Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-22

The settlement of the National Cash Register and the Boston strikes by arbitration is q source of satisfaction to workingmen in general. The inter- national bylaws of, nearly every labor
 organization contains strong recom- mendations upon the subject, and some go so far as to refuse the use of their labels to any employer who will not sign a contract agreeing to this method in case of any misunder- standing Tn some of the western states efforts have been made to se- cure compulsory arbitration through q state board appointed for that pur- pose. To this plan tthe workingmen strenuously objected, believing that it would become a mere political job. making q few more offices to be filled | by the dominant party And as the l dominant part is usually the one which at election time receives it's sinews of war from the large corporations, and has this debt to pay later, they feared their conditions would not be improved by an arbitration committee appointed I in this manner. The majority heartily
 favor the plan of the civic federation, which gives each side equal represen- 1 tation.
 l The following are some of the things asked for by the miners at the Shamo- i kin convention: An eight-hour day in ] all the collieries of the anthracite re- Sions. Demanding the recognition of mine committees by operators in the
 adjustment of disputes resulting in local strikes. Declaring opposition to
 working with men not members of the
 Mine Workers union. Favoring arbi-
 tration of trade disputes. Conforming
 the action of the Delaware and Hud.
 son Railway Co for changing the con-
 ditions of employment at Plymouth,
 which resulted ill a reduction of wages
 and violation of contract. Demanding
 the reinstatement of the firemen dis
 charged by the Delaware, Lackawa1l-
 na and Western Railroad Go at the 1 Woodward, Avondale and Pettibone
 collieries, who refused to comply with the company's order requiring them to
 work on what is known as the ''swing shift system" Providing for a sys- tematic examination of working cards
 Requesting the state bureau of mines
 and mining to print not less than 25.- 900 copies of the mining laws in the
 English language for distribution
 among the mine workers. Condemn ing the system of blacklisting by com
 panies of discharged employees
 One Waterbury man has more re spect for the power if not love for the cause of unionism than lie did few weeks ago. When approached by
 members of his craft and asked to
 join their organization, he declined
 and stated that it was unnecessary for him to belong to any union. as he
 could hold responsible and lucrative
 positions ill places where many mem
 bers of the Waterbury union would not be allowed to do the menial work
 A few weeks passed and the fire of
 February 2 destroyed his employers
 place of business and threw him out
 of job. He commenced looking around for another and finally had the
 offer of an excellent one in Boston, but one of the stipulations connected
 with the offer was that he must come on with q card of the Waterbury un- ion-the union of that city refusing tC
 admit person coming from the !iu risdictiOn of sister union except by card. and znon-union men in his line are not in demand at s'The Hub" He : accordingly put in an application fol membership to the body for which he had so little use few weeks prior In due course of time his name came : up for balloting. This proceeded il
 the usual manner until about one-hal1
 of those present had voted. when i } was discovered that the black ball. , had been exhausted. As it wa! known that the usual number were il l the box at the outset it was not deem ed necessary to secure a new supply so number Of those present wer, debarred from giving an expression O l their feelings. The gentleman shortl, l afterwards left Waterbury, but not |, ? accept the Boston position. and so ia : as known did not carry q Waterbur, 2 union card with him.