The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-09-19


., The call wen t
- -A 0'NN' forth from St.
Louis, and after months of work was
answered by Il convention of delegates
from twelve formerly scattered and
isolated unions. They met in this city
Aug. IL, 1881, and from that day to this
we have been making a new history for
the downtrodden mechanics in our once
honored craft.
Though nine years old as an organiza-
tlon, this convention will make the sixth
general convention we have held. The
first two years we met annually in con-
vention. First in 1881 at Chicago, and
next in 1882 at Philadelphia. Then we
adopted the system of biennial conven-
tions, and since then have met, in 1884
at Cincinnati; in 1886 at Buffalo, and in
1888 at Detroit.
The number of local unions now under
our jurisdiction is 697 in good standing,
with 1880 enrolled members and d
magnificent roster of 53,769 beneficial
members, being a net gain in the past
two years of 259 new unions and 25,353
new members, gain of 80 per cent. in
new unions and 36 per cent. in member
ship. This places the United Brother
hood in the front rank of labor organiza-
tions. 1t is now the largest and most
powerful organization, numerically, of
any special trade in the whole civilized
world. And its growth is unparalleled,
in like time, by any trade union on earth.
All that now remains is to perfect it's
financial resources to be equal to any
occasion, and the United Brotherhood
will be as invulnerable as it is mas
sive.
In the past two years we have expend-
ed $57, ,S42.49 for death and disability
benefits, fully one-half of all ever paid
out by us for that purpose. This makes
in all the sum of Sill 1,517.65 paid out in
benefits from our general Office in the
seven years the system has been in
operation. Over S235,OOO more was
paid out for sick benefits in the same
time by the local unions.
The past year we expended ST, 1927. .49
in support of trade movements, in
strikes and against lockouts, where we
spent only $4,170 the year previous.
This year we won IA strikes, involving
81 APO carpenters, union and non-union
men, and lost 8 strikes, involving about
1880 carpenters. Last year we won 79
strikes out OF 50 we engaged in. The
great eight hour movement on May 1,
this year. was the cause of the many
strikes we had this season. And the re-
suits after all are very gratifying, for
through this we have gained largo
number of new unions and thousands of
new members, and advanced the wages
and reduced the hours of labor in numer-
GUS cases.
In four years we have advanced the
wages of carpenters in 413 cities twenty
five to seventy-tive cents per day, which,
for the union and non-union men inter
ested, amounts to five and a half million
dollars per year more wages to the car
penters in those places.
Besides that we have reduced the hours
of labor to eight hourse per day in 81
cities, and to nine hours per day in
234 cities, not to count 260 cities which
now have the rule of eight or nine hours
a day on Saturdays. This reduction in
the hours of labor alone has given en-
ployment to 1900 more carpenters, who,
had it not been for this movement made
by our organization, would be on the
streets idle and penniless. These figures
speak volumes in favor of the United
and it's work, and are in
themselves powerful argument in favor
of trade unions.
Since our convention two years ago at
Detroit an immense work has been ac-
We have spread the gospel
Of organization among the carpenters
in every town and hamlet; we have
scattered printed leaflets and labor
literature far and wide; we have placed
stirring speakers out on the road, and
Iave inspired spirit of noble and sturdy
among the carpenters which
N time will brook none of the imposi-
lions and wrongs of old.
In scores of towns we have advanced
wages and reduced the hours of labor,
while with a fraternal hand as trade
lnion men we have taken care of our
sick and distressed members, and by
timely aid we have helped to lift the
lark gloom of death from the widowed
md fatherless of our deceased brothers.
In the front rank of industrial battle
his year our members have stood with
lndaunted courage as pioneers in the
world wide movement for shorter hours
# labor. And though defeated in a
ew instances, the grand army of VIC
ories won will be an inspiration for the
uture, and the few defeats of this sea-
on we are satisfied next year will be
urned into cheering success.
OF the 697 local unions, 81 are located
n Canada, Al are on the Pacific coast,
OF are in the southern states az of
which are composed entirely of colored
nen), S5 are located in the New England
tates, 20s in the middle states, and 229
re in the western states.