Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-18


 complish At that time this union numbered about 135 members and not only has this number swelled to 800, but seven new locals have been form- ed, all with charters from this Interna- tional organization, giving the organi- zed brass workers of ssfhe city total membership of 1,5OO. This is certain Iy wonderful record.
 There will be an adjourned meeting of Typograp phica1 union No. 329 at Buffers and Polisners' hall tomorrow at p. m. The new scale of prices will come up for final consideration, and 1t is expected that Henry McMar hon of Boston, organizer for this dis trict, who is in this section on busi- ness connected with his office, will pc present. Nr McMahon will doubtless have suggestions to make for the ad- vancement of No. 32o, and every mem Der should be present.
 One of the most devoted trades un- ionists is without doubt Frederick D. Underwood, president of the Erie rail- road. Mr Underwood once unon l time was brakeman and conductor, at which time he joined the Brake
  session his membership card and has remained to this day an advocate of unionism. It is said that this fact was responsible that he was not selected to represent the Erie railroad at the coal strike settlement negotiations.
 l The regular meeting of the Central Labor union on Monday evening prov ed of unusual Interest and lasted until I a late hour. New delegates presented credentials from the Drug Clerks, l Painters,' Meat Cutters and Butchers, Bartenders', Teamsters' and Iron Moulders' unions; Delegate Cross of the Drug Clerks union was elected recording secretary to fill vacancy, and reports were read from the Labor Day and the Miners glee club enter tainment committee; the PaNers' un- i ion reported that the restaurant to which attention was called at a pre- vious meeting was now fair, buying only baked goods that are the product of union labor.
 Organizer Griffen of the Internation- al Clerks association enrolled officers and presented a charter to the Water bury Drug Clerks association, No 6S6, one month ago. The organization is in a fourishing condition and contains about 80 per cent of the eligibles in I this city. When perfect Organiza- l tiOn is obtained the work of unionizing the drug stores will commence. The union is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor through the local I Central Labor union. Meetings are the first and third Tuesdays at 10 p. m. in Carpenters hall, South Main street. sss A. M Bloom, representing the Uni Versal Tobacco company, and mem ] Der of International Tobacco Workers ] union No. S3, was granted the privi> leges of the floor for brief address at the meeting of the Central Labor l union on Monday evening. and pre- 1 scented some convincing arguments why l union men should purchase onlyNtobac- co and cigars. as well as other articles that were the product of union labor. He insisted that a person purchasing goods of any description that do not bear the union label were employing "scab' labor the same as the man who .f lets large contracts where non union help is to be employed. No one can I dispute this, and it is to be regretted that many Waterbury unionists do not l pay more strict attention to this mat ter. They are ardent unlonists as far as their own craft is concerned but no farther. Without all working together to accomplish the deslred results but I little can be accomplished-sim 1 paying dues will not bring about the needed reforms.
 The news of the settlement of the coal strike was received with the greatest of satisfaction by the work ingmen of Waterbury, in general with those throughout the country. Prob ably no strike has ever occurred in the history of the United States in which the trades union of the country were so generally interested. No matter what the result of the investigation of the commission may be. it has been a great victory for organized labor, inas.
 much as it has brought one of the greatest trusts of the country to arbi. tration, though they had claimed they
 had nothing to arbitrate,'' and by a
 commission selected by the president
 of the United States, as was first sug
 gested by President Mitchell of the
 Mine Workers union. More than this the strike has clearly shown that or
 gan1zed labor is now in position tc stand together as 9 unit, and ever
 ready. to assist any organization in dis
 tress. The amounts forwarded to the strikers have been very large, and now
 after more than five months have pass
 ed, the contributions are flowing il
 more freely than at any previous time
 and would have continued as long as there were any organized worgingmer
 in the country holding jobs. Now tha1 arbitration has been accepted by sc great power as the coal trust it is tt be hoped that this system of settlins
 disputes may be generally adopted and that strikes like this last one ma. come to an end.