The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-07-23
WHAT CAN THE WOMEN DO
IN THE TRADE UNION
MOVEMENT?

First-Ask yourself this question,
and be sure and write your answer
down, so you cannot deny it; then ask
your trade union friend, and see how
many of them are positively ignorant
on this most important question in
the trade union movement.
asked a good old trade unionist
this question, and he said very earn
estly and sincerely: why, they can
hold dances, card parties, socials,
etc. and in this way bring consider
able money into our treasury" This
is the idea of the activity of women
entertained by 80 per cent of trade
unionists.
Let me tell you what the women
can do.
Second-Did you ever go into an in
stitution looking for job, say, for in
stance, a store? Ever notice what a
funny feeling you have when you ask
for a POSITION? Or did you ever
notice some one else, wife, sister or
son, in such an institution asking
begging, for work? Ever notice how
humble, meek and lowly they become
Just crawl, SILVER and tremble? But
erintendent's face - that scowl,
DON'T WANT ANYBODY TODAY"
You make another plea. go ON;
GO ON" says he, 81 HAVE NOT GOT
TINE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY"
Don't forget this treatment.
Third-You get a job somewhere,
and so does this wife, son and daugh-
ter.
/ Some day you go to this store to buy
something. Notice how pleasantly
/ this same man meets you at the door,
/ bows down in front of you, is willing
to do anything for you, and while you
are there you see that same wife, son
and daughter come in, also to buy
something, and that same man bows
/ low to them and talks so sweet and
nice.
| Fourth-Listen. The time you all
were there before you all had your
earning power to sell.
Fifth-You all have now come with
your purchasing power, to buy, AND
THIS IS THE REASON HE TREATS
YOU so KINDLY.
Sixth-DO YOU GRASP THIS?
You are organized to some extent in
your producing power, but you are
positively disorganized in your pur-
chasing power-THE VERY PLACE
YOU ARE THE MOST POWERFUL.
Seventh-The woman does the most
purchasing; therefore, it is her DUTY
to organize her purchasing power
through a well-disciplined and defined
woman's organization, WHO MUST
HAVE THE UNION LABEL ON
EVERYTHING THEY BUY, who also
will refuse to buy from concern that
handles non-union goods-an organi-
zation that will demand the label up
on the raw material, the manufacture
ed product, the store clerks, the deliv-
cry wagon and deliveryman, and on
everything that is set in action by
their purchasing power, down to the
label upon the drivers whip with
which he spurs on his steeds.
Eighth-An organization that will
circulate petition calling upon the
people of the city to refrain from buy
ing from a concern that compels its
help to work overtime without pay.
Ninth-An organization that will
take action from the standpoint of
public health, to prohibit overtime in
factories, etc, on the part of children,
and especially girls, and demand that
female working forces be entirely
superintended by women in order to
maintain as high a moral standard as
possible.
Tenth-If the women will enter this
kind of activity, organize their pur-
chasing power, demand the union la
bel, etc, etc, it will mean better
wages for the men, as we'll as the
women, shorter hours for all, WHICH
IN TURN MEANS less unemployment,
more attractive homes, appetizing and
nutritious foods, better clothes, health
giving recreations, more time for
reading or the delights of elevating
music, and more abundant life in gen.
eral What a noble place in life for
the woman who demands the label
always,
The most favorable wind can do