The Advocate and news., 1898-01-26
PRESIDENT GOMPERs ON TIRE CON-
DrTION OF LABOR,

1bAyAOnihC FFeBlueMJ GOmpeFb OA tho AAh0A-
lcan Federation Of Labor reviews the labor
condItlOn during the past year and the out
look for 1893 as fOlIOwsi
The organization OF trade unions may
be taken as safe barometer OF the in
dustrial development and progress Of
any country. As lung-breathing ami
mails cannot live in vacuum, so trade
unions cannot grow, or even exist, In
countries In which industry Is unde-
veIoped. Within the past year the trade
dnions affiliated with the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor increased nearly $4,000
In membership and together with the
membership of isolated or independent
trade unions the increase has been
about $4,000. Such an increase could
not have occurred unless the wage
earners had more readily found en-
plOyment. Taking into consideration
the long terms OF unemployment and
the consequent poverty of the workers,
the large increase In membership and,
also, taking the reports which organi-
cations make as to the relative number
employed in their respective trades
over any time Just previous to the spring
and midsummer Of 1897, 1t is not wide
OF the mark to say that the number of
unemployed has steadily been reduced
10 about One-half or, that nearly l,OOO,-
600 workers found employment who be-
tween 1893 and 1897 were counted in
the "Army of the Unemployed"
Slowly the giant labor began to move
IN the spring Of the year for better con-
ditions, for higher wages, for better and
larger opportunities and hence for a
greater consuming power. This move
ment received its greatest momentum
by the miners strike for minimum
Ia livlng-wage The tide was turned
and from thence may be counted the
advance to a healthier and more sub
stantial industrial revival. AS an evil
dence let us cite the fact that within the
past four months more than $4,000 of
+the $4,000 Of the increased membership
referred to above joined our unions,
gwhile there were only about 10000 who
Joined the previous eight months.
AS to wage and other conditions the
: Following summary, gathered from OFF,
icial reports, may be interesting:
~ Building trades.--Wages in large cit
les no change, except in few branches,
since prior to 1893. Eight hours more
generally enforced
Producers Of building material
Wages increased not general about
per cent Reduction in several branches
from ten to nine hours.
Iron and steel manufacturing.-W
scale increased In a few instances, but
generally maintained. Eight hours per
day being generally introduced
Iron moulding. Wages maintained,
y and those paying below the scale raised
\ to the standard.
Seamen on Pacific coast and coast
wise trade.-Wages increased S5 per
month.
Freight handlers Cat mineral and
lumber centers). s).-Wages increased
about 10 per cent.
Printers.-Wages maintained despite
Introduction OF linotype machines.
"A Hours Of labor reduced
Tailors. in many instances
increased from to 10 per cent, gen.
erally otherwise maintained.
Garment workers. - Wages main
tained. Suffered greatly during panic.
Clerks and salesmen.-Wages main
tanned. Hours of labor reduced on an
average Of fourteen per week.
Metal workers and polishers.- Wages
maintained though reductions were
threatened.
Machinists--Wages increased (amount
not statedl for more than 5,OOO Reduc-
ing hours by abolshing overtime.
= Granite and other stone cutters.-In-
crease in wages In many cases amount
ing to 10 per cent. Reductions pre-
vented
Cigar makers and tobacco workers.
Wages maintained. Hours OF labor of
former eight; of latter ten per day.
Leather workers.-Wages increased 10
per cent. in few cases.
Coal miners.-Wages increased % per
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