unions in other countires have mastered both of them, and the same thing can be done here.
As for the dues problem, that is readily solved through the departmental system. In each department, if necessary, different scales of dues and benefits can prevail. It is merely a technical problem such as has been worked out by every life insurance company in the country. As for the unions that are not entirely railroad organizations, the solution for them is that they will be affiliated two ways. The machinists, for example, will be affiliated to the metal trades industrial union, and also to the railroad union, paying part of their dues to each organization. The railroad union, in order to secure united action of the railroad workers, will have control of the strike activities of the railroad machinists. This system of double affiliation has been worked out by many big unions and proves thoroughly satisfactory. There is no need nor intention to split the railroad metal trades in order to bring about an industrial union of railroad workers.
The departmental plan of industrial unionism will be adopted in all the industries, because it is the only scientific method of defending the interests of the workers. It is the result of a crying need for a system of organization that will meet the demands of modern industrial evolution. The old clumsy method of each craft fighting its own battle is as much out of place as would be an ox-cart service in competition with modern railroads. Whether in the matter of economy and efficiency of administration, or in the defense of the workers' interests, departmentalized industrial unionism is incomparably superior to our present primitive and outworn craft organizations.
The Test of Experience
The system of departmentalized industrial unionism, as above outlined, is not a new and untried theory by any means. Our European brothers, who are far ahead of us in the matter of tactics and organization, have had such industrial unions for many years. For a long time they have been amalgamating their original craft unions into departmentalized bodies, with most satisfactory results. The English railroad workers show us a very fine example in their National Union of Railwaymen. This amalgamated union embraces all classes of railroad workers. It is divided into four departments which, giving the
