The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-07-04
WALKING DELEGATE !:
MUST HAVE ABILITY:
THE DAY OF THE "BLUFFER" AND
"BULLY" Is PAST.
EXPERT TRADESMAN -
AND A DIPLOMAT
Troubles of the Business Agent Are
Many and He Must Meet Every
Situation as it Arises.

What are the duties of a walking dele
gate? This is the question being asked
by thousands who are watching the
struggle between the employers and
their men in the building trades, which
has forced over 125O0O men out of en-
ployment.
An ugly picture Of him was given by
the member of a Building Trades EN-
ployers' Association.
"A walking delegate" he said, "is a
faultfnder, tyrant, a menace to So
ciety, disturbing element to employ
ers and employees, mischief maker,
and, in a NUTSHELL a general nuisance"
A Few Go Wrong of Course.
The walking delegates say that they
that is no fault of the great majority
of them If a few of their members
should go wrong. An overwhelming
majority, they say, are honest.
Employers admit that Robert E. Mel
dig Of the Housemen and Bridgemen's
Union; John J. Donovan, former presi-
dent of the United Board of Building
Trades, and other delegates among the
skilled and unskilled mechanics are
good and honest men. Mr.. Neidig is a
member of the Young Mems Christian
Association and sings in a church choir
every Sunday.
Ex-president O'Donovan is greatly es-
teened by his employers. For many
years he has been the walking delegate
Of the plain and ornamental plasterers,
which has membership of 5000 work.
ers.
There are more than 300 walking dele
gates. The Building Trades numbering
over 10000 workers, have 100 delegates,
and the members of the miscellaneous
trades, composed Of cigarmakers, tall
ors and other trades, representing 200,
900 workers. have about 200 delegates,
who meet every Sunday at the Univer-
sity Settlement Building, while the Uni
ted Hebrew Trades, composed of $4,000
workers, have IS delegates. ST. s
There are mo- women wal WA kin dele
zea5 as53lARS INV lNalk|Rsaas
please the women s111er1b m q 81 lib
ferred to have a man walking delegate
ever since.
He Mast Be An Expert.
'"The duties of a walking delegate"
said ex-president Donovan, "are many.
ganizations and sometimes has no time
to eat or sleep. He has to go around
to places where members of his union
are employed to see whether there are
complaints and to do everything in his
power to settle them without resorting
to strike. He does everything in his
power to adjust grievances before
strike is ordered.
Just now the employers arc finding
fault with the walking delegates but
we are not the men they picture us to
be. If it were not for the walking dele
gates much inferior work would be done
in the building industry Of the city. Be-
Ing experts in our particular trades, we
are constantly on the alert that no in
ferior work is done by the workers Of
our organiZa tions.
''The pacemakers among employees Is
responsible for inferior work, and when
we catch him we go for him just as
hard as for the employer. The pace
maker union man, will work harder
than his fellows. and compel those who
have not his speed to do bad work in
order to keep up with him. The peace
maker also does inferior work. In this
Diplomat and Judge.
'"The walking delegate must be Dip
lomat and must be able to meet every
situation as it comes along. He must
be a judge and must never lose his
temper. Any mistake he makes will
be felt by the workers of his union.
1.-The walking delegate must be in all
respects conservative, honest and
competent man. He does not look for
his job as does the average politician.
The union finds out his worth and the
place comes to him unsolicited. He is
paid out of the funds of the unions, and
they want the best men for the places.
1.-THE pay received by walking dele
gate is the regular scale of his trade
with an additional ten per cent for ex-
penses. Extra expenses for the walk
ing delegate are also paid by his union
after they have been passed upon. The
walking delegate deserves every cent
of the money he receives, because if he
dSd not the union would soon get rid of
him."
1900 LlNEMEN ON STRIKE