The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-26
THE EFFECTIVE
TRADE UNIONS
Invariably Those That Demand
High Dues From Members.
NO ARISTOCRATS OF LABOR

Difference Between Successful Trade
Organizations and the Partial Fail
ures Is Mainly That of Finance.
Fault Finders VIII Profit When They
Accept This Fact.
We often hear the statement that
some organizations are the aristocrats
of the labor movement, the intent Of
the statement being to convey the
thought that some groups Of workmen
have the same attitude toward less
fortunate groups that the aristocrats
are supposed to hold for the mass of
the people. If the statement was made
that some groups Of workmen enjoy
much better conditions than others,
that they are able to accomplish more
for themselves than some Of the other
groups, fairer statement would be
made.
While it is true that the more highly
skilled workmen receive higher wages
Ludu NOlhulGlt W I'LL l1IllC Shllly yCL thC
fact remains that a number Of very
highly skilled workmen receive COM
paratively low wages. If those who
enjoy calling names with the object of
creating an unfavorable impression to-
ward some union or group of unions
would take a little time to study the
trade union movement they would dis
cover that every one of these unions
which they call aristocrats began their
present organization confronted by the
same conditions and the problems
which faced all others; that In the be-
ginning their wages were governed by
the same influences and their hours of
labor were as long as those of all other
workers; that the employers were just
as much opposed to their organizing as
they were in the other trades and in
dustries, but that the successful organ
izations from their beginning ,continu-
bers to agitate for improved conditions
and to establish the ways and means
by which discipline could be estab-
Hshed and through which sound
financial system could be placed In
operation.
UnOrganiZed or poorly organized
workmen may sometimes sheer at the
more successful workers and call them
aristocrats, but the so called aristo-
Gratis secured their higher wage rate,
shorter hours of labor and recognition
from their employers because they
we're willing 10. be. governed by sound,
businesslike methods In the transact
ton of their organizations affairs
No one group of the trade union
movement has any claim for aristoc-
racy Of mind, but some Of the groups
have used the minds which nature en-
dowed them with more effectively than
Others. Instead of sitting down, find
ing fault with the bosses and CRITICS
| ing other workers who were more sue
cessful than they were, they have
| spent their time in working out meth
| DDS which would enable them to more
| fully protect their interests, and they
have been willing to go down into
| their pockets regularly every week and
pay sufficient amount Of dues to
give them financially effective organi-
cations.
AS matter of fact, it is ridiculous
| to talk about aristocrats in the trade
union movement, for there is no such
! thing. Some organizations composed
exclusively of !aborers today receive
| higher minimum wage rates than
workmen who have spent years to
i learn their trade.
! The differences which exist between
some organizations In the labor move
| ment do not arise from any spirit of
| aristocracy, but because some groups
of workers are more willing to pay
their way than others.
! 1t will be found almost invariably
| that those workmen who like to talk
| about the aristocrats in the trade
| union movement are those who are I'M
willing to pay high dues or to finance
their organizations so that they may
become ive.-Internationa Mold.
ers' Journal