The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-07-31
WOOD CARVERS =
TO B UIL D UP
STRONG UNION
Realize Need of More
Perfect Union
fcnntin,,a from PAGE u

leaders in the past, and brought about
this most unhappy state of affairs.
The Lockout Of 'et.
The beginning of our downward
career started about 1891 when the
Furniture Manufacturers declared a
lockout against the Wood Carvers'
Union. | was only on apprentice &C
that time, but / can recall the great
union spirit that manifested itself
among the wood carvers at that time.
I remember when the boss came In
the carving room in the shop where |
was working and told the wood carv-
ers that they must work ten hours a
day or get out! (They worked eight
hours day them.
The carvers thought that the boss
had gone crazy thinking that he could
compel them to again work ten hours
per day. And l am sure that the same
spirit existed turnout the ranks of the
Union carvers at that time. They
didn't realize that something was hap.
pening, in the furniture industry that
they were being organized upon a
large scale. The wood carvers had to
face something which they hadn't had
to face before, land that was-organ-
lied capital.
The wood carvers went into the
fight with the best of fighting spirit.
They stayed out nine months without
a break in their ranks, and fighting
every inch of the way The leaders
showed the fighting spirit so neces-
sary in leadership, going thru battles
unfiinchingly.
Defeated But Not Whipped.
Despite solidarity and their devotion
to the union, the strike which lasted
eight months went down to defeat. 1
believe that fight left some scars and
deep wounds on our pioneer leaders,
some of whom are still with us, for
they don't show any semblance Of
their former fighting spirit land l hope
these lines will revive some of their
former fighting spirit), or else
it is the different defeats they went
thru since the fight mentioned above
that created such hopeless outlook
in their minds. can appreciate any
one going from defeat to defeat may
experience serious effect from them.
The trouble is that these leaders
never took enough pains to analyze
the real cause of their defeat. They 4
only blamed it on various petty things
that happened, which are only natural
in any fight, and they only followed
the reactionary if not corrupt leaders
of the larger labor unions.
We must realize the great power
that is arrayed against us, when we
are contemplating any action against
the organized furniture trust, and not
only the organized trust but the whole
state apparatus from soldiery down to
police. 1t only depends upon to what
extent the power of the state is neces-
sary to crush the workers in their
strike for the just cause of their own
protection.
A Crime Not to Study and Act.
Now, we cannot allow such a state
of affairs to exist in our ranks for l
consider it a crime for anyone to sit
idly by and make no effort to remedy
the same, if he has any ability. We
must from now on bestir ourselves in
a campaign of building up our own
forces. We must get every unit in our
union in action in this work. We must
see to it that every wood carver and
carving machine operator be within
our fold We must awaken the spirit
and solidarity of unionism in our
ranks. We cannot longer tolerate the
damnable Indifference of their duties
to their union.
We must see to it that we bring
about such condition in our union
whereby we can enforce our constitu-
tion and by laws, which have become
only a dead letter, and that every
member get the full protection he Ia
entitled to according to our bylaws
and constitution. And how can this
be brought about?
Most of the carvers who are not
in our union at present have been
members at different times heretofore.
No doubt that they think they have
just reason to stay out. They may
have some grievance due to short
sightedness ali around. And Of course
there are some who think seIfshly.
who always let someone else do the
fighting, and he is only blacklegging.
All Lose Or Gain Together.
But even those we must convince Z.
that, due to their behavior, we are
bound to go down in defeat, and they
must naturally go down with us and
accept worse conditions. Therefore,
1t is their duty to come in with us
and help to maintain better stan
dard of living.
We must always point out to them
how the bosses are well organized
with their manufacturers association,
chamber of commerce, etc, which
only recently held its international
congress. And not only that, they
have the whole state apparatus at
their disposal the soldiers, courts, po-
nraA all