The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-03-05
The ADVANTAGES or
HIGH UNION DUES
Financial Strength a Source Of
Power to Organized Labor.
NOWER is necessary to influence.
~ Power depends upon resources.
This is true OF the trade union

This is true of the trade union
as well as Of every other or
ganization. The labor organizations
that have the greatest power to pro
tect their members and the greatest In
f1uence in furthering the needs and the
demands of their members are the la
Dor organizations provided with ample
substantial, financial resources.
There is only one way to accumulate
organization funds-payment of ade
quate union dues Organizations have
found it wise policy to increase low
dues as rapidly as possible because in
creased financial resources at their
command give them increased prestige
increased ability to secure better wages
and working conditions and increased
ability to provide against threatened
dangers. There is no investment q
wage Garner can make that will bring
him greater returns than his union
dues If dues to the union are In.
creased proportionally as the union In
creases wages the power of the union
to promote and safeguard the interests
of its members becomes increasingly
effective.
The financial organization Of a trade
union must be based on sound bust
ness principles. Wildcat finances In
trade unions will be no more reliable
than wildcat banking investments.
Money will not get into the union
treasury by miracle or by the wishing
process. The protection OF well filed
treasury is possible only for those who
are willing to pay the price in dues,
management and foresight. The very
existence Of q sound financial organiZ-
alton constitutes q defense of its mem
bers. Power does not always have to
be aggressiveIy used in order to be eff.
fective-reserve power Is often the
most potent. Consciousness that they
possess power puts moral courage and
confidence into the workers, and II
puts fear into the hearts Of those who
would wrong them. When power ex-
lists there is hesitancy to deny the pos
SCISSORS their rights or fair demands.
The existence of the power Of self de
fense prevents many industrial strug'
giles, while the weak and helpless are
wronged with impunity
As union dues are increased it is pos
slble to extend the system Of union
benefits. These benefits supplement
the wages earned and enable unionists
to live better and more comfortably
Labor organizations are constantly
preaching the gospel of higher wages,
What wages are to the individual dues
are to the organization. The ideal of
the American Federation of Labor Is
to have each organization strong, COM
petent to manage its affairs and to
solve its own difficulties. While there
is whole souled sympathy and willing
ness to help fellow workers In their
time Of need, yet the best results for
all workers can be obtained when
each organization is free to protect
and promote the rights and interests
OF its own members and to organize
the yet unorganized.
But high dues should not be accom-
panied by high initiation fees. Indeed
the initiation fee should be small.
thereby inviting and making it possi-
BILE for the yet unorganized to join the
union and TO make common cause with
their fellow workers to secure the
common welfare of all High dues
regularly paid will inevitably lead to
greater self reliance, mutual interde-
pendence, unity, solidarity, fraternity
and ederation.-American Federation
ist