The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-01-06
WHY UNIONISTS OPPOSE
MINIMUM WAGE LAWS

Denver, Dec. 3O.-Writing in the Min
ers' Magazine, official newpaper of the
International Union of Mine, Mill and
Smelter Workers (formcrly Western
Federation of Miners), Guy Z. Miller
presents this analysis of labor's opposi-
ton to minimum wage legislation:
rs not the enactment of a minimum
wage law by the legislature the pity Of
the strong for the weak a recognition
OF their helplessness? Does it not make
the workers in the class legislated for
the wards of the state? Is not. the state
in effect their Guardian? Are not the
workers under such legislation infants
within the contemplation of the law?
When and how can they become adults !?
Are not the wages under such enact
ments always pitifuly small, though
larger than the wages paid by many en-
ployers, and based upon the amount nee
essary to satisfy the physical needs of
the woman worker and save her from
the necessity of resortng to the street
to maintain existence? Is that a decent
standard for civilized life?
AT best, are not minimum wage laws
a tribute to the heart of society rather
than its head? Are they not an uncon-
workers are entitled to at least enough
to maintain their physical existence, and
that many employers will not pay that
sum except under compulsion by the
state, or union? Is not that lust as
true OF male as of female employees? !?
Are they not an attempt to substitute
effect OF that the deterioration of char
acter?
"Are the workers satisfied with such
hold our every effort in our own behalf
a crime? Are not its powers still used
to thwart our efforts and destroy our or
ganizations? When did it experience a
change of heart that we should relin-
quish our organizations and trust to
legislation alone?
"Elas it not been basic principle of
our government that the states should
only do those things for the citizen that
he could not do for himself? Let it give
the same sanction to our efforts in our
own behalf that it gives to capital in an
other way, and we will shortly stand in
no need of minimum wage laws.
The action of the legislature in pass
ing minimum wage laws constitutes the
lllSIcSl recognition Oh tlle nceu OIL SUCH
work as the unions are doing in that
legislative action is substituted in the
same line. Is it equally desirable? 1t
furnishes the strongest possible argu-
ment for the removal of every obstacle
to collective bargaining, which can only
come through the growth of the unions
Shall the unions, then, favor the en-
actnent OF minimum wage laws? 1t
seems to me that the best answer to that
question is found in the answer to the
following Which responds most read
lily to the will of the workers and is most
representative of their interests-the
union or the legislature?
"ln this transition stage of industry
as temporary protective measure for
women just entering industry in its I'M
skilled branches, it might be tried, but
don't stop with it, nor extend it.
81 am one who believes that the func-
tions of the union will expand with the
advance of democracy in industry, and
that they can not be superseded by state
action without imminent danger to civil
ization.
Blind confidence in sympathy, indo-
lent trust in state action, must not take
the place of intelligent efforts in our own
behalf and high faith in our own power
to shape human institutions in the in
terest of mankind"