THE UNION LABEL by Walter Gordon Merritt

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 16, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 50.

THE UNION LABEL.

By Walter Gordon Merritt

(Walter Gordon Merritt.)

The indispensable part of all boycotts is a distinguishing mark. In the case of labor organizations, the efficient weapon is the union label, or, in some cases, the specific trade-mark of the boycotted manufacturer. The former is the preeminently important part of their machine of conspiracy. It is now a well-recognized trade-mark, by which every dealer and walking delegate distinguishes all goods of union manufacture. As soon as this practical method of discrimination was adopted, the establishment of the boycott was assured.

This label does not necessarily represent quality, earning capacity, sanitary conditions, or short hours, but is a club to coerce employers and injure independent workmen, by making possible the boycott. It is so totally void of the usual significance of trade-marks that, in the absence of special statutes, many courts have denied it protection. The threat of being deprived of valuable trade causes the distributor to select union goods with the label, and the general consumer buys what is offered him, regardless of the label.