Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-01
,}[ANS.IO| |.|H.EuNIOhl.
CONDITION OF THE WAGE GARNER
HAS MATERIALLY IdPRovED..
RESULTS ACHIEVED I UIETLY.
Fewer Disturbances Here Than in
Any City IN Like size in America.
Two strikes Promptly Settled
Three Organization. viii Work
for Better Hours This Year.
By william Gilmore sea1.)

| n --s ~ 81
By William Gilmore Sea1)
The prospects for the wage earrners OF
the city, State. and nation-the men.
women. or children-were never brighter
than they are at the opening Of 1893. This
fact is due to the solidity of organiza-
ton and the advance made IN perfecting
the labor movement
| The advance made and perfected is by
nossmeans confined to the ranks Of or
ganized labor. There are but few in
stances where organiza ton has Battered
the condition of wage earners alone In
any Industry. but many where the unor-
gained have also received share Of
the benefits. While 1t must be recognized
that the cost of living has increased ma
terial1y within the past year, yet the
advance in wages In all lines has been
almost equal to the emergency, and in
many cases greater than the correspond
ing increase in prices Of the necessaries
of life.
But few instances have been recorded
In the past year where the conditions
Of the wage earners in any industry
have been advanced voluntarily; and
where such advances have been made.
it is safe to say that it was largely due
to the fact that organizations in that
or kindred industries made such an adj
vance necessary.
During the past year Richmond has had
less labor troubles than any city of its
size In this country, and the outlook for
the year 1903 promises even fewer con-
fiicts than that of last year.
The only strikes of any consequence
during the past year were by the brick
layers and the street-railway employees,
the latter lasting only half day, and
the former but a few days, when they
were settled to the mutual satisfaction
Of all concerned.
SHAPING THEIR PLANS.
Just before the first Of the year it is
the custom of all labor unions. as it is
Of all business enterprises, to discuss
plans and outline work for the ensuing
year. Up to the present time none of
the local labor unions have taken up this
subject. and, with the exception of the
International Association of Machinists.
the Iron Molders Of North America. and
the International Typographical Union.
no national movements have been
planned that will effect this city. Inc
unions named have decided to inaugurate
the nine-hour Day in all cities where
Workday, except the International Typo
graphical Union, which wants the eight
hour day for its members everywhere.
Judging from the tenor of these three
movements as expressed by both the in
ternational and local officials, the shorter
workday will be inaugurated without
the usual troubles found in such move
ments. particularly in other cities, In
years past.
.
OF the three movements na med, the ma
chinists are the only ones who have fixed
da tie for the Inauguration Of the short
er day. This date is May Goth.
The Iron Molders Union will, through
It's officials, hold a conference early this
year with the officials of the National
Stove Manufacturers Association, the Ma
tiolal Foundrymens Association, and the
4-ational Manufacturers Association,
when it is expected that an amicable
agreement will be reached for a time
and method Of tablishing the shorter
Workday.
Officials of the International Associa-
ton Of Machinists will confer with Of
hcials Of the American Locomotive
Works, American shipbuilding Company.
and National Manufacturers Association
for the same purpose.
a conference will be held between the
officials OF the Interna tional Topographic
cal Union. the National Publishers AS
ISOLATION. and the National Typothetea
for the purpose of esta bllshing the eight
hour day for the printers.
Notwithstanding the peaceful relations
which have existed in this city between
employer and employee during the past
year, it must not be understood that the
conditions Of the employees have not ad-
vanced. This advance, indeed, has been
o;r,aI ;,, Nv, !, -
industry including the building trades
and all its branches. except the painters.
These people are the exception, as they
have had no advance either In hours
or wages during the past year, and by
reason of their brief seasons of work. in
comparison with other branches Of the
building trades, work longer hours and
receive an average of less pay per annum
than the negro hod-carrers.
CHILD LABOR .-1.W.
The enactment Of child labor law
has an important bearing on the future
OF the wage earners of this city and
State. The elimination of the child as
competitor in the labor market against
its father mother. or grown-up brothers
and sisters. will inevitably result in the
Improvement Of the conditions of all.
The Trades and Labor Council Of this
city during the past year has done a vast
amount Of work for the benefit Of wage
earners-the unorganized as well as the
orgaq ized-and for the benefit of labor in
other sections. One of the features of
its work during the past year was the
securing Of shorter hours for the army
Of women and girls employed in stores
IN this city This was accomplished
through the cooperation Of the council
with some cIergymen interested in the
work and the proprietorS in the stores
employing these girls. Conspicuous among
the employers who co-operated in this
movement was Mr.. Sam Cohen, who is
one Of the largest employers in this line
in the city.
The hours for men employed in clothing
and shoe stores have also been shortened
through the co-opera ton OF the council
with the store keepers,