Pat J. Shepard who is bust,
ness agent for the Cooks and Waiters
of that city, and is as follows:
"There is Il constant demand for good
timber for business agents OF the many
called. or of those who respond. few ear
stand the terrible strain that the worL
subjects them to. Only a small minor
ity make good. The man who can fiji
the bill is a valuable man in the shop
and usually has a better job.
THE work of the business agent CALI
for a combination Of qualities each in
itself not rare. but seldom possessed by
single individual. The ideal business
agent is intelligent, we'll informed and
affable. He possesses confidence and
is as self-relant and aggressive as he
is reasonable and courteous. persistani
and patient: he is resourceful. but scru-
pulous in his methods; he never seems
to sleep and is externally good natured
When the farmer first saw the picture
OF a camel he said: There amt no
such animal but the man endowed
with average common sense and good
judgement will acquit himself with cre-
dit as n business agent ii he is given
and Will give himself half II chance
TO be hundred per cent efficient,
the business agent must be in full pos
session of his wits, have perfect control
OF tongue and temper, absolute com
mand OF his judgement, and be captain
of himself. Not only that. but he must
have the patience. magnetism and per-
suasive power to overcome many obiec-
tions to his ideas among the rank aud
file.
''In winning fight. when the mem
bers are all employed, or when any
member is in trouble. the business
agent is real good fellow and ab-o-
lutely indispensable. But let the union
once enter upon a fight that involves
large number of the members, or let
the season or the weather be bad. and
that is when the business agents troub-
les begin. You are paid to look out
for the interests of the members and
find us jobs say some OF the out OF.
works. Why don't you make settle.
ment with the contractor and get Us
back to work; / can't afford to lay
around. Get busy and settle mp this
trouble say the fellows who lose an
hours work over some grievance. While
at the same time the overworkcd bnsi-
ness agent is doing everything in the
power OF n human to avoid trouble and
find jobs for the unemployed.
"The business agents office. in which
he can do business with the members.
or with the employer, is an absolute
necessity. An office in which business
can be done in legitimate and credit
able manner. We understand that bust
ness is industrial warfare. and that war
is serious matter and no carnival of
roses; We realize. too. that the trade
union movement is not a Sunday school
Still there is standard of conduct and
character for business agents; and two
OF the things essential to efficiency and
success are unquestioned integrity and
temperate habits. No matter what 9th
er qualifications the business agent may
have. he is failure unless he is honest
and temperate.
"The success achieved by the great
majority of business agents is evidence
! n th" fact thn, tine labor movement
doyalnns ;nd;yidu,Ig ,,,;,l. a.