Waterbury Democrat., 1902-11-01

has the contract for the work in that
line in the Mullings block.
The open meeting of Brassworkers
union. No. 1876, on Thursday evening
was well attended and much enthu-
siasm was manifested Remarks were
made by several local labor leaders,
and Organizer O'Neill gave an inter-
esting address on the benefits to be de-
rived from unionism. The demand for
| application blanks was great anu No.
1o6 anticipates many new names to its
membership roll as a result of the
meeting.
| The BARRIERS union is to be congrat-
| ulated upon securing an agreement
with the Master BARRIERS association
for closing at IL p. m. on SATURDAY, as
well as other concessions. With the
possible exception Of the drug clerks
the BARRIERS probably work longer
hours than do those employed at any
other craft in the city, and in their
case reduction of hours was certain
ly needed. BY the way, the drug
clerks are also said to be looking for
something in this line.
Employers and employees getting to-
gether for friendly intercourse, as did
they at the smoker given by the Bar
| bers' union Monday evening cannot
| but be help in bringing about har-
mony and good telling. The Master
BARRIERS association was largely repre-
sented and an outsider would have
thought that a strike over a slight diff
/ ference of opinion between the two or
/ CARNATIONS was almost an impossible
/ ity. The delegates to the G. l.. u.
were also present in goodly number
after the adjournment of their meet
ing. and thoroughly enjoyed them
selves.
| Chicago is the labor union center Of
/ America. 1t is estimated that there
are 100000 working people in this
city, and 40 per cent Of that number
are members of the 525 different trade
unions In no other city is labor so
! thoroughly organized as in Chicago
about 85 per cent Of the various crafts
having been organized into trade un-
ions. During the past two years, the
most prosperous period Chicago has
ever seen, the labor organizations have
reached their greatest power and m
/ fuence. The increase in the number
Il u.
In the membership 400 per cent.
The New England Printing Trades
Journal says: "John Mitchell has
proved himself a man in the great
struggle with Morgan and his satellites
/ and the members of the United Mine
Workers have reason to be proud OF
their leader. In fact, Mr. Mitchell has
been credit to the whole trade union
movement Of the entire country His
remarkable good judgment. displayed
during all stages of the controversy,
means an advance of twenty five years
to the movement. His wise planning
and able generalship won the greatest
battle the world has ever seen. no less
than 100000 people being forced to
| participate in it. Mr. Mitchell may be
made governor of his state or presi-
dent of the United States Cbeing fully
copetent to fill either. but never again
Will he experience such a thrilling
period as when he brought the great
coal trust an humble supplicant at his
i feet-'e
! Strikes. after all, are not entirely a
modern production. In 1495 there was
strike among the tailors and turban
makers OF Constantinople. The sultan
was appealed to and twenty-six of the
/ strikers were hanged and the rest
drafted into the army. In 1883 work
men employed to tear down one Of the
suppressed monasteries in England re-
volted for better pay and several were
put TO death and others imprisoned. In
1898 masons employed on the Escurial
palace, Spain, refused to work unless
i better paid. Several of them were put
70 the galleys and the rest exiIed to
America. In 1705 the ship builders
/ and sail makers employed by Peter the
j Great at st Petersburg struck for
shorter hours. Seven were hanged
1T exiled to Siberia and 952 drafted
INTO the army. Doubtless the methods
used In dealing with strikers in those
i days would appeal to some of the can't
talists Of to-day.
T. a. r. hall was well filed last
evening at the open meeting Of the
Amalgamated Society of Engineers
Machlnlsts. etc. President G. G. Fill
called the meeting to order and ex-
planned the purpose for which If was
held. j. q. Sandiford gave 4 brief
history Of the Carpenters union and
made strong appeal to the machinists
to thoroughly organize. John Somers
OF the Clerks union presented indis-
putable arguments as to- the benefits
OF un1onism, and called attention to its
rapid growth in Waterbury since the
formation of the Central Labor union
in February, 1901. James Schofield
gave a synopsis of the plans Of the
Amalgamated society, which include
out-of-work, sick and strike benefits.
old age pensions, insurance on tools.
railroad fare to go to new jobs, total
| disability or accident benefits, special
relief, funeral benefit OF members. aid
Of members wives. During the even
ing duets and solos were rendered by
James and Daniel Dunn, and a three
round boxing contest, wrestling
match and jig dancing went to make
up the balance of the evenings enter
tainment.
The following from an address by
the late John p. Altgeld contains food
for reflection for the non-unionist:
"But it is said that the non-union man
or scab has the right to labor and that
he must be protected in this right at
Toll