Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-26
THE CIGARMAKERS' UNION
International Organization, With Thousands
on Its Membership Rolls.
Effort to Remove National Head
quarters to This City-Objects
of the Order,

The Cigarmakers' International Union of
America, 1t is claimed, Is one of the strong
est and best organized labor organizations
in the country, its influence extending ev-
erywhere, and its efforts largely are in the
agitation of the general acceptance of the
blue label, the sign of union-made cigars.
The national offices are located at Chicago,
H. with G. w. Perkins as president. An
effort was made to have the headquarters
moved to this city, and the movement in
TINS direction Is not yet at an end. The
next national convention, 1t is said, which
Will not be held for several years, Is apt
to witness the contamination of this pur-
pose. The other national officers are Sam
uel Gompers, first vice president, who is
also president of the American Federation
OF Labor; James Wood Cincinnati, Ohio
second vice president; ]. ]. Murphy, Ham
llton, Ontario, third vice president; Thomas
F. Tracy, Boston, Mass, fourth vice presi-
dent; l.. A. Bolio, Westfield, Mass, fifth
vice president; Samuel B. Hasson, Balti-
more. Md, sixth vice president; Charles
Specht, st. Louis, Mo-, seventh vice presi-
dent; Gibson Weber, Philadelphia, Pa,
treasurer.
The official report of the organization has
just been made public. 1t shows that the
total number of members January 1 of this
year was 26,341. which does not include the
travelling members. In all there are 4O1
country and Canada. The receipts of the
national organization for last year were
500. 4S6-0l. while the expenses were S514, =
24o.l1, leaving balance on hand of 1884,
24O.30. The organization has loans out
standing to its members aggregating $751;
6O1.20 During the last year for sick bene-
fits the sum of S112 463 was expended
among members. while others, through the
'out of work benefit, received total of
Silt .471.4O The death benefits for the
period amounted to 500, 1867. For the as
sistance of justifiable strikes the sum of
81 ,1i5.O9 was expended. total of S25,-
363. SO was expended in agitating the intro
duction of the blue label. and assistance
rendered to local unions by the internation-
al union involved an expenditure of $685.
76J additional.
The total benefits paid in 1896 amounted
to S424 1864, while for last year the total
amount paid was $40 674 SO. Since the or
ganization of the international union the
grand total of benefits paid amounts to
SO. us, 1856. IS.
The organization is represented in this
city by Union No. 10. which meets every
Saturday evening at 49, 18th street. 1t has
a membership Of siXty-eight, and during
last year the receipts amounted to SO .236 90.
The expenses amounted to 81. 1904, leaving
a balance on hand of S4S6.4S. The sum of
S665.50 was expended in ''out of work.
benefits, while $2S6.90 was given out for
sick benefits. The death benefits amounted
to $3.50 additional, while loans to the
amount of S216.65 were granted. The in
ternational union also received $3.50 of the
receipts.
The national organization is one of the
few labor associations which provides for
payment of its members when out of work,
or gives them a loan when II is desired, the
repayment of the same being on an easy
plan. When sick all members are given a
regular weekly benefit. an in case of death
a certain amount is paid to the family or
relatives of the deceased. the amount de-
pending entirely upon the time he has been
a member of the organization.