Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-04
full hour Off at nonn-rounts az nine

a Iuil nOur on at nonI,-countS an nine
hours work.
"The law provides also THAT no boy or
girl Of these ages shalllbe required to work
in any factory before 6sdelbck in the morn
ing or after o'clock at night, or in any
other establishment or occupation mention
ed above before O'Clock lii the morning or
after 10 o'clock at night"
Representatiye-elect John T. Hunt of st.
Louis, Mo-, will be rendered a reception
and smoker next Tuesday upon his arrival
in this city by the members of the local
stonecutters' union. Mr.. Hunt is stone
cutter by trade, and holds warm place In
the hearts of all tradey uhionists.
General Secretary James F. McHugh Of
the Journeyman Stonecutters' Association
has returned from Pittsburg, whittier he
went to make an effort to adjust existing
disputes between the union cutters and
the employers. u 5te+
Overtures are being exchanged looking to
the adjustment of the existing national
strike among the union marble settlers. The
building operations in many Of the larger
cities have been gref wv retarded by the
present trouble. The 'lble originated
with the marble polls They were on
strike and the employer, mpted to turn
the tables by adopting open shop"
policy, with the result that the settlers laid
down their tools in sympathy.
Information has been received In this city
to the effect that the labor leaders are
willing to submit the controversy to arbi-
tration, provided that such an agreement
can be reached by tomorrow. In the event
the present overtures are unsuccessful, 1t is
reported that the strikers VIII resume work
temporarily in order that existing contracts
might be complied with This agreement is
regarded as a favor to the individual con-
tractors. who have been the main sufferers
Of the present dispute.
President James OConnell of the Inter-
national Association of Machinists, is send
ing out from the international headquarters
in this city to vice presidents, business
agents. organizers and other officials of the
various unions of the country, circular
letter bearing upon the present status of the
trade. The document 1t is thought, will
have the effect of pointing out to such OIL
Gals the necessity of proceeding in the
movement with more caution. In his let
ter he makes mention of several of the
plans of the employers
The letter is, in part, as follows:
Owing to the general falling off of trade
throughout our entire jurisdiction, l desire
to again call your attention to the necessity
of exercising the greatest care in the hand
ling Of the affairs of our association. In
order that our members may not, without
sufficient cause or greatest provocation in
yolye themselves in strikes without first
having secured permission to do so from the
general executive board. as it is provided
for in our constitution. article six.
During the past few weeks an under
standing has been reached by the general
officers of many railroads whereby gen.
eral reduction in the mechanical depart
ments has been ordered. and already large
decreases in the forces have taken place.
"Retrenchment orders are being sent out
to all of the large combinations, and the
mechanical forces are to be reduced where
ever possible to the lowest possible limit.
Private employers are reducing the
forces wherever possible, and as whole,
the situation is anything but bright.
II deem it my duty to call your attention
to this state of affairs, realizing that our
membership at large is not in as close
NIT tha L
at headquarters.
II am not calamity hoWler, nor am l
sending out this information with view
to in any way discourage our members to
secure improved conditions of employment
wherever possible, but the purpose OF this
information is to guard our membership
at large against ill-advised Information
which would bring about strikes or dis
agreements with our employers.
"a very great effort should be made to
strengthen our ranks wherever possible.
and above all, to maintain the present Or
ganization, in order that we may be In
position to maintain the conditions of en-
ployment we have already secured. and to
prevent any attempt on the part of our
employers to take from US the shorter
workdayj which we have SO successfully
battled Tor, and further. to prevent any at
tempt on the part of the employers to re-
duce the wages" -..--.
According to President w. D. Mahon Of
\ the AmalSdmdleO olTcol dIio EicCli iCoA
Employees of America, thrty-eight new
locals have been formed in various parts
Of the United States since last May In his
report on the condition OF the organization
President Mahonlsa there are e22o active
divisions affiliated with the body. Refer
ring to agreements regarding wages, Presi-
dent Mahon states that there have been
twenty-eight written agreements made be-
tween as many different division associa-
lions and the employing companies, with
out contention, as we'll as ten verbal settle
ments of schedules of wages. -Four agree
ments have resulted from strikes, making
a total Of forty-two settlements within the
past six months.
President John Mitchell of the United
Mine Workers of America in his book on
the organized labor movement in America
gives some of the details of life among the
members of the craft. Referring to viO
lence in labor difficulties, President Mitchell
says:
Under no circumstances should a strike
be allowed to degenerate into violence
There are times when a great issue ie at
stake and the struggle seems about to be
lost, when the use of brute force appears
for moment to be desirable. This, how
ever, is a shortsighted policy. and brings
with 1t its own punishment A single act Of
violence. while it may deter a strike break
er or a score of them, infiicts much greater
and more irreparable damage upon the
party giving than upon the party receiving
the blow. Violence invariably alenates the
sympathy Of the public. No matter how
just the demands Of the men, no matter