Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-24

these words: DO not starve out your in
terna ional body : :?
The United Garment Workers OF America
at their thirteenth annual convention at
Buffalo last week arranged for the estab-
lshment of a large defense fund as the
first proposition to combat the open
shop" Similar action is being taken In
all directions, it appears.
Tobacco workers representing all parts
of the globe are in session this week at
Amsterdam. Holland. at the international
congress of tobacco workers. to discuss
matters of interest to the trade. Holland
and Belgium have proposed discussion on
the question as to whether 1t would be al
vantageous for the tobacco workers to fol-
low a general political program.
A novel investigation was recently con-
cluded by the Massachusetts bureau OF
labor statistics of the number or per cent
of workers absent from work the day after
pay day. with the view Of learning the
cause for the men absenting themselves
Investigations were made in Alb factories
employing 80, 761 males over sixteen years
of age. On the following Monday 1614
were absent. 511 from drunkenness and
1,1O3 from other causes. This shows that
of the number working on Saturday 4.66
per cent of the whole number were idle
from drunkenness. OF the total amount
employed 1.29 per cent. or an average OF
over 1 per hundred were unable to work
from alcoholic excuses
OF the various industries the percentage
of drunkenness ranges from 80 per cent in
workers in wooden goods to $50 per cent
In bottoming shoes. The highest per cent
of absentees from drink were furniture
makers S.57; stone workers. 6.25; tobacco.
snuff and cigar wOrkmen, 800; painters and
paper hangers. 5.SS; bottoming shoes, S.S2
Out OF the total number absent from work
on account of drunkenness two only were
less than twenty-one years Of age.
Lawrence H. Fitzgerald. the recently
elected president Of the Journeymen Stone
cutters Association of North America. was
born at Cork. Ireland thirty-nine years
ago, and Is we'll known in the labor move
ment In the west. He came to this country
with his parents when he was six years
old. ana at the age OF fourteen was ap-
prentlced to the stonecutters trade. Mr..
Fitzgerald has done some effective work
IN organizing and in the settlement Of labor
disputes. He Is a citizen of Denver Col.
where ne Is highly regarded because Of his
conservatism as a labor leader. 1t was
through his efforts that the chain-gang was
abolished at Denver
The fourteenth annual convention of the
United Association of Journeymen Plumb
ers, Gashtters. Steamfitters and Steamfit-
ters' Helpers of the United States and Can
ada was held last week at Birmingham.
membership OF over 25.O0oo, The establish
ment OF defense fund for use In strikes
and iock-outs was one of the most impor-
tant enactments Of the convention. An
other matter considered was the arrange
ment for national conferences with the
Master Plumbers Association. the object
belng TO ADOPT measures for the preven-
ton of strikes. -
At one OF the recent sessions Of the In
ternationa! Typographical Union at st.
Louis frederick Drisao1l representing the
american Newspaper Publishers ASsocia-
ton. addressed the convention. dwelling
upon the faet that more latitude should be
gwen 10 roremen in the newspaper chapels
anu protesting against the stand taken by
the unions that all employees in newspaper
offices should be paid the union scale Mr.
Driscon also asked for the repeal Of the
so-caiied priority law. A. proposition pre-
sented py Delegate Napier of Los Angeles,
Cal, declaring that on; and after January
l, 1903, all copy shall be followed literally,
and that no compositor shall be required to
study style" further that on and after
January l. 1919, all copy for the printer
shali De typewriter, and provided that all
copy not typewriter shall be paid for at
an advance SCALE was defeated
William g. Waudby was Endorsed by res
olutfon for appointment as United States
Labor Commissioner.
Mr. u. j. Ratigan, chairman Of the SUBJ
committee on grounds of the Labor day
outing at Benning of the Central Labor
Union, mas applied to the Council or Allied
building Trades for forty volunteers to as
sist him In the management of the grounds
on that occasion.
The grand lodge Of the International AS
ISOLATION Of Machinsts has made an i'm
perafive call on all members for an assess