Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-04-24
PROGRESS MADE BY
ELECTRICIANS ASSURES
future or UNION
CONTINUED from page one)

not until 1898 that Marconi succeeded
in throwing Morse signals across
space without the aid OF wires.
Almost simultaneous with the use
of these new instruments OF clviliza-
ton, the Electrical Workers Brother
hood was founded. Early locals
were founded about 1885. The first
local to seek national organization
was founded in St. Louis in 1890, and
the national union was founded the
following year at 3 St. Louis conven-
ton. Well launched, the union pro-
gressed rapidly, not without its trials,
errors and growing pains.
Union is Hospitable
The nature OF the electrical work
ers' organization makes it flexible on
account of the very, diversity Of the
craft, Its union directory reads more
like the roster Of a federation than
of union. It numbers linenen, in-
sjdemen, trimmers, cranemen, cable
splicers, fixture hangers, maintenance
of way, shopmen, power house men,
telephone men, telephone operators,
railroad mon, bridge operators, studio
and picture operators in it's ranks. It
stands in pivotal position, in refer
ence to many trades, and its officers
recognize the delicacy of this posi-
ton, and have been and are distin-
guished by their diplomatic, tactful
and progressive policies.
Making Rapid Roadway
Asked recently to name advances
made by the Electrical Workers un-
ion, the international Office, Machin-
lists building, Washington, D. c., en-
umerated the following:
1. Public service rendered in the
fight for public control of giant pow
er.
2. Awakened interest in and bene-
violent service to workers education.
3. Resistance to temptation in the
matter ofPpolicy to move too fast.
The placing of the union on strong
Iy conservative and progressive basis.
Internal cohesiveness, coupled with
public service.
4. The establishment of the Broth
erhood Benefit association, for pro-
lection of members families, and its
very successful conduct.
5. Writing laws for proper install
lation of work for public safety.
6. Establishment of first old-line
insurance company designed to write
safe and inexpensive insurance for
men and their families in all trades.
Il Forces Public Safety Campaign
Because of the hazards of the cleo
trio trade, this brotherhood has been
foremost in demanding public safety
laws. It is represented on the COM
mittee drawing up the National Elec-
trical Safety Code.
First OId-Line Insurance Co.
The Union Cooperative Insurance
association, founded by officers and
members of the l. B. E. W, is now an
established going corporation. It is
so far as we know the first legal re-
serve old-line life insurance company
to be established and controlled by
any group Of organized labor. The
company was licensed in the District
of Columbia to begin writing business
the first of January 1925, having
been actually incorporated under the
laws passed by congress for the Dis
trict of Columbia on November 10,
1924.
Its future now rests very largely
with the members of the Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers and with the members and
officers of other group of organized
labor. A very shrewd financial OBJ
server recently said when he heard
that this company had been started
''Well, knew it was bound to come.
Labor is going to learn to handle its
own money and conduct it's own bust
ness affairs. When labor started CO.
operative banks it was evident to any
one with a knowledge Of financial
affairs in this country that sooner or
later labor would establish its own in
surance company. To conduct banks
without insurance companies connect
ed or affiliated directly or indirectly
with them is a good deal like trying
to grow willow trees without water.
The insurance companies are the
greatest feeders of the banks because
they are the great method naturally
and properly used by the great ma
jority of American people to create
an estate and to save their own mon
ey.
New Company Well Received
The reception accorded the new in
surance company through the labor
world is very encouraging.
It is not as though this company
were in the hands Of men who knew
nothing about insurance. The Off
GERS of the international Brother
hood of Electrical Workers and those
they have employed have for the past
three years demonstrated in the con-
duct of the Electrical Workers Bene-
fit association that they know some
thing about the insurance business
The first essential in the insurance
business is integrity; the second es-
sential is intelligence. The affairs OF
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