Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-04
HONEST LABOR.
PLENTY OF WORK FOR SKILLED
MEN.-SOME INTERVIEWS.
Labor Unions and Their Growing Intiu-
ence.-Painters, Paper Hangers, sign
Painters, Etc.-Accident Insur
anCe Scheme.
LABOR CNIONS.

IN his visits to the laboring men of Fort
Worth the reporter has been courteouSly
met and has found the mechanics 10 be
industrious men. Many of them take pride
IN their work and are pleased to lind that
they are recognized as the great foundation
stone OF this country by the press and the
public. They are willing TO welcome boys
TO their trades and offer them assistance IN
their efforts to become expert and skilled
mechanics. However, the best class OF
workmen are members OF unions and expect
beginners to work under the influence
and cOntroi of their unions. As labor
unions are part of the age,
powerful as time fits by, boys desiring TO
learn any kind of 4 trade should use eau
ton in their applications for employment.
Even when there is no necessity of express
ing fratelnal feeling toward a union and
when the boy can retain u position IN non
union shops, it is by far better for the be-
ginner TO cultivate friendly and social rela-
tons with union men and evade any enmity
that may arise during labor disturbances.
PAINTERS AND PAPER HANGERS.
The reporter this week interviewed Mr..
o. G.. White, who is an industrious painter.
He said; Under the head of paint
ing can be considered at least
nine different trades. from the Texan
point of view, viz. brush hand, mixer,
NltSt Nbl htI- lidIt-hbOu IllllStltI, diner
%lazier, decorator sign painter and paper
hanger.
Sign painters are born, and unless the
boy has genius he will never be an expert.
Excepting this one class paper hanging IS
the best branch. and when a man is both
decorator and paper hanger he will always
be in demand.
The painters have union here. which is
recognized by all the tirst-claSS shops. The
union excludes ''fiunkeys,' - or incompetent
worklnen. that try TO work in the shops,
and this results in the ''dauberS'' entering
into business on their own hook.
We have many small contractors in the
union, but they are men who know their
trade
The brotherhood, OF which the Fort
Worth union is branch. contains about
three hundred local unions, mostly in the
United States but there are Il few unions
in Canada.
Three years is the maximum time for an
apprentice to serve: but some apprentices
receive full wages IN two years"
ACCIDENT BENEFITS.
The Columbus, Ind, Cerealine mauufact-
uring company has inagurated benefit
system of its own that is not satisfactory
10 the laborers employed in the mill.
On the 29th of April the COM
pany issued Il circular to its en-
ployes, stating that, owing to the fact that
accident insurance was attended with
considerable cost and that accidents in the
mill We're becoming more numerous. the
company had decided to pay its employees
full wages and furnish medical attendance
during confinement of the employe in case
of injury. the confinement benefit not to
exceed fifty weeks or full years wages
if any employe is killed or should die
from the effects of wounds received, the
company to pay funeral expenses. in
other words the company has established 4
system of accident insurance, the insurance
to be paid to the workman when injured,
whether at home, on the street, or in
the mill. and in order to create Il
fund dues will be deducted from
the wages of the worllmen on every pay
day.
Notwithstanding the fact that dues are
light, the wOrkmen object to the plan and
are seriously considering strike.