Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-12

In response to an Invitation the executive
board of the association was instructed to
arrange an exhibit for the Louisiana pur-
chase exposition next year.
MI Squfres was reelected second vice
president of the association at the conven-
ton. To hold that Office Mr. Sauires will
De compelled, under the terms of the new
constitution, to take up the duties OF in
ternational organizer. He will begin the
discharge of his new duties October 1.
that movement has been started to bring
about consolidation Of the various unions
OF railway clerks. which may result in the
formation of a strong national organization
OF the men In that line of work. At the
present time there are three national unions
OF railway clerks in the field, each one more
or less antagonistic to the other.
The strongest union numerically is the
order OF Railway Clerks Of America, with
headquarters in Kansas City. 1t has about
1900 members and has been in the field
1or several years. At one time 1t was af-
f1liated with the American Federation of
Labor and voluntarily withdrew
A second national union of railway clerks
is known as the National Association Of
Railway Clerks. and has headquarters in
Akron. Ohio. 1t has about 5000 members
and Is not affiliated with the American Fed
ration % Labor
The third union which was formed re-
Gently In Chicago. Is known as the Inter-
national Association of Railway Clerks OF
America, and its headquarters are in that
city 1t Is affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor. and that gives It the
right to recognition as the regular organi-
cation. although 1t Is the weakest numeri-
caiIy. 1t has about $500 members, but
has been in the field but few months.
Recently the latter organization granted
a charter to local union in st. Louis.
and as that was considered the territory of
the western organization the general off,
GERS went to Chicago to discuss the ques-
ton or amalgamation James V. FISHER and
X. e. Fisher. chief officers Of the Order of
Railway Clerks. were in Chicago recently
to confer with D. w. Richmond and A. w.
Anderson the national officers of the in
ternational organization.
1t was decided that the question Of aff1lfa-
ton with the American Federation Of La
Dor should be submitted to referendum
vote Of the members of the western organi-
cation. as the Chicago men refused to con-
slider any amalgamation on any other lines
II that proposition carries 1t Is probable
that joint convention may be held and
the three organizations unite under the
banner Of the A. F. of L.
In a recent issue of a Chicago da,Iv
which devotes a special department to
labor news. the Miller controversy at the
government printing Office Is discussed in
brief as follows:
The committee appointed at the last
meeting of the Chicago Federation of La
Dor to investigate the stand taken by Pres
ident Roosevelt in ordering the reinstate-
ment of Bookbnder Miller after he had
been suspended by the union, will find it
has rather a delicate task to perform. The
report Is not likely to have much bearing
on the subject, but the central body is
liable to place itself in a rather ridiculous
light unless 1t proceeds cautiously If 1t
condemns President Roosevelt for carrying
out the law 1t will furnish ammunition to
those who at the present time are looking
for arguments to prove that labor unions
have no respect for laws other than those
they themselves make. 1t is quite probable
that after an investigation has been made
Of the charges against Miller he will be
discharged. and at this distance from the
seat Of the trouble 1t looks If the union
should have proceeded on that basis in the
first place. If Miller Is guilty of the acts
charged against him by the union he is
hardly a fit person to keep the position he
holds. but while these charges have not
been proved 1t Is to the credit of President
Roosevelt that he ordered Miler's rein
statement. In fact 1t Is hard to see how
he could have taken any other position
than he did. A report censuring him passed
in the Chicago Federation Of Labor will
not alter the case, but 1t would place the
central body in a rather unenvable light
with the thinking public. 1t is not
question of party politics and should not
be regarded as such. If the unions declare
that President Roosevelt did wrong then
they admit that they are autocratic and in
tolerant. Can they afford to take such
position?
Chinese Workers in China" is the topic
of an interesting report to the American
Federation of Labor by Mr. Edward Rosen-
berg, who was selected by that body to visit
the far east to make an investigation of
the labor conditions. The report bears a
Manila date and appears In the current is
sue of the official journal Of the federation.
Discussing the conditions at Shanghai
Swallow and Hong Kong, the report In part
says:
Labor at these three places is better
paid and better treated than in the interior
But how small are the wages of even these
favored Chinese workers. how pitiably low
their industrial and social status! l heard
no one speak in China about the dignity Of
labor. 1t is openly looked upon and frank
ly treated curse.
'Shaighai.' which means upper sea- or
near the sea-. Is mentioned by Chinese
writer's as existing in 249 B. G.. 1t has at
present a population of about $50 600 Mem
of war steamers and junks-the name for
the Chinese sailing vessels-throng the har-
Dor. For several miles these junks lie ten
and fifteen deep from the shore. with just
barely enough room for them to get out and
in. And these junks swarm with Seamen
women and children.
What strikes one most in these Chinese
cities Is the density of population on the
smallest possible area. The Chinese crowd
each other like ants in an ant-hill and bees
in their hive Stores and workshops are
also eating and sleeping quarters, except IN
that part of the city inhabited by CauSas-
ians. The dirt and stencil simply
frightful
chinatown in San Francisco is bad; but
1t is very clean in comparison with China
town of Shanghai Amid such surroundings
men, women and children work. At rock
pile women and little girls. the latter little
ones of nine and ten years, were breaking
stone for a macadam road.
They work from a. m. to p. m. and
get g cents per basket-a full-grown person
could fill three baskets per day. When dol
lars and cents are mentioned in this article
silver currency Is meant. which is generally
used I'm China. At Shanghai the rate was
41A. cents United States coin for one silver
dollar.
lat Swallow the rate of wages and hours
of labor are about the same as at Shanghai
'At Hongkong higher wages are paid.
rent and food also being dearer The
Hongkong Cotton Spinning Company. with
1900 workers steadily employed and 800
on the rolls. pays follows:
Men from 30 to 40 cents per day: women
from 10 to 80 cents per day; children from
10 to 25 cents. The piece work system pre-
walls
Though there is no age limit for chill
dren in this factory, none could be found
under twelve years. The hours of labor are
from a. m. to p. m. one hour for dinner.
The company furnishes about 800 of its
wOrkarS of