The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-04

more or less exactness our national and interna
uonal organizations. Thus the national federation
of miners, which includes about 50 600 members or
ABOUT one-half Of all the miners of the country is
now practically organized upon a national basis and
the same IS true to greater less extent of the
metal workers, cOQpostors. railway workers and
members of the building trades The compositors
nave been organized for long time have initiated
many reforms in their industry have developed ben
ent features, and have dealt with much wisdom and
discretion with the questions of the employment of
women and the Introduction of the linotype machine
One of the most interesting developments in the
trade union world in France is the DEVELOPMENT of
the so-caled labor exchange These labor exchanges
are local organizations, including members of the
different cities and correspond in some particulars TO
our central labor bodies. Originally formed for the
purpose of finding employment for men out of work
these labor exchanges including the great majority
of the unions within the cities have gradually ex-
tended their scope and influence so that they may al
most be called the heart OF the French labor move
ment As a rule the labor exchanges possess build
lngs. which serve as common meeting places for the
individual unions. and have also waiting and loung-
ing rooms, libraries halls for lectures or educa-
tiOnal courses etc The original labor exchange was
that of Paris. which was proposed as early as 1890
but which not finally organized until almost
century later At the present time there are eighty
six labor exchanges throughout France and almost
threefourths of the trade unioniss of the country
belong to them To defray the original cost of their
buildings they have received large sums Of money
amounting to 100000 from the cities and they
still receive annual subventons both from the NUM-
cipal governments and from the departments Their
numbers are growing with extreme rapidity. having
doubled within two years. A further development
has been reached by the coalitions OF almost Onehaf
of the labor exchanges into federation OF labor ex
changes which has its in Paris and is beginning
to exert powerful and benefcent influence.
Upon the whole it appears that the French labor
movement is in a period of development through
which American and English unions may be said to
have passed. Retarded and hampered for many de-
eades by the open hostility of the government they
have reached point of practically complete in
dependence and are progressing along lines which
should lead to full development and complete sue
cess. Unlike England, Germany and Belgium. France
is preDonderatingy agricultural country and it
10 be expected that the number Of trade unoniss
will represent the same fraction of the community as
will finally be possible in these other countries The
French unions, however already include almost one
sixth of ali the workmen engaged in French indus
tries, and the rate at which the organizations are
growing and the progress made toward the develop
of declarations and the outlining of sound labor
policies, lead 10 hope for bright future for the
trades union movement in France.
JOHN MITCHELL
In coIaboratioa with Walter T. weyl
Copyright, 1894, by John MITCHELL All rights re-
served.