The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-01-06
By Joseph PRoERsTLE,


BY JOSEPH PRoEBsTLE,
Secretary International Union of United
Brewery Workmen.
Whenever you find a workingman
who refuses to join the organization OF
his trade with the query why should
l pay my money into your labor I'M.
ions?" you can take it for granted that
he is one creature who wants to get
the benefit of all that which has been
accomplished by organized labor with
out any personal effort or sacrifice.
The American trade unionists know
that their labor organizations have
brought them hundredfold-yes thou
sandfold-in return for their invest
ments, and if we analyze the PROPOSE
ton we find that the returns grow In
proportion to our investments. AS an
Illustration | take the brewery work
ers' organization.
In 1886, when the brewery workers,
or, rather, the journeymen brewers,
organized, they were probably the most
exploited and mistreated workers of
America, with the one exception of
the bakery workers. The journeymen
brewers organization started out as a
cheap dues paying organization; the
local dues were only 25 cents per
month, of which 10 cents went to their
national organiza ton. The consequence
t,.hO On1
funds in the national treasury than to
pay for the running expenses.
The brewery proprietors, like all 9th
er employers, were naturally aware OF
the financial as well as of the numeri-
cal strength of the organization and
decided to eXterminate the organiza-
ton if possible, which they demonstrate
ed by the general lockout of 1888.
While the employers failed in the
end, it nevertheless showed that if 1t
would have been any other industry
except the brewing industry the plan
would have succeeded.
From 1856 until the time when the
local dues were increased and the dues
to the national organization raised
from 10 to % cents per month, but very
slow progress was made in lettering
wages and reducing hours.
Since 1903 the dues to the intterrna-
tonal union as well as to the local
union have been increased again, so
that now the per capita tax to the in
ternational organization is 80 l-3 cents
per member per month, without any
other except a seven dollar strike bene-
fit to each member This gives the or
ganiZatiOn O militant character and is
responsible for our progress in reduc-
ton of hours and increase of wages. II
you stop to think that the wages of
the brewery workers twenty-five years
ago We're between $40 and $50 per
month for twelve to fourteen hours a
days work and that now the wages
are from $18 to sos per week for an
almost universal eight hour working
| day, you will come to the conclusion
that the investments Of these work
ingmen in the form of dues brought
thousands upon thousands of per cent
Of interest to them.
If an organization carries benefit
systems, such as death and sick bene
fits and out of work benefits, this
should not detract from the prime oh
| ject of the labor organization, but
should be carried on on a separate an(
distinct basis. An organization with {
cheap dues system which pays dealt
| benefit cannot be of any great help IL
The economic struggle of the workers
of their trade. The confidence of tn,
workers in their fights for better condi
tons depends great deal upon tn,
financial ability of the international
organization to support them in case o
an economic struggle. We see in man
instances strikes inaugurated with n
ability to support them financially b.
the International organization, and II
most instances these strikes are tn
ones which result in defeats for tn
workers.
| hope to see the time come whe
every labor organization in Americ
will have a sufficient reserve fund t
support its entire membership at leas
for one months struggle. We hav
found that a good reserve fund is ratf
er a preventive than an inducemen
for strikes.
While many members in the labo
organizations look upon the accumult
ton of funds by the organization wit
distrust and disfavor, it is the onl
safeguard for the stability of the labC
movement. hope to see the day com
when the labor organizations through
out the country will invest their none
in banks of their own-in "cooperatiy
labor banks" where the workers ca
borrow in time of peace to develo
homes, pay back In small installmen
and be able to get support in time {
war instead of having the employees
In control of their funds through q
rangements with the banks,-America
Federationist.
Congressman Heating Reelected.
Congressman Heating, a member G
Il