The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-05-07
UNION MEETINGS AND
MEETING PLACES

to changing customs, says Wllllam
Green, president of the American
Federation of Labor.
Some Of the practices of our labor
movement have not changed with the
times or the increasing Importance
of our movement itself.
Il Among some of these practices that
are harmful is that of holding meet
ings in unattractive rooms and loca-
tions. With advances in standards Of
wages and living and work condi-
tions, it becomes increasingly diff
cult tVget men to go to union meet
ings in unsightly, unclean surround
ings. Often by judicious planning at
tractive offices and meeting places
can be secured without increasing
financial expenditure. If better
quarters can not be secured, at least
cleanliness and orderliness can be en-
forced and some element of beauty
introduced. This can be done with
out extravaganza, and the investment
will bring substantial returns in
union strength. Some public-spirited
person interested in wider apprecia-
ton of the beautiful will, no doubt,
be glad to help in such an undertak-
ing.
In addition to improved physical
surroundings, union meetings them
selves may be something more than
routine business concerned only with
grievances and financial matters.
There should always be provision that
members may carry away new infor-
: nation and inspiration. Would it not
!. be we'll to utilize the methods of
: other organizations and at regular
| tnUeTNdlS DIlIS a SOCldl elSIHSIG IIltO
the meetings by arranging dinner
: meeting to which members are priv
; ileged to bring guests. The dinner
; itself can be modest and the price
5 moderate, so that husband, wife and
other members of the family may
: share the event. 1t would help to
bring the family group closer to the
r union.
These suggestions are all based
: upon the idea of economics in plan
ming so as to get better service for
the same or even less outlay. Extrav-
agant expenditure is neither wise nor
profitable Information and discrim-
ination are necessary to avoid waste.
The union will unquestionably gain
effectiveness by more and stronger
ties to bind the membership
"a "a pa IA n
OLD AGE PENSIONS
A fifth state has indorsed the
principle of old age pensions with the
passage of law by the Kentucky
legislature approving the plan spon
sored by the United Mine Workers
and the Fraternal Order of Eagles to
diminish the rigors of poverty upon
the worn-out toilers in their declining
years. Other states that have adopt
ed this legislation are Montana,
Nevada, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
The Kentucky law is patterned
after that in effect in Wisconsin, and
provides an alternative for the aims
house, poor infrmaries and makeshift
institutions for the aged by provid-
ing pension system to keep the aged
among their relatives and in their
homes. The common sense of the
matter is that it is more economical
to help the aged poor to remain in
their homes than to transport them
to an institution to be tended like
convicts or imbeciles.
! The labor movement is in support
of state care of dependent old folk,
especially in view of the injustices
resulting from private attempts at
this form of relief. AS proof, the
failure of the old age pension sys-
tenn of the Morris Packing Company,
of Chicago, is cited. Trusting work
ers denied themselves the benefits of
organized labor in the hope Of a Sc
cure old age from the company's fund
and then were cheated when the pack
ers consolidated and they were let
out in the cold.
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