The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-11-11

ton should not be landed on English
soil, and the demonstrations OF their
determination were so vigorous that the
Cabinet and Parliament were forced to
take notice.
These trade unionists realized that the
success OF their efforts meant continued
privations and sacrifices on their part,
and yet it was with this knowledge that
they served notice upon the English
government that the introduction OF
contraband cotton would mean a strike
on the part OF all OF the cotton opera
tives. These trade unionists, in their
hour OF sclf-sacrifice, were guided by
something which we are justified in ac-
cepting as the highest ideal.
Shortly after | became member OF
my local union, and before ! had any
adequate grasp OF the industrial prob
lens or understanding OF trade union
ism, it was my good fortune to come
into contact with some OF the veterans
in our movement One Sunday | went
to Boston to secure advice from John
| +. O. Sullivan, who Tor many years, in
addition to his newspaper work, was
actively engaged in organizing and as
sisting the trade union movement in
Massachusetts, Shortly after reaching
his home. another man entered and
was introduced to Frank X. Foster, one
OF the most brilliant laymcn which the
American trade union movement has
produced and while we were talking
another rap came at the door, and in
moment | had the pleasure OF meet
ing Henry Abrahams who, for twenty
five years, has been secretary OF the To-
cal Cigarmakers' Union and who has
served the Central Labor Union OF
Boston as its secretary for seventeen
years.
1t seemed strange to me to find an
Irishman and Roman Catholic, a de
sccndant OF the old New England stock
and Protestant and man whose an
ccstors had heard the thundcrs of Mt
Sinai, greet each other as though they
were members OF an affcctionatc family
and then devote an afternoon to the dis
cuSsiOn OF ways and means for assist
ing the wage-carncrS OF Massachusetts
to secure legislation which would pre-
vent injustice being done to workers,
male and female, union and non-unon
alike.
| was able to understand that some
thing which these men had acquired as
trade unonStS enabled them to feel
that there was no division between them
because ol ancestry, race, religion 'or
political affiliations, but that in their
interest in each other and their interest
IN all those who toll they were as one.
The public gathers its limited knOwl-
edge Oi trade unoniSm mostly from
newspaper items and editorial com
mcnt, and particularly when some acute
industrial dispute is i'll progress. The
public knows but little, il anything,
about the everyday activities which are
carried on year by year
Practically all trade unions have a
regular sick committee, who not only
visit sick members and attend to their
wants, but who. i'll addition. see that
proper comforts and necessities are
provided,
The newspapers seldom tell oi the
beds endowed by trade unions in the
hospitals OF our cities. The public i,
unaware Oi the enormous sums o
money contributed voluntarily by trad,
unions locally Tor the purpose OF assist
ing the distressed Oi their own anC
other organizations.
What is inferred by these activities
Is IT not that the trade union mOvcmvr
has brotherhood as one OF its ideals
brotherhood SO broad and so deep tha
1t oblitcratcS the lines OF nationality
race, creed, politics. Brothcrhoo,
which extends, without reservation, t'
all OF the toilcrS OF the world?
The time at my disposal will not al
low me to present the unboundcd ma
tcrial evidence which indicates the idea
OF brotherhood which we hold, but
can not pass without calling your atten
tion To some evidences with which yol
should be made familiar
For many years the members OF tn,
Typographical Union have maintained
a home in Colorado Springs, where
without cost, members afflicted will
tuberculosis and those who have los
their health are given all OF the car,
= which skilled physicians can supply,
! home where comfort and kindlincSs sur
, rounds each inmate like sunshine iall
ing upon the flowers.
The PreSsmen'S Union maintains
similar institution in RogcrSvile, Tenn
Many OF our unions pay out enor
, nous sums each year in sick and dealt
benefits to their members.
The International Moldcrs' Union
mp to December 81 oi last year, had pai
out $4,12s,3777O to its members in sick
death and disability benefits.
p Last wear the unions affiliated wifi