The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-22

mons Presides at the Meeting.
Addresses by Hon. G. ben johnson
and Captain Moir.
At Davis theater, last night, a mass
meeting of carpenters was held under
the auspices of Branch 563, of the
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join
ers, which was addressed by their most
prominent member, p. j. Mcguire, of
Philadelphia, who is national secretary
and treasurer and also first vice presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor. The attendance was large.
Colonel f. j. Fitzslmmons presided
and made a brief opening address in
his usual eloquent and effective style,
and also a felicitous Introduction of the
speaker of the evening.
Mr.. Mcclure said he did not come
here with potent remedy for the ills
of the workingman. He had rested
from trying to solve the labor question
and was now bending his energies to
effect the amelioration of their dis
tressed condition that they might in
due time solve the question for them
selves. &C..
Il am not here tonight" he went on
to say, "to find fault with the capital
list, but to reproaoh the workingman
for not interesting himself in his own
betterment. Trades unions are be-
yond the conception of the working
man.If this was not so there would be
more of them associated with the
unions. Only eight per cent. of the la
Dor in this country is organized. The
ic oil iopN Of
or Indifferent to the benefits of organ
ization."
AS proof of the benefits of organ
ization, Mr.. Mcclure contrasted the
condition of various trades as they
were twenty years ago and as they are
today. In this city before the advent
of the trades unions the carpenters
were working ten hours day for what
ever wages they could get. Now they
want nine hours and receive the rate
of wages they demanded. The spin
ners in New England through their
strong organizations receive 80 per
cent more wages than they did some
few years ago, while the weavers,
who allowed their union TO go to decay,
through lack of interest, have suffered
such reductions in wages that they
weavers Of Lancashire.
MACHINISTS AN EXAMPLE.
The machinists allowed their organ
ization to so by default, but the re-
duction of their wages and other de-
moralizing results caused them in des-
peration to make a supreme effort to
regain their lost prestige and power.
Nl,.n t. II, 4 ~
machnists will make an effort to es-
tablish an eight hour day all over the
country for men of their craft
Fewer hours of work. Mr.. Mcclure
argued, means employment for great
er number of people. If the 6,00O0 900
laboring men of this country would
do less work. that is have shorter work
ing days there would not be 100000
workingmen looking for employment.
If the two-thirds would work a little
less the one-thifd would be able 10
do something.
He then went into the causes of the
present deplorable condition of the
workingmen in this country. Among
them he mentioned the importation of
cheap labor and in discussing the i'm
migration question said the Lodge bill
was about the proper solution of the
difficulty.
The depression in the carpenter
trade he ascrlbed to the general panic
from which the country is just recover
ing and also to such particular causes
as the substitution of iron and steel
for wood in the construction OF build
ings; to the cheap labor factories of
the West and Northwest which with
the aid of labor saving machinery do
much that the carpenter was wont do,
and to the indifference of the carpen-
ters to their own interests.
Mr. Mcclure described the "hoaray"
strike of olden times in a humorous
way, and characterized it as the old
trade-unionism. The watchword of the
new unionism, he said, is I'm times
of peace prepare for war" The mod
ern trades union, however, he said,
was a restraint upon strikes and as
a proof of this he stated that in the
early days of the carpenters union
from $4,000 to 100000 was spent in a
year for the assistance of strikers,
while last year strikes cost the union
only So, 300
| NUMBER OF TRADES UNIONISTS.
There are now 100000 men affiliated
with trades unions or like organiza-
tions in this country, he said The car
| penters' union during the last three
| months has added 3,40O members to its
rolls. He urged all carpenters to asso-
ciate themselves with the union. In
addition to the protection accorded
| labor, 1t has an insurance feature. A
/ member who suffers total disability
while in the pursuit Of his trade re-
ceives $4O0 Sick benefits are paid and
| there is also a funeral fund.
In concluding Mr.. Mcclure urged the
members to make a study of politics
so that they might understand both
sides and be able to choose between
| them.
There was also brief addresses by
Hon. C. Ben Johnson and Captain
James Moir; solos by Joshua Johns
and Philip Thomas and a either and
guitar duet by Messrs. Ross and Freid
erich.