Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-22
SMOKING AFFECTING LABOR.
Great Decrease in the Number Of
Cigars and Cheroots.
POWER IN AMALaAMATIoN
Increased Demand for LabOrers and
the Force Of Men Now Required
by the New Electric Rail-
eaRu way 8, Etc, Etc.
Labor and Smoke.

According to reports by the Associated
Press the International CIgarmakers' union
is not in a condition 10 be desired by the men,
bers President Stfusser's report made on
Wednesday last is To the effect that employ
meut Is gradually decreasing. While there is
an increase for the year 1859 in the number
of cigars and cheroots manufactured that in
crease is much less than the increase of 1856
81. The astounding information is promul-
gated that in New York City alone there
has been decrease in union manufactured
cigars and cheroots of 81 ,673 1872 as compared
with the fiscal year previous. The order
holds its own as regards membership. the
figures being IL, 600 in round numbers.
Regarding the decrease in production one
of the members of the Omaha union says: I'm
the first place foreign competition has much to
do with 1t. The smoking public is divided into
two classes, the wealthy who can afford an
expensive smoke and the middle and lower
classes who indulge in the cheaper grades of
cigars. The former smoke great deal
more thau the latter as matter of course.
The cigars smoked py the former
are imported in manufactured
state instead of being sent here in the shape
of raw material. They can be manufac-
tured much cheaper abroad than at home,
because labor is cheaper. If the duty on the
manufactured article was Increased and
that on the raw material lowered, then the
trades mentioned would be manufactured IN
this country instead of abroad. This would
help us some. The labor unions could mate
rally assist us if they would. They could
create n demand for union made cigars sim
ply by going into places where they are not
kept and asking for them. know of an in
stance where dealer who mt one time re-
fused positively to handle union made goods
now handles no other Some Of the boys
noticed that all his cigars were of scab man
ufacture. Then they organized and went
for him Every day three or four people in
bunch would go in and ask for cigar.
When he would set up his box they would
hunt for the union LABEL and not finding 1t
would refuse TO buy. Now ho only handles
union,ma goods, and says he wouldn't sell
any other.
"As n rule, the second class saloons are
our best friends. They all sell union made
cigars. The away-up places do not. or
course their imported havanas are not,
neither are the domestics. We don't ask
them 10 forego imported cigars, but If they
would handle union made dOmestics 1t would
be great thing for us, The Omaha unions
are helping us all they can and we appreciate
their efforts
Speaking of the union the annual meeting
OF which Is now In session III New York city,
new arrangement regarding representa-.
tion has been made. Unions with u member
ship OF 100 are now entitled TO a delegate,
whereas membership of 200 was formerly
required
The consolidation Of the employees of the
Union Pacific road into one body known as
the brotherhood of Railway Employees
which has been under consideration for
some time, has at last been accomplished,
and the brotherhood of Engineers which
meets in Denver October 10 viii have
chance 10 ratify or reject the action of the
Union Pacific englrsars "a 1t sees tit.
The movement is purely west
ern one and will. no doubt, bevigorouly
opposed by Chief Arthur's supporters who
still adhere TO his principle, mo entangling
nllauces with other trades.n Western men,
however who are opposed TO his re election,
will advocate ratification OF the movement