The times., 1899-05-06
WHY SECRETARY KYLE
RESIGNS TIE CHAIR
His Explanation to the IN
dustrial Commission.
Witnesses Heard on Mining and
the Cigarmaking Trade.
The Advantages of Organization
Made Clear by Experimentation
Conditions in Illinois.

George w. Perkins, of Chicago, Presi-
dent of the Cigarmakers' International
Union of America, and David Ross, Secre-
tary of the Bureau of Labor Statistics OF
Illinois, occupied the attention of the In
dustrial Commission as witnesses yester-
day. Mr.. Perkins spoke particularly of
his craft, and Mr.. Ross on the general la
Dor situation in Illinois, with special ref
erence to the mining industry.
Senator Kyle's resignation from the.
craftsmanship of the Commission was re-
ceived. The Commission will act on the
resignation next Monday. and, if accepted,
a new chairman will doubtless be chosen
at that time. The letter. addressed to
Hon. Thomas W. Phillips, of the Commits
sion is as follows:
Aberdeen, s D., April 80. 1890
After thorough canvass OF the situation have
decided to present my resignation Chairman of
the Industrial Commission. The reason for this
step is continued ill-heaith, or the failure to
reeuperate as rapidly as | had hoped. My sena-
torial duties are arduous and command almost
my entire time during vacation. and anticipate
that the long session approaching will leave me
little time for outside work. ] regret this step
very much as | regard the work TO be accomplish
ed by the Commission as all-important and in
carry the work to successful termination is GER
tainly worth any mans ambition. But cannot
longer assume the responsibility attached to the
duties of chairman, believe such officer should
give his entire and continuous time TO this posi-
tion. For this reason | suggest that YOU select
Tor your chairman who can give his undivided
attention TO the work before us. Kindly present
my resignation to the Commission, and express
the hope that our Investigations may be carried
on rapidly and successfully.
Mi. Perkins concluded his testimony
with the morning session. He has been
connected with the cigar trade for twenty
two years. and explained in detail the
workings OF the union and the conditions
of the trade in general. There are q 900
members of the international union in this
country. The union collects annually from
its members about $500,00O, which is kept
in the hands of the local unions. This
money is for death, sick, out of work,
strikes, and other purposes, and its dis
bursement Is governed by the laws of the
local unions During the past nineteen
years $4500,O00 has been paid out in ben
efits. In 1SS4-5 S205.0 was paid out for
strike benefits. This was occasioned by
the great strike in Cincinnati at that ime.
Mr.. Perkins was a thorough believer in
the organization of labor. He did not
consider that organization took away the
personal liberty of its members, saying
of contract through organization The
Cigarmakers' Union at the present time is
one OF the strongest organizations of the
country, and less difficulty is experienced
by their demands upon their employers
than in most other crafts. They have re-
duced their hours of labor and increased
their pay.
Mr.. Ross, Statistician of the Labor Com
mission of Illinois, occupied the attention
miciS ri tha
session. Mr.. Ross went into the coal mines
as worker when he was nine years old
and continued in that avocation until he
was elected to the State Legislature
Alter serving his term In that capacity he
practiced law for several years and was
appointed to his present position in 1888.
In speaking of the mining industry he
called attention to the lockout at verdon,
ILL.,, thirteen months ago, saying that incl
dent was an important event in the his
tory OF industrial organizations through
out the country. Mr.. Ross related the in
cidents of that strike. He justified the
action of Governor Tanner in refusing to
| allow the Importation of contract labor
from other States, by saying that it would
be contrary to the rights of the people to
bring undesirable citizens into State
under an armed force, which did not rep
resent the State. Mr.. Ross said the lpce
| question did not enter into Governor Tan
ners decision on this matter. The negroes
brought in were not allowed to disembark.
and the experience gained by the miners
organization through this difficulty had
convinced them of the advisabiity of pre-
| pairing themselves financially for another
| such occurrence, and had led to the estab-
| lishment of a common fund by the Mine
| Workers Union.
| Mr. Ross was not fully convinced that
! the incorporation of trades union was de-
sirable. 1t might in some way be bene-
! ficial but in others detrimental. He was
| opposed both to the blacklist and boycott.
He was in favor of compulsory arbitration.
| Mr.. Ross was decidedly opposed to the
use of injunctions in strikes. A procedure
of this kind had always failed TO accom-
| plish what it was intended to do.
The weekly pay day had been decidedly
beneficial TO the wage-earning class There
is a law in Illinois which declares that
wages shall be paid in lawful money, but
the law has not abolished company stores.
These stores, however, had not worked to
the detriment of the miners in Illinois,
as they had in other States. He cited one
store which sold goods at lower prices
than the cash stores.
Funeral of DR.. Carpenter.