Denver labor bulletin., 1916-01-22

The union label is part of the we'll
known machinery OF labor unions. Ihe
union label is used to indicate that the
goods and receptacles of goods to which
it is affixed We're made solely by men,
bers OF the union having adopted the
label. and to distinguish such goods from
all other of similar kind in the mar
ket. 1t has been said that it may not
be too much to assume that the use of
the label is in fact, as it certainly might
be, of more economic Importance to the
union than are many or most trade
marks strictly so-called, in the promo
tion of which vast sums of money are
spent and which are so zealously pro-
tected by our courts.
While it is true that each form Of
trade union activity has its own par
ticular functions to perform, it is equal
ly true that since the unfavorable Buck
Stove and Range Company and the Dan
bury Hatters decisions much greater EN-
phasis has been laid on the use OF union
labels. Indeed, the establishing of the
Union Label Trades Department of the
American Federation of Labor and its
continual maintenance for the past eight
years, as well as the formation and con-
tinued existence OF the international AL
lied Printing Trades Association, is sig
nificant of the great commercial and So
cial value attributed to this union label
movement.
Thus the question is naturally and
logically raised, what does the union Ia
bel signify. What great social and eco
nomic principles does it represent? What
are the ideals, aims and aspirations ty-
pified and symbolized by the trade union
label?
/ Originally the trade union label was
designed by the Cigarmakers OF San
Francisco, Cal, to direct attention to the
growing competition of Chinese labor
with white labor and to the grave and
menacing dangers which would logically
follow the converting of an American
standard of living to a much lower con-
dition of life. The impending danger
was SO great, this appeal of the cigar
makers SO effective, that immediate in
dividual and social resentment was
aroused, creating social atmosphere
and economic condition wherein this un-
fair competition could no longer exist.
Of course, then as now, there were
those who cared little under what condi-
tions of employment the articles they
purchased were produced and marketed
who failed to grasp or appreciate the re-
lation of conditions of sale to conditions
of production and the effect of this rela-
ton upon the moral, social and economic
conditions of the great mass of people
Fortunately, there were then, as now
many who are imbued with the feeling
and spirit of maintaining a high stand.
ard of moral and social conditions and
who were willing to subordinate TEN.
porary economic advantages in order tc
further such moral and social principles
This message of the first trade unior
label and the moral, social and economic
mission it performed in such a splendid
fashion is still in evidence today. Indeed
} the message symbolized in the trade
, union label is greater today in it's scope
. and consequence than at any time since
its adoption. Today the union label di
, rects attention to the evils of underpait
and overworked adult labor, to the un
J fair competition of free labor with com
pulsory or convict labor; to the exploita.
tion of woman and child labor. 1t di
!, rects attention and concentrates publ,
, sentiment against the evils peculiar t.
certain crafts and evils common to mos,
all industries. 1t is a permanent decla
, ration of the moral duty developing OF
, the purchaser to inquire into the cost
at which an article is produced, as vel