Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-05


CARNATIONS which they might be repre-
senting could not be made to suffer on &C.
count of the way they voted as members
of the executive council. Then, again, the
executive council would not be as much Of
a family circle as it is at present. 1 be-
lfeve that such change would bring about
better and more positive legislation.
There are said to be 8e4 trades unions in
New York city, with a total membership Of
100000
1t is estimated that the total wages lost
IN the recent beef strike reached the enor-
nous total Of $3375,O00.
A memorial quilt composed of lodge
badges issued in memory Of departed
brothers Is an oddly made by Joseph L.
Smith of st. Louis. member OF Local
Union No. 1, of the International Brother
hood of Electrical Workers. A total of 536
the quilt. Smith says he worked six months
on the quilt while he was convalescing
from a spell of sickness.
Money sent back to Italy by italian la
borers in the United States is the financial
salvation of many communities in southern
Italy. 1t is stated.
A proposition to levy 25-cent assessment
on the general membership of the Cigar
makers International Union. to aid the
upon and adopted by the members. In this
way something like $4,000 will be turned
over to the western unionfsts.
Garment Workers Union national conven-
ton instructed New York Union, No. 4. to
expel ex-National Secretary Henry White
from the union. This is the Judgment of
the court of last.resOrt In the case.
Every baker and confectionery worker in
New England, numbering many thousands.
Is to be assessed 25 cents per week, which
money is to be given to the striking bakers
of Boston, Mass
Robert Price, who is said to be 1.-THE
Father of Labor Day" died recently in OBJ
security in his humble home in the outskirts
of Helena Mont. His relatives state that
twenty-five years ago he advocated at the
general assembly of Knights of Labor a
yearly holiday to be known as Labor
day. and that his motion to that effect
was adopted by the assembly with cheers.
Price was coal miner and native Of
Wales.
To extend the work Of the Citizens In
dustrtal Association. which was formed last
year by D. M Parry and other large en-
ployers of labor. an official monthly paper
is to be published in Indianapolis, Ind.
In the opinion of Luke Grant, a labor
writer. few Industrial conflicts in recent
years have furnished as much food for re-
Election as did the great packing house
strike just closed" Both the packers and
the union men have learned a great deal
have learned by any other method.
On the surface" says Mr.. Grant. 1.-The
unions lost the strike. and 1t was probably
the best thing that could happen to them
that they did lose. They will build up
stronger and better organizations for the
experience after they recover from the i'm
mediate hardshlps which must invariably
follow great strikes. The packers will never
again return to the old system of dealing
with their employees that prevailed before
the formation of the union. Their expert
ence has been too costly A more liberal
policy will be adopted by them in dealing
with their employees than ever before not
for any sentimental reasons, but simply as
a business proposition. The packers have
learned that strikes are expensive.
"On the other hand. many of the petty and
annoying exactions that the unions have de-
manded in the past will be stopped, as they
should be- The shop stewards and business
agents nave been brought to a realization
of the fact that their powers are not SUI
preme, as they supposed. and that the pack
ers are to have something to say about the
conduct of their establishments"
President James OConnell of the Inter-
national Association of Machinists in his
report just made has this to. say about the
sp9tter, or, spy, system, which he says
81 know of no organization that has been
So infested with spies and spoilers as the
International Association of Machinists has
been. and is at the present time. Why our
employers should be SO persistent in their
efforts to employ so-cal1ed detectives to Sc
cretly report the business of our association
is beyond my comprehension.
.'MachiniStS are employed by several de-
tective associations with the understanding
that they must hold membership in our as
sociatiOn. They are advised to go into our
local lodges, make themselves active in the
work of the local, and whenever possible Sc
cure appointment or election, to the po-
sitiOn of recording or financial secretary
or president, recording secretary being pre-
forr in that thew might he in q
position to secure 'aHs correspondence be-
tween the local and grand lodge.
1T is to be regretted that few of the
machinists place such ridiculously low
price upon their manhood and honor, but
such has been the history of the world.
From the twelve apostles down, traitors
have been, found in every form OF society.
It would, therefore, be inhuman to expect
that every machinist would be big enough.
and strong enough, to resist temptation.
Il take this opportunity of warning our
membership against the policy OF selecting
those with whom you are not thoroughly
familiar and acquainted to fill the official
chairs in the local lodges. I have every
regard for the travelling brother. but believe
that the officers should be chosen from the
permanent residents In the LOCALITY Where
the lodge is in existence.
The conciliatory action of the Bakers and
Confectionery Workers Union of this city
in the recent controversy with the employ
ing bakers, which prevented a serious
''bread strike" it is claimed has brought
that organization into prominent notice
Few labor unions in the country. leaders
say, have done as much to better the condi-
tions of their members In the past few
years as has the Bakery and Confectionery
Workers International Union Of America.
This organization was formed in 1886 in
New York, and for number of years 1t
made but little progress. In 1900 it had but
116 locals and a membership of 5,20S
Eighteen months later. on June 1, 1901, the
membership had grown to 1854 in 1853
locals. At the present time 1t has 300 locals
affiliated, with membership of little over
% coo. Before the union was organized the
hours of labor were sixteen and eighteen
day. That was in 1891. The wages at that
time averaged from IS to $40 week. At
the present time the hours Of labor are nine
and ten a day, the latter being the maxi
mum worked in any city. The wages now
vary from $14 to $40 a week. and the old
system of night work has been abolished in
practically all OF the smaller cities where
unions exist Day work and an eight-hour
day are the aims Of the union, and, al
though the night work still continues in
the large cities, the conditions of the bakers
are steadily improving The bakers adopt
ed bread label in 1886 and cracker label
ten years later. This label has been ex-
tensively advertised and has proved pow