Montana labor news., 1945-07-19
MITES Are
MIGHTY
CBy Maurice r. Franks, Editor,
Railroad Workers Journa)

ny maurice H. FRANKS, Editor,
Railroad Workers Journal)
The average unionist believes that in
paying his initiation fee and dues ne has
fulfilled his obligation to his family Of
unionism," and when things 60 wrong
within the house he readily blames it
all on Dad, his leader. This is a very
shortsighted attitude, to say the least. If
lmionism is to be promulgated for the
benefit of the worker and society as a
whole, it must be progressively active.
Each constituent must be interested and
active in all operations affecting his we'll
being He must discard the inferiority
complex that he means nothing. Granted.
alone he does not amount to much, but
collectively this mite is mighty, and if
anyone doubts this statement, I refer
them to a little book known as ROBERTS
Rules Of Order" which should become
the workingmans union Bible, because
in its pages, it sets forth the rights Of all
constituents, It would well profit every
union workingman to read this book, be-
cause he would learn that when he as
serts his rights in accordance with the
rules of this book, he and his fellow
mites" of unionism are more powerful
and can do more than any one leader.
It is pathetic to witness the inactivity
and apathy OF unionists, and these
"drones' have no one to blame but
themselves, simply because they do not
take an interest in that which affects
their daily bread I believe that most
leaders are honestly willing to perform
their particular capacity, but when all
of the performance of the operation falls
on the shoulders of the leaders, with
little show of interest by the constituency.
it is no wonder leaders inevitably become
careless and sometimes unworthy.
It requires initiative and incentive to
construct any project, even the House Of
Labor, and know of no better place for
the promotion of these requirements than
right within the union meeting. A union
meeting, if properly conducted under
Parliamentary Rules, as outlined in the
book, Roberts Rules of Order" can be
very educational and profitable to all in
attendance.
It is in the union meeting itself that
harmony or trouble is promoted. I'll
each member of a union were full ae-
quainted with his rights as such, there
would be no leader big enough or bold
enough, if you please, to deprive him OF
his rights. If he had a real knowledge |
of Parliamentary Law, he would know
when to take the floor, when to offer a
resolution, when to speak on a question, /
what to do in case of disagreement, and /
above all he would know when lie was
OUT OF ORDER; and on this last point. /
let me tell you that there is many .
unionist ruled out Of order
simply because he doesn't know his rights
according to Parliamentary Law as set
forth in the little book, Roberts Rules
Of Order" Absence of Parliamentary
procedure within a meeting promotes
sharp practice, but when accepted as the
general procedure in a meeting, it makes
all equal and puts them in a position
Of being treated as men and not as
mites" Under Parliamentary procedure,
wise leaders have learned that MITES
ARE MIGHTY
It is imperative that the mites" of
labor help shoulder their share of the
in the building of a sub
stantial residence Of which they can well
be proud, and which must be be built on
a foundation Of equity and honesty to
the nation as a whole. When they do
this, they, too will realize that MITES
ARE MIGHTY