Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-13

employees of the cigar trust are females and the great majority minors.
 The labor union is a protest against injustice and greed. Let it not fall others
 Telegraph rates in the United States average double those in Europe. This is caused by public ownership to quite an extent in the latter.
 The cotton spinners of England be- lieve in high dues. They have mem bership of S2.000, average SIP per week wages and pay A cents of this in dues. They have defense fund of $2,OO0,OOO.
 Regular meeting of Typographical union, No 329, at Buffers and Polish CTS hall this evening at 8 o'clock There should be a large attendance as the annual election of officers will take place at this time.
 The recently organized Walters un- ion in New Haven now numbers S1 members and is in a prosperous condi- fion. The Hackmen's union in that city, which is also a comparatively young one, is proving very beneficial to those engaged in that line of busi- ness.
 The total number of employees who were involved ard were thrown out of employment from strikes in the past twenty years was 6,105, ,694. In the 1O3, ,O00 establishments in which strikes were ordered by labor leaders the strik- CTS gained their demands in 54,000 or over 5 per cent. they succeeded partly in 13 per cent of the balance and failed entirely in 8 per cent of the cases
 The injustice of limiting the num- Der of apprentices by trades-unions is receiving some hard knocks these days, and principally from those who never performed a days manual labor. If they would turn their attention to the proper restriction of immigration and secure the passage of just laws in this line many of the restrictions regarding apprentices could and would be re- moved.
 William Coffey, one of the English trade unionists sent to this country to observe American conditions, expressed surprise that here. when every man has a vote, then should be no members of congress elected expressly to represent the wage workers. To hear the talk of the candidates prior to election one
 
 one and all for election was for that very purpose.
 A strike for longer hours is some thing a little out of the ordinary, but such was the case with the New Lon don ship carpenters last week. About 40 carpenters employed by the East ern Shipbuilding Co had their hours reduced from 10 to 91k, with half an hours pay deducted. They refused to work unless they received full pay, and after being out foIs a couple of days were put back to work on the full 10 hours.
 William Potter, who was expelled from the Schenectady Painters un- ion for serving in the National Guard in time of strike and who secured an injunction against Frank 0. Sheffer. president of that union, compelling him to re-instate him last week, is now a member of that organization again, but has charges against him for working for wage below the scale, and will probably be expelled again.
 ''The difference between union and scab labor" says Samuel Gompers, is the non-union man bargains for his work at the factory door, and the needs of the poorest and meanest among the number is the basis of the pay for the entire force The union man bargains for his wage in the of flee of his employer, and the average demands, average hopes and average conception of the rights of his fellow employees are made the basis on which the work of the entire number is cal culated."
 Many, no doubt, will be surprised to learn that the largest manufactory of cigars in the great state of Ohio is within the walls of the Ohio peniten- tfary, nurtured, fostered, and encourag- ed by the state. and operated by con tractors to whom the labor of the con- vict is farmed out at such a low price for their labor as to enable the con tractors to undersell all competitors in the market These goods are handled almost exclusively by wholesale gro cers, from whence they are distributed ua over the country.
 At the meeting of the Buffers and P0lishers' union Thursday evening six candidates were initiated and 15 ap- plfcatiOns received. The sum of S25 was voted to those out on strike at Holmes & Edwards Bridgeport, and more will be sent if needed. The mat ter of union men refused employment at the Novelty works was taken up and a committee appointed to look in to the matter The committee wait cd on the manager of the factory Fri day, but were refused recognition. Doubtless this will not end fho m a frte,-