The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-01-21
RECORD OF GOOD SERVICE
Since Control Over Strikes Was Given
to the National Organization the
Wages of Its Members Have Been
Proteoted-High Dues and Benefits
Aida to Success.


Wages of Its Members Have Been
Proteoted--High Dues and Benefits
Aids to Success.
The record of the Boot and Shoe
Workers union is one of evolution and
service, unity and progress. construc-
ton and success, says the Boot and
Shoe Workers Journal
It did not start under the most aus
picious circumstances. We realize this
fact better as we look back on its his
tory. 1t started In April. 1895, with
the declaration on the part of the then
existing organizations of shoe workers
that there should be one union in the
trade. But the financial plan of the
new organization was weak. 1t was
based upon low dues and a low per
capita tax. 1t was based also on local
autonomy. Each local union could do
entirely as it pleased and did So Ii
such action resulted in strike the
national union could not support 1t, be-
cause no provisions had been made
The union was net built that way.
In 1893 the first arbitration contract
was adopted establishing twenty five
cent dues and also establishing sick,
death and strike benefits in the control
of the national union and giving the
national union control over strikes.
In these two years the union changed
from a mob to an organized force, and
since the year 1899 the union has con-
tinually progressed in the direction of
becoming constantly of more service
and benefit to its members.
During these years of progress and
Of service since 1899. and in spite of
the obstructive work of its enemies in
1903, 1909 and all the time, this union
has protected the wages of its men,
bers through all periods, especially dur
ing the panic of 1907 and again
through the long months of prostra-
ton owing to the present war III Eu-
rope. There has been no such thing
as slaughtering of the wages of the
shoemakers since this union became
efficient in the year 1899.
In addition to protecting the wages
OF its members against reduction, this
union has been the means of constant
ly raising them, principally through
the working out of the arbitration
contract. In thousands upon thou
sands of instances the mere existence
Of this agreement to arbitrate has been
the means of settling disputes by mu-
tual adjustment and without arbitra-
ton and upon terms favorable to the
workers. Arbitration cases have been
won and arbitration cases have been
lost, but mutual adjustments have al
ways been successful.
This union has redeemed every
pledge. Every legal sick and death
benefit has been paid. Every strike
that has been sanctioned has been paid
its strike benefit to the end, no matter
how long the period was. That strikes
have been less numerous Is a tribute
to the efficiency of the service of the
organization through it's arbitration
and mutual adjustment policy.
This union has won a standing not
only in the labor world, but In the
shoe world. We are recognized as a
factor, and. more than that, we are re-
spected as labor organization whose
word and contract can be depended
upon, and this In itself is an asset of
no mean value, for when, as labor
organization, we are entitled to the re-
spect Of an employer, both because OF
our disposition and our strength. we
are long way on the road toward q
satisfactory adjustment Of any honest
difference of opinion.
What does this union need for the
future? 1t needs the undivided sup
port of the shoe workers. With that
support it can go on to heights of sue
cess not yet attained. Its service III
the past has been valuable, its ac
complishments great, but II this union
is given the entire and undivided sup
port Of the shoe workers It's progress
will be still more rapid, its achieve
ments still more great, and the strength
of its position for the gaining of fur
ther advantages for the shoe workers
OF the present and future will be rap
idly augmented, and the Industrial po
sition of this union will become more
and more impregnable.
We have said that this union needs
the undivided support of the shoe
workers. Perhaps 1t were better to
say that every shoe worker in America
needs this union, for 1t has been prov
ed that this union has succeeded and
prospered fairly well without the sup
port OF a large proportion of shoe
workers, who either have not support
ed any union at all or have done
worse and supported independent fac
tions. But how has 1t gone with the
shoe workers who have remained
aloof? They have not progressed In
like proportion, and the most that car
be said for them today is that they
are menace to the further progress
OF this organization and to their own
This union will continue to progress
and to give more and better service tc
Its members anyway. Its progress viii
not be so fast as If the workers of the
craft rallied to Its standard. but 1t is
bound to progress anyway, rapidly II
permitted. but slowly IL 1t must. be
cause It has got into that habit.