The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-08-04
INSPIRES UNITY OF PURPOSE

Stimulates Education and Emphasizes
Skill and Superior Workmanship.
Directs Purchasing Power of Work
ere So as to Strengthen Them as
Producers-Stands For High Ideals.
The workers are fast beginning to
understand the great social and eco
nomic value inherent In the union label.
The increasing agitation and resultant
demand for union label products are evil
dences of the workers growing concep-
ton OF the great social and commercial
values of their purchasing power when
exercised Ia a systematic and organ
tied fashion The union label move
ment has not been the first attempt to
organize the purchasing power of Ia
Dor Numerous attempts and many ex-
per1ments have been made In this di-
rection In the past. Cooperative move
ments, consumers leagues and associ-
ated efforts of like nature have been
primarily inspired by the desire to so
cialiZe and commercialiZe the purchas-
Ing power of the workers.
Unfortunately whenever such associ-
ated activities reached any degree Of
success the power and influence of
these institutions many times were
perverted into instruments Of oppres-
sion and suppression of the workers as
producers. Instead of cooperating with
the economic organizations of the
workers, very often these cooperative
energies responded solely to a spirit of
commerciaism and to the suppression
of a feeling and desire to socialize in
dustrial pursuits
In its ultimate attainment the union
label movement comprehends complete
harmony and unity OF the hopes and
aspirations of the workers as producers
and as consumers. This movement re
spends to the possibility of uniting and
co-ordinating all the attributes of labor
into ofss comprehensive effort directed
to democratize all industries and to ul-
timately establish a just fair and right
full condition of life and work for all
For years trade unions have respond
eL in one form or another to this ideal
of directing the purchasing power Of
labor so as to strengthen the power Of
the workers as producers whenever
representations for improved working
conditions were to be made on employ
ers. Usually these activities were ex-
pressed In the form of boycott or the
fair list
While these weapons have proved
helpful, experience has also demon
strated their limitations and disadyan-
tages. While the eXhortations of trade
unionists to their friends and sympa-
thizers TO purchase only union label
goods and articles may not have proved
SO Immediately responsive or as vital
IN its immediate effect upon any one
particular firm or person as has the ad-
monltion not to purchase the goods OF
particular firm being boycotted, it Is
true nevertheless that the response to
the former appeal has been by far
more comprehensive and lasting IN It's
benefcent result. The boycott and the
fair list are individual In character and
their application spasmodic In nature
subject to Ill feeling, strife and friction
On the other hand, the union label Is
by far more comprehensive in charac
ter and Is permanent in its nature, 1ni
nus all elements OF strife and friction
1t is not urged that trade unions
should dispense with the weapons Of
the boycott and the fair list 1t is
urged that the Importance Of the trade
union label activity cannot be over
Looked.
The union label unquestionably ex-
GELS In that 1t inspires unity and feder
alton, stimulates education, emphasizes
skill and superior workmanship pro
notes trades and defies INSCRIPTIONS
competition, teaches the primal obliga-
tions of labor to a common cause, while
steadily winning its way into the hearts
Of the masses in that 1t symbolizes hu-
man justice and human freedom. 1t Is
for the attainment of these lofty ideals,
these humane accomplishments, that
this emblem of trade unionism has
been adopted Mindful Of the latent
and potential powers for good inherent
In the trade union movement let all
unite in this appeal and enlist in this
noble cause for the uplift of the worker
Let all join In this great march forward,
onward and upward under this great
banner of fraternity and brotherhood,
the emblem OF humanity and the sym
boil of the hopes and aspirations of the
workers for a better life and greater
and more humane civilization-Sho
Workers Journal.