The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-07
SIX THOUSAND EMPLOYED.
Fred Detheridge of Boston
Here to Start a
Branch.

The energies Of the promoters of one
of the Youngest of national labor or
CARNATIONS. the International Union of
Steam Engineers of America, are to be
expended in this city, Wednesday, when
Fred w. Detheridge, vice president of
Boston Engineers union and special
district organizer, will begin his work
of organizing a Worcester union OF en-
gineers. Until the Machinists' union
was formed, the machine shops of this
city, giving work to more than 5000 men,
had no organization of employees. En-
playees not eligible to membership in
the Machinists' union, are largely steam
engineers and the new union will in
clude these
The International Union of Steam
Engineers is but three years old, and
its membership is a little more than
$500, but a persistent effort is being
directed towards building up unions in
New England. Mr.. Detheridge believes
that union with membership of so
can be launched in this city in a few
days.
One Of the objects of the organization
is, ito rescue our craft from the low
level to which it has fallen, and by mu-
tual effort, will endeavor to place our
selves on foundation sufficiently
strong to resist further encroachments.
we propose to encourage a higher
standard of skill among our members,
to cultivate feelings of friendship
among the men of our craft, and to as
sist each other in securing employment
to reduce the hours of labor to secure
a higher standard of wages for work
performed, and by legal and proper
means to elevate the moral, intellec-
tual and social condition of our mem
| bers, and to do our utmost to extend a
uniform license law.
Following is part of the declaration
of principles: We as a body thoroughly
approve of the American Federation of
Labor, and pledge ourselves to give it
our earnest and hearty support. Mem
bers of this Organization should make it
a rule when purchasing goods, to call
for those which bear the trade mark of
organized labor, and when any individ-
ual, firm or corporation shall strike a
| blow at labor organizations they are
earnestly requested to give that individ-
| ual, firm or corporation their careful
consideration. No good union man can
| KISS the GOQ that WHIPS ulIi.
1T is of Importance that members
| should vote intelligently, hence the
! members should strive to secure legis.
| lation in favor of those who produce
the wealth of the country. We hold il
as a sacred principle that trade union
men, above all Others should set q
! a good example as good and faithful
workmen performing their duties tC
their. employees with honor to them
selves and their organization.
I'VE hold that a reduction of the
hours of labor increases the happiness
and intelligence of the laborer, and also
increases the demand for labor and the
| price of a days work. We object to
prison contract labor, because it puts
! the criminal in competition with hon
orable labor for the purpose of cutting
down wages and also because it helps
to overstock the market
I'VE are opposed to any system of
grading license or wages, as we deem
| the same demoralizing to the trade and
| further incentive to useless competi-
ton, having the ultimate tendency,
| when work is scarce, to allow the first
| class men to offer their labor at second
and third class prices. We hold that
the plan of fixing a minimum price for
days work is the safest and best,
and let the employer grade the wages
ABOVE Cndl llllnluluili, anu NSChAy pay :
ment of wages in all cases when practi-
cable, should be adopted"
Mr.. Detheridge, in conversation with
The Spy man. said; II have selected
Worcester because I believe it the CEN
tire of the machine industry, and big
field from which to secure members.
The national organization is young, but
rapidly growing and thus far we have
managed to avoid trouble with en-
ployers. When a union is organized
in Worcester on a firm basis, it will be
an ideal centre for the trade unions
movement"
The new union may draw members
from Worcester Association, Stationary
Engineers, but no clash is predicted,
because the association is purely for
educational and social purposes, and en-
gineers can hold membership in both.