The times., 1899-03-26
FACTS ABOUT THE
WALKING Delegate
His Heavy Responsibilities
and Hard Work.
No Better Paid Than the Men in
His Trade.
Regins His Duties Early and Must
Have Tact, Skill. and
Horse Sense.

The walking delegate is the agent or
business representative of trades union.
and generally the hardest-worked man in
the organization which he represents. Far
from being a bed of roses. as is currently
supposed. the position OF the walking dele
gate is one that keeps him busy during tie
day and often far into the night. and
places upon him responsibilities that he
cannot evade or shirk. no matter how
heavy they may prove to be. And in re-
turn for all this he receives about the same
wages as the men in the trade which he
represents.
The position of walking delegate is an
elective one, and the term Of Office in all
unions is generally six months. Some deie-
gates do not last their term out, as they
can be removed for cause before the ex-
piration of the six months. while others
are reelected term after term and con-
tinue to represent their organizations for
many years.
Walking delegates may be divided into
Two classes, one representing outdoor
workmen, such as the building trades, and
The other the employees of shops and facto-
ries. The duties Of both classes are much
alike, although the manner of performing
them necessarily differs in many particu-
lars.
Beginning Work Early
The walking delegate of building trade
begins his days work early, as he often
has TO be at building where men of his
union are employed before a. m-,to adjust
some slight difference which has arisen be-
tas,1r nd ,,1t,ln He ha n
card which admits him to all buildings un-
der construction, and his presence is no
longer looked upon as odd or annoying by
the foreman or other representatives of
the bosses. There are a variety of things
which may call a delegate to building
II may be simply to collect monthly dues
and punch the cards Of the members of his
union employed there. or it may be to pro-
test against the employment OF non-union
workmen on the structure If it is the
first case the work of the delegate is soon
accomplished and he quickly goes his way
to visit some other building. If It should
be the other case, however, the matter be-
comes more serious and the delegate be-
comes not unrnindful of the fact that he
may have a hard and difficult task before
him.
His mode of procedure is generally as
superintendent of the building and ac-
Quaints him with the fact that he has nom
union men employed, and that if he does
not Immediately discharge them he-the
delegate-will call his men out. The fore
man or superintendent may see immedi-
stely the advisability of giving way TO the
demand OF the delegate or he may not. II
he concludes that the presence Of the nom
union men is not necessary to his welfare
ar,l rtav thnxr trtrr drift nd
the matter between himself and the dele
gate is soon adjusted. II, on the other
hand, he decides to keep the men at work
he tells the delegate so in few words,
he seeks by subterfuge to delay final ac-
ton as long as possible TO gain time.
1t is then that the really difficult work of
the walking delegate begins. in which it
may be necessary for him to use all the
tact, skill, diplomacy and horse sense at
his command He may make good his
threat to call his men out or not, but
whichever course he pursues he knows
that he may make q mistake that will cost
his union dearly and possibly end his ca
reer as a delegate. II there are only few
non n-union men at work and the building is
so nearly completed that calling his men
out would not materially delay its compile
tion. he may conclude that discretion is
the better part of valor and retire from
board of delegates, Of which he is mem
Der. Should the conditions be Just the re-
verse and he concludes that the bosses wi /
be seriously Handicapped II he calls his
men out, he adopts the latter course and
the fight is then on.
His next course is to acquaint the union
with what he has done, and also the board
of delegates At its next meeting. In the
mean time he may call on the bosses and
try to come to some agreement with them,
or he may ask the board of delegates to
appoint a committee to do this But be
this as IL may, a strike is on. and as long
as ii lasts the delegate will be kept ex-
ceedingly busy, and his days, and possibly
his nights, will be full of anxiety and
trouble.
The Uncertainties of a Strike.
When strike is once started there is no
telling how long it will last or how far
reaching may be its effects. 1t may endure
for few days only or it may last for
months. Il may be confined to the men of
one trade. or IL may extend to a large
number of trades and throw thousands of
men out of work all over the city. But no
matter what happens, the delegate realizes
that ne Will be held responsible for it all,
and the wisdom OF his action or the lack
of IL will be passed upon by an impartial
jury Of his peers. II the strike is of short
the cap of the delegate, DUt IL it is long
and costly and the men are finally beaten
the delegate receives a black eye which
ends his usefulness as a representative of
his union, and he reiires from office to
labor once more a journeyman worker
This is one OF the things which causes
the walking delegate TO proceed with eau
tion in the matter OF ordering strikes and
also shows that his Office is no such sine
cure as 1t is commonly supposed TO be-
The duties of the delegates of the fac
tory and shop trades are much the same as
those outlined for the building trades In
some OF the shop trades. however many
women are employed. who are organized
and who have their own delegates One OF
these trades is that devoted to the tai oring
industry of the East Side The women de-
egates perform the duties of their office
much the same as do the men. and often
show much tact and ready wit in evading
4snags and pitfalls.
The walking delegates OF the but ding
trades have an organization known as the
board of delegates. and part OF their
manifold duties is to attend the meetings
OF the board, which are held twice a week
IN times of peace and quietness. When the
board in beset by strikes and similar trou-
bies II often holds daily meetings, and
some of the sessions last many hours. In
time of strikes the delegates are expected
10 state at these meetings the feelings of
their unions. A delegate whose union is
on strike may call on the board for assist
ance. and IL can order sympathetic strikes
and call out every union 1t represents IL it
sees fit The beard has full power in the
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