Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1925-02-13
PRESIDENT GREEN
SAYS UNI0NISM HAS
EARNED PLACE
BY William Green, President,
American Federation of Labor.
(An Editorial in the American
Eadarafiouiafl

(An Editorial in the American
Federationist)
Trade unionism has to its credit so
much Of solid achievement that there
should be none today who doubt its
necessity and It's justification.
Trade unionism has earned a place
in the recognized institutions of demo-
cratic civilization. 1t has earned the
right to the allegiance Of all work
ers, on the one hand, while, on the
other hand, ii has earned the night
to speak for the workers in the coun-
ellis of industry. Trade unionism has
passed the trial stage. 1t has come to
its maturity out of long years OF
struggle and experience to an earned
position of trust and confidence.
That is the movements belief In
itself; and that must be trade union
ism's place in the life of our nation.
The trade union movement is a
movement of service. 1t is move
ment which helps to get things done
where otherwise they could not be
done at all.
1t is the duty of every wage earn
er to belong to the union of his trade
or calling and it is the duty of every
industry to consult with the trade
unions of that industry on every point
that affects the work of that Ind us-
try. This is so, not merely so thar
trade unions may be recognized Tor
the satisfaction of their own aims /;
IL is so because that is the only way
to achieve the best results in modern
industrial life. The outlook is broad
er than wages, hours and conditions
for those Immediately involved. Ii
extends to the whole social organlZa-
ton and contemplates the general
welfare of all. The nation as a
whole can not content itself, or call
itself well served, until every unit OF
industry and every group of workers
function at their best and find salts
faction and justice in so doing.
The rattle-trap factory, operating
with half-skilled, resentful, morgan
lied workers, is national liability
which the nation can not afford and
which it need not have. Contrast,
for the sake of good citizenship,
workshops in which the so-called IN
dividual contract" binds the workers
to unquestioning submission and a
shop in which the trade union pro-
cures for the workers an effective
voice in the determination of all ques-
tions surrounding work and wages.
Nothing so affects the patriotic ardof
of the citizen as the citizens own
sense of justice secured or withheld.
The man who knows that democracy
has come into the place where he
works must in every sense be the
best defender of democracy. Men
will defend those things which come
into their lives, bringing happiness
to them and to their families.
The comparison between the union
man and his job and the non-union
man and the job in which he is per
mitted to work is somewhat like
that older comparison of man and
his home and a man and his boarding
house.
Such devices as the individual con-
tract" and the injunction are used by
reactionary employers to hold work
ers in submission to the edicts that
come from "the front Office" Such
feel that to allow the work
e1S TO nave any NOlSC III
affecting the workshop is to begin
a downward course toward loss OF
control, loss of discipline and ruina-
ton. There never was greater folly,
or less understanding.
The worker of today can not go In
dividually to his employer and get
Justice. There are too many workers
and too few employers for that: 1t
is sheer, physical impossibility.
And the employer who thinks he can
dictate fair terms without consulting
his employees is just as mistaken as
any autocrat has ever been. There
have been contented slaves under
autocratic rule, but there never have
been good citizens. Autocracy ana
citizenship can not co-eXist, erthef
politically or industrially.
Trade unionism appeals to workers
and employers-to all Americans
whatever their station or posluon-as
a constructive agency for the promo
ton of justice in industry, for the
elevation of human lives, for the edu1-
cation of the masses to higher stand
ards. to a greater dignity and to q
fuller realization of the meanino Of
life and of the meaning of living to-
gether in a great organized society,"