The labor world., 1922-12-23
PERKINS I: ExT0LS
TRADE uN|0N|SM
TO C|CARMAKERS
International President Speaks
10 Du|uth-Superior Members.

George w. Perkins OF Chicago,
makers union, was a visitor in Du-
luth Monday. He addressed joint
meeting Of the Duluth and Superior
Cigarmakers' unions at Eagles hall
and left immediately after for Chi
cago by way OF st. Paul.
MIR. Perkins has been president of
the international Cigarmakers'
union for 80 years and this was his
f:rst visit to Duluth during that
time. He was greeted here by many
of the veteran ci2armakers of the
head of the lakes, some OF whom
are now in business for themselves.
r.. G. Hall of Minneapolis, president
OF the Minnesota State Federation OF
Labor, accompanied Mr. Perkins.
There was a large attendance Of
local cigarmakers.
Back to Your Unions"
\ trade unionist Of the old school
MIR. Perkins impressed upon his hear
ers the Importance OF sticking to
their union. The trade union move
mcnt." he said, was born Of neces-
s!ty. 1t came into Icing because OF
a desire on the part of the workers
, ipr better things, for higher wages.
more leisure time, better homes and
letter lives. Much had been accom-
piished and there was still muci
more to get.
when We are passing through
;hi' transit Dry period, continued Mr..
Perkins. "f-ausht with its many dan
gers, it is well to rem cnber that all
We are, all we have achieved. have
been secured by our unions. With
out them We would be economically
weak and politically a noncnfcty.
The security Of the future depends
upon our loyalty to the trade union
movement. Break it and everything
else wi so with ii.
Lesson From til. Past.
I'VE who bore the bvunt of the
car" conflicts know what this move
lle::t Of ours means to the work ers.
we understood its philosophy. We
ere acquainted with the past. We
we're familiar with the labor move
lIent3 that went before it. We tried
u profit by their mistakes. We built,
not altogether for power, but to Gre
e. and preserve democracy in our
Own Institutions. We established and
nave since enGeavored to maintain
the principle of trade autonomy. To-
cal Sc 'f-government, If you please,
the rock upon which every labor
movement that ever lived has been
wrecked, when that principle was
forsaken.
The trouble with most of US has
been that we have been too self
satisfied. We know the history Of
the past and its pitfalls, but we have
been keeping it to ourselves. We
have not passed it on as we should.
We have taken too much for grant
Ell. We have supposed that the
Younger members should know what
we know and have learned by expe-
riencc. In that we were mistaken.
Youth is impatient. 1t would take a
shortcut route to industrial freedom.
There are plenty of Quack economic
mariners who think they know of
such a route and there are none
more receptive to their teachings
than the young. honest, daring, but
inexperienced workers.
Unions Arc Stable.
I'VE have been willing to abide
our time and to permit our young
members to learn for themselves
Just as we We're compelled to do
and in that we made mistake. We
are familiar with the false, but al
Turing philosophy of the social
quacks, and few of us have taken
the time or made the effort to COM
bat it. Most OF it is indictment
against the present. Little of it is
constructive. There is where Ee are
strong. Our position is constructive
Back of us is the record. Before US
is the work to be done. One we'll
informed and courageous trade
uniOnist in workshop can do more