The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-18

cuItivating Friendly Relations With
EmpIoyers-The Shorter Day.
[From report of John F. Tobin, general
president Boot and Shoe Workers union.l
Let loyalty be our watchword, 10y
atty to the country and to the flag, to
the institutions of freedom and de-
mOcracy, to humanity, that the whole
world may be a better place; to the
government and to all duly constituted
authorities.
Some of us must march with the ar
mics, others must make the guns and
the munitions, others must make the
shoes that the armies march in, and
still others must make the food, cloth
ing and other necessaries both for the
men that march and for those that
supply them. Let US each and all
strive to be loyal in every sense.
Let loyalty be our watchword also
in our service to the cause Of organ
lied labor. Let us be just as patriotic
in our labor work as we are in all
matters of national service, remember
ing always that the man who avoids
service to his fellow man In the ranks
of labor, In the ranks of industry or
in the ranks of democracy and liberty
for all people is just as much Stacker
as the man who attempts to evade mil
itary service in the national defense.
During the past two years substan-
tial increases in wages have been Sc.
cured generally throughout our organ
ization, in some instances being re-
peated several times. Our organiZa-
ton is getting along very we'll by cul-
tivating friendly relations between EN-
ployers and employees under the pro
visions of our arbitration contract.
1t has been demonstrated that the
practice of diplomacy and friendly
conferences produces practical results
while strong arm methods and rev.
dictionary threats do not brighten en-
ployers, but rather stimulate retalia
ton and are barren Of results Of any
benefit to the general membership OF
such self styled unions.
] As indicated in our reports to oul
| last convention two years ago, the
| tendency in our craft has been TOWARD
a shorter hour week rather than {
| short hour day, and we have made
more progress on the short hour week
This result seems to be natura
development Of the condition that ex
| listed two years ago when 1t was ap
| parent that more of our local unions
and members were interested in {
short hour week with Saturday hal
holiday than they were in any straigh
short hour day.
Two years ago we recommended tina
the short hour week should lie tn
slogan, and the recent settlement II
BrocktOn, followed extensively in near
by and other communities, carries
fifty hour week, with Saturday hal
holiday the year round.
We believe that every effort shout,
be made to organize the unOrganiZe
shoe workers and to obtain for theI
the benefits of the short hour weel
and Saturday half holiday, so tina
those of us who are working unde
these favorable conditions will not b
at a competitive disadvantage.
seems clear that we must find gu
shorter workday in the shorter hou
week
The most important factor In bring
ing about the growth Of our OrganiEa
ton against the obstacles mentione
and TO make that growth stable an
permanent has been our union staml
1t is and always has been our creates
organizing factor
During the past two years we hav
endeavored to keep our union STAN
constantly before the public, Away
urging the purchases of shoes bearin
the union stamp
We have done this by persistent &C
vertising and visiting labor organize
lions and conventions and gathering
Of working people We have created
market for union stamp shoes which
Of some consequence, but not nearly S
valuable as it can be made with full
er cooperation of our own membershi
and the labor movement in genera
which we hope to receive in large
measure in the years to come.
In this connection permit us TO sa
that we will receive a degree of c.
. operation from the labor movement i
proportion to that which we deserve
If we are thorough uniOnists and max
ourselves so recognized by our sistc
unions In the American Federation {
Labor and all branches and subdivision
thereof we will receive a greater meas
ure Of cooperative support In orde
to be entitled to receive we must give
We must give orr active service an
support not only to- our own organize
ton, but to the affiliated unions Of othe
trades. We must be live wires in tn
labor movement, always working cal
nestly and persistently for the conmo
cause Of organized labor in general thu
qualifying ourselves for our own bene
fit In particular.