Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-09-16


!. official and clerical classes are exclud
i ed, twenty-five per cent Of the work
Eers twenty-one years Of age and ovel
q are trade unionists. ~
]. Q. The effects of trade unionism or
wages ar undouhted. Without some
form of combination the wage work
ers can not bargain on equal terms
with their employers. During the
past fifteen years, period of rapidly
rising prices, wages in well organized
trades have kept pace with the rising
cost of living, in contrast to the rela
tive decline of the purchasing power
of the wages received by labor gener
ally.
1 &3. In the well organized trades, the
hours of labor have been steriiy re.
duced until at present eight hours is
the normal working day for at least
one-half Of American trade unionists.
It is significant of the influence of
trade unionism on the length of the
working day that it is exactly those
| trades in which the trade unionists
are q relatively small part of the total
working force that they work long
hours. relatively to other trade union
lists.
T q As the unit of industry grows
larger, and the natural relation which
exists between the small employer
and his workmen disappears, the OPP
J pOrtunity for unjustiiable discharges
and petty tyrannies enlarges. The re-
suit is distrust and enmity among the
employees. The effective remedy is
the organization of the workers and
the establishment of a system of trade
boards in which the workers are
equally represented with power to
deal with such questions.
S. By means of mutual insurance
in case Of death, sickness, accident,
old age and unemployment, many
trade unions have greatly improved
the conditions of their members. The
extension Of such systems appears to
be highly desirable. ms
6. The trade union is democratic
institution, and faces the same prob
lens in securing efficient government
that other democratic institutions
face. The theory, Of government
which the America trade unions
have adopted is the Capitalization of
power in the national trade union as
against the local unions. The success
full carrying out of this plan or organi-
zation will eliminate the chief defects
in trade union government. The con-
troll by the national union over strikes
and the systems of mutual insurance
is already thoroughly established in
the more important unions; it should
be established in all other unions.
Z. Unwarranted sympathetic strikes
have undoubtedly been the cause Of
great annoyance and considerable
economic loss to employers. The an
noyance in such cases 1s particularly
great, because no direct action by the
employer can be taken; at best he
can only use his influence with his
associates or competitors. With the
increasing control of the national Of
ticers over the local unions, this kind
Of strike seems to be decreasing both
In extent and frequency. Such sym.
pathetic action is deep rooted in the
sense Of brotherhood which to a great
er or less degree pervades and will
not be completely eliminated until
Substantial justice exists throughout
industry.
| s. A few trade unions exclue quail
fed persons from membership by high
limitation fees or other devises. This
policy is condemned by the more i'm
portant unions and is prohibited by
their rules. The evidence presented
10 the ,OO1uu1lS1SOn SuOW6 CAC141y eAoN
the policy Of exclusion is antisocial
and monopolistic, and should be given
up by those unions which practice it.
8. In many trades, the efficiency Of
the union depends upon the mainten-
ance of the rule that all those work.
ing at the trade shall become mem
bers of the union. Where the union
admits all qualified workers to mem
bership under reasonable conditions,
such a rule can not become the basis
Of monopoly and neither the rights Of
the individual nor the public interest
are, inffinged by It's enforcement.
10. IN some trades there are con
IsiderabIe number of union rules which
Iyestrict the productivity of the work
Ter. Some Of these rules can be just.
/ fed on the ground that they are nee
essary to the protection Of the health
1pf the worker. There are some, how
lever. which can not be defended;
these rules are antisocial and should
be given up. Experience has shown