Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-20
MAY COME HERE.
Talk Of Moving Cigar Makers M
tional Headquarters to This City.
Vice PRESIDENT WOODS PREFERENCES
An Organization That Has Discussed
Millions of Dollars.
IT'S INTERESTING HISTORY

A movement is on foot to remove the
headquarters of the International Cigar
Makers Union, which at present are To-
Gated in Chicago, to this city.
If the movement is successful, it will be
largely due to the influence of Vice Presi-
dent James Wood of Binghamton, N. Y,
who has been in Washington for some days
past in the interest of the organizat ton, of
which he is one Of the leading officers.
In conversation with Star reporter AR
Wood said that he had visited all the prin-
cipal cities, well smaller towns in the
United States, and had found none that
seemed to be well suited to all the pur-
poses for which the union was organized
as Washington. Whether Mr.. Wood shall
be successful in having the headquarters
of the International Cigar Makers Union
established here or not he is, he said, so
charmed with Washington, it's people and
Its environments, that he has about de-
termined to make this his future home.
Ihe International Cigar Makers Union is
regarded by all trade union organizations
On TINS continent as a model of good imam
clal management, and evidence of
what can be accomplished by thorough dis
cipline.
The union dates it's existence from June
p, 1854 when representatives from local
unions in thirteen or fourteen of the states,
situated between Illinois and The Atlantic
coast, met in Baltimore, and formed the
nucleus Of what has since become one of
the strongest societies INF the world. Prior
to that event, said Vice President Wood to
Star reporter, the cigar makers of the
United States were regarded by large
portion of the population as being anything
but a desirable class of citizens This was
owing to the small wages they received,
the long hours they were compelled to
ri.
the case that If cigar maker had a wife
ana children he compelled them to assist
him in the factory 1t was unreasonable
to blame the poor man for doing this, as he
was compelled to do so in order to exc out
a meager existence. This was the state of
anairs for many years previous to the
Sembling OF the convention in Baltimore,
in 1884. 1t is true that for some time prior
to this the cigar makers We're organized
into isolated unions, but this system of
organization had proved valueless as far as
was concerned.
The First Convention.
Early in 1864 Adolph Strasser, a Hun
garian living in New Haven. Conn. who
had given the subject Of the condition of
the craft much serious attention, but who
was too poor to travel from city to city
and explain to the various unions his plans
for benehting the trade, sent to each union
to a convention to be held in Baltimore
whose object should be to discuss the ad-
Visibility OF combining the entire MEM
bership of the craft throughout the United
States into one organization. The conven-
ton met, StraSSer explained his plans,
which were adopted unanimously, and
Strasser was elected president, a position
which he held until he retired voluntarily
fourteen years later During this period
the headquarters of the union were in New
York city. but in 1870 they were removed
to Chicago, wheres they have since re-
manned.
per month. but it was soon found that
they were too low and inadequate to cope
With the existing conditions, one Of which
was that they We're able to pay members
but S. week in the case of a strike or
lockout The aim was to place the union
ON good financial basis as soon as the
membership could be educated up to that
point, and from time to time the dues were
increased from % cents a month to wha.
they are at presents cents a week.
Millions Discussed.
The results accomplished under the sue
cessive raising of dues far exceeded the
most sanguine expectations of those who
advocated them. But, while they were, as
stated, from time to time increased, the
benefits were also increased In 1880 the
travelling benefit was instituted. Under
this the man who is out OF work and de-
sires to so to another city to seek employ
ment can get an advance from his local
union of sufficient funds to pay his rail-
road fare and so cents besides, which
amount he has to return at the rate of
ten per cent Of his weekly earnings until the
entire amount is refunded. In 1881 a sick
and death benefit was created under the
terms of which man entitled thereto can
draw f1ve dollars per week for thirteen
weeks. If out of work a member Is en-
titled to three dollars per week for twenty
six weeks, while the death benefit ranges
from fifty to five hundred and fifty dollars
according to the length of time a man has
been connected with the organization
Since the organization of the inferno tional
union there have been paid out from the
general treasury the following sums: Strike
benefits. 1913 1123s; sick benefits. s7s1 ,975.51:
death. $2s7 .16S.9; travelling, $54s, 1876 81; out
Of work, s325,364.75; making a total Of
81, 522,37S.4O.
The following will illustrate what. 1t ia
claimed, has been achieved in almost eyery
large city: At the time of the organizatio
OF the local union in Chicago, less than
twenty years ago. the members of the craft
were receiving from dollar and a half to
s. per thousand for making cigars and were
compelled to take their wages in cigars
For these they had to pay their employer
from to 10 per cent more than he sold
similar cigars for to the trade, and at the
same time they had to sell their goods from
to 10 per cent less than the manufacturer
Nor was this the worst, for those who took
their cigars charged them from 10 to 10 per
cent more for the goods wanted by the cigar
makers than if they had had the cash to
pay with.
Now the cigar makers of that civ are
receiving $3.50 per thousand for the same
class of cigars which they formerly made
for a dollar and half, and from S12 to SIS
per thousand for the s. kind. They also get
their pay in United States currency, and
| work but eight hours per day, whereas be-
fore the union was formed they not only got
very much less pay, but worked from twelve
to fifteen hours per day.
Condition of the Union.
There are now 3s4 local unions, located in
every section Of this country and Canada,
having total membership of more than
$4,000 members. and an excess of $500, 1000 In
bonds in the national treasury. 1t is stated
that the average yearly earnings of each
member Of "a q