Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-08
FORMIDABLE FIGURES
Rapid Growth of the Brotherhood of
Carpenters in a Short. Time.
P. J. INQUIRIES BIENNIAL REPORT.
A Machine at the Woods Run Mill That
Dispenses With a Rougher.
TROUBLE AHEAD AT AMERICAN WORKS

IhUUDuE AHEAU Al AMEhlCAN MUkhS
The biennial report of General Secretary
P. j. Mcclure, of the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners of America, just
out. contains some interesting figures on the
eight-hour day strike and on the general
condition of that body.
On the vote of the local unions on the
eight-hour question in September, 1889,
9,095 members were found to be in favor of
it and 1918 voted against continuing the
agitation. Three hundred and three unions
were for and "a against it. On the 18th of
March Of this year the Brotherhood was
selected by the Federation to lead the fight
in the movement. From that date a most
remarkable increase in the membership
followed. In March OF 1881, there were but
II local unions, with membership of 2, ,042
in the organization; since the 14th of March
this year 142 new unions have been added,
with numerical gain of 1920 men. On
the LIST of July the organization included
697 local unions in good standing, 1886
enrolled members, showing gain in two
years of 259 unions and %. 1853 new members.
NEARLY ALL STRIKES WON.
Out of 50 strikes last year 78 were won,
at cost of s4.170. These strikes had no
reference to the eight-hour movement. This
year, when. the generol demand for the
shorter hour was made, the organization won
IA strikes, involving 1926 men, and lost
8, affecting 1900 men. Or these IA secured
higher wages, AZ hours, 81 hours and Z
shorter hours on Saturday. The reduction
in the working hours has been effected, in
Sc cities to hours and in 234 to 9 hours.
This reduction has given employment to
1900 more carpenters, who would otherwise
port, forms powerful argument in favor of
trades unions.
'In few instances" says Mr.. Mcclure,
did locals 90 on strike against the wishes
of the General Executive Board. In such
instances as at Buffalo, Denver and Dayton,
they lost. The Detroit strike was over
powered by imported labor and want of
funds. The system of assessment provided
for by the Federation was entirely new to
the National Trades Unions affiliated. and
many Of them could not and cannot pay the
assessment until their national conventions
meet. Hence the Federation was crippled
to quite an extent, and the amount levied
on the unions was so small that the results
were not what they will be in the future
after the system is per 'ected by the next
convention of the Federation" :.
The amount of money spent in support of
trade movements for shorter hours last year
was $74, ,90s 76. In four years the Brother
hood advanced the wages of carpenters in
Alb cities from 25 to IS cents per day. This
is an increase OF So, ,250, 900 annually in
wages to the carpenters in those cities.
PARTAKERs OF BENEFITS.
There are 1859 members partaking of
benefits; $57 ,842 40 was expended in two
years for death and disability benefits from
the general office, and $235, 900 for sick ben
efts by local unions. The average of male
and female deaths was 6L per 1000. The
cost of the benefit system was 80 cents an
nually for each member, the sick ben
efts ranging from 81 to S6 per week
tor from 10 to 26 weeks. Local unions were
prompt in sending taxes to head Office. Out
oil 697 unions not more than "a every month
were delinquent to the extent of owing two
months taxes. New York State has 95
unions; Pennsylvania, 80; Massachusetts,,
SO; Illinois, So; Ohio, 40, and the Southern
States 107, of which II were entirely colored.
I0lTLV-ulue ulu uuslucSs III OcTmdu,
II in French, in Bohemian, 8 in Scandi-
navian, in Polish and 1 in Dutch. The
Brotherhood has jurisdiction in 604 cities in
the States and Canada.
"We have preserved our organization"
Mr.. Mcclure continues, from the insidious
attacks o. an overZealous and misguided
element in the labor movement, which
would fain wreck all trades unions in order
to have them become part and parcel of the
x. OF L. Our connection with the Amer
ican Federation of Labor is practical proof
that we believe in the solidarity and unity
of all organized labor. and this has given us
the good will and help of our sister trades
and labor organizations all over the land.
NO QUARREL WITH THEM.
"We have no quarrel with the knights of
Labor. In the preparatory work labored
hard to bring the Federation and knights
together to work on parallel lines. We had
saveral conferences, at which I was present,
but every effort was in vain to get the K. of
L. to work with the trades unions. Both
bodies have common interests, but, in the
and methods Of the K of L.
there are features which inherently prevent |
q harmony of action with the trades unions.
"If the Knights of Labor would only
confine itself to the original work OF Great |
ing "a healthy public sentiment on the |
question OF labor and all its interests it |
would have large field of work without |
trenching on the militant field of the trades |
unions. The educational work already done |
BY the knights, and for which they deserve |
due credit, will be more than offset if they |
pursue the disastrous course of encouraging |
strife and contention among the workers in |
The movement.
AS HE LOOKS AT 1T.
1.-The circular appeal issued this spring by |
General Master Workman Powderly in be- |
half of few hundred carpenters In Chica- |
ga who are Knights Of Labor, might have |
gone out to the members of that order with |
out containing slurs and inuendoes against |
,ur United Brotherhood. And II the
Knights of Labor, as body, could not give
US any assistance in the movement for
shorter hours, they might as we'll have
possessed themselves in peace, without at
tempting to belittle movement they could |
not direct, and which could not and never
will be deferred by adverse criticisms or
hollow mockery."
The report claims for the Brotherhood |
hat it is now the most powerful body OF any
specific trade in the world