Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-08-29
STICK TOGETHER

BLESSED is the trade union CndC mas
at its head patient, intelligent and
idealistic leadership. Such a union is
fortunate. It's progress is steady and
inspiring. Yes, leadership is import
ant. 1t will take a long, long time
before men can do without it. Every
organization must appreciate the fact
that it should have the very ablest
men and women at the head of its
ranks. That's agreed There is no
ried unanimously!
But the ablest leadership cannot
succeed if the rank and file does not
follow; or does not know where it is
going; or does not hold it's rank solid
and united.
The head is the top-notch. Without
the body, however, it does not and
cannot function. The best leadership
in the world cannot serve efficiently
unless it has a good membership be-
hind it. We repeat-good leadership
is absolutely necessary. But much
more necessary is a compact, well-or-
ganized and clear-sighted rank and
file. A thousand times sooner let's
have a well-organized membership
and poor leadership than excellent
leaders and a rotten membership!
There is no great shortage of good
heads in the labor movement of this
country. We may differ about this
matter. But we all agree that there
is certainly lots of room for improve
ment in the rank and file.
They must learn and realize the
lesson that each and every member is
unit in an organization. No union
can have strength if its units are
weak and not on the job. A strong
combination of units, each in his place
and doing his duty creates Unity. A
and wide-awake men and women
creates Solidarity. Without this back
ing no leadership can succeed. Let's
nail down this truth with a story.
In a very charming spot, amid
mountains, woods and fields, was To-
Gated a popular vacation resort.
Among it's numerous attractions was
a very pretty lake. Thousands of peo-
pie came from the big cities to the
hotels, boarding houses and camps
around, the resort suffered the loss
of years the resort grew and prosper
ed
Then misfortune came. Several Sc
rious accidents occurred one summer.
Careless people were drowned and
the lake began to be spoken of as a
treacherous one. AS this gossip got
around, the resort suffered the loss
of hundreds of it's annual guests.
The owners of the hotels, boarding
houses and camps gathered in meet
ing to discuss ways and means Of
preventing further drowning and re-
trieving their losses. They decided
then and there to engage an expert
life-saver, the very best obtainable.
Presently they secured one and placed
him on the job.
Strange to relate, shortly after his
installation a drowning occurred. And
still more strange was the news that
the expert life-saver was right next
to the victim when the accident hap
pened. CONSERVATION and cussing
ruled the village in its excitement. A
hasty board meeting was called and
the life-saver was summoned to ap-
pear. "Can you explain this inexcus-
able failure on your part 2" asked the
irate chairman of the board. The
other members glanced daggers at
their unfortunate employe.
eyes, gentlemen" eagerly respond
ed the life-saver, 81 can explain to
your satisfaction just what happened
But let me remind you again. have
clean record. have saved the lives
of hundreds of people in my many
years of experience. Here is the
proof" And once more he laid his
medals, credentials, testimonials and
letters upon the table, before the COM
mittee. "Gentlemen,' pleaded the
life-saver, 81 can positively assure
you results And if have the slight
est chance l can save any man or
woman from drowning. But in this
case I had no chance. Listen, gentle
men.
"Just after noon yesterday | heard
a cry for help. Several hundred feet
from where / was I saw this fellow
struggling in the water and a cap
sized boat near him. | jumped into
my canoe and in a few strokes l got
to him just as he was going under.
| grabbed him by his hair and pull
ed, but, darn the luck, he had on a
wig and there it was left in my hand.
Soon he came up again, ana SeZ L 10
myself, I'll grab the sucker this time
so he won't escape I took hold of
his collar and pulled, but hell, his
collar was a paper one; it came off
and he slipped away the second time.
| was gettin' madder than a hornet,
and sez to myself, T'll land this eel
yet And he came up for the third
time; l caught him by one of his
legs. Now l got you for keeps,
thought I, and yanked him along. All
of sudden l noticed that | had only
his leg. 1t was an artificial leg, and
the darn thing came off and there |
was hanging on to it. Well, by the
time found him again it was too
late"
"Gentnlemen," emphasized the life
saver, again pointing to his medals,
etc. "I can save any man-provided
he will stick together"