The San Francisco call., 1904-11-15

certain
of time the consideration being the payment
of stipulated wages as a minimum. That
others are by their own short-sighted policy
or indifference excluded from the provisions
and BENEFITS of such an agreement is their
own fault and against which they have neither
the legal nor the moral right to contend.
The organized labor movement is the asso-
ciated effort of more than two million of adult
wealth producers. 1t is the unselfsh action
of the most intelligent and the earnest mani
festation of the most enlightened self-interest
which sees that interest best served by help
ing to protect and promote the interests Of
others
The open-shop cant and hypocrisy aim at
organized labor with the full knowledge that
1t. and 1t alone. stands between the toilers
greed and avarice that would force down the
conditions of labor to a bare subsistence.
lengthen the hours OF daily toll and make the
home wretched and desolate.
The division and subdivision OF labor and its
specialization. brought about by inventions OF
machines and new tools OF labor have robbed
workmen OF their power of individual freedom
OF contract with their employers. Their only
opportunity for anything like fair or advan-
tageoug terms under which to sell their labor
is in associating themselves with their fellow
workmen in making collective bargain, a
and a contract by the union with employers
for their labor and the conditions under which
it shall be sold.
Of the right OF every man to sell his labor as
he may see fit, the employer to hire such
right Employers have the lawful right to hire
any labor they may choose, but 1t does not give
them the right to impress workmen or to en-
slave them, or to drag them into a factory
on any terms the employer may choose TO
grant as an expression of his 'kindliness."
Employers have the right to make contracts
for labor This right carries with 1t. also. the
same rights of the workmen. 1t. therefore. fol-
lows that If the workers have the right to sell
their labor they see fit. they also have the
right NOT to sell II TO employers. unless 1t
be through the collective bargain of the union
shop AS an illustration. I recently asserted
fhof right
not work for you unless you make a contract
with the union to which l belong and agree
10 employ none but members OF that union ~
To claim that he may not say this is equiva-
lent to saying that he must sell his labor, not
as he fit. but as the employer sees nt'
Can any reasonable answer be made, or criti-
.cisu INDUCED in when employers find ii to
their advantage to make contract with a
reputable body of men to employ union labor
exclusively and thus eliminate the possibility
Of strikes, disputes. factions and losses! 10
this our opponents. the so-called citizens al
lIances can make no answer Their policy
consists of evasion and willful misrepresenta-
tion of the aims and purposes OF organized
labor. OF the collective bargain OF the working
agreement. of the union shop.
WORK OF ORGANIZING.
II is a matter of keen qualification to be
enabled 10 state that the labor movement or
Canada has advanced and is progressing' keep
ing full pace with the movement OF the re-
ma Inder of the American continent. AT the
recent congress held in Montreal the officers
were enabled to report an increase In the
membership of the unions of 59U2 over tne
ence in Canada 1857 local unions. We have
continued the saiaried orEanzer for Ianaa@ .sa5
orTanizers and have contributed from our funds
the annual grant OF $500 for legislative pur-
poses 20 the Dominion Trades ana LABOR Con-
gress The congress- l have been advised, was
entirely harmonious and successful In lts work
and has honored US by electing as Its ira
general organizer, John A Flett.
In my last report 1 took occasion to refer
to number Of detail matters In conneetion aeSI n
with the labor movement OF canada ainliate1
TO that of the United States which. though
appropriate to-day, need not be recounteo
here but simply referred TO as matter Oh
information and continuity. l am pleased to
add that the kindly and fraternal relations
heretofore existing have been cultivated to the
fullest and If possible, been more hrmly
cemented. Let us hope and work to the END
that time goes on we may be help1ul 10
mon interests of the workers Of both countries.
The number of unions in Porto Rico d.
rectly affiliated to the American FederaIion
of Labor the first of the year were l insular
or State organization. centrals, I locals,
making total Of IL. September 80. 1904. there
were affiliated l insular or State organizatlon'
centrals 3S locals making a total of 43.
In addition to the above Organizer Iglesias
reports that forty two locals were organized
ing the twelve months comparison OF the
figures and dates shows that large majority
Of these unions were organized after my visit
The people OF Porto Rico are intensely
sympathetic with the institutions of our re-
public and universally desire the recognition Of
the principles OF equality with the sovereign
citizenship of the United States. These rights
they are eminenty qualified to exercise; these
rights they are entitled to. and IL should be
our aim to aid them in achieving them.
Porto Rico literally translated into English
words reads Port of Riches" the name given
by a monarch of Spain. Now the misnomer
of their island mocks the people in their grim
and grotesque misery.
l strongly urge that every effort be made,
not only by this convention. but also by every
union union member and sympathizer. to
help to the very best of his ability the worthy
workers of Porto Rico to a realization Of a
better and brighter day.
PRINTERS MOVEMENT.
Taking cognizance of the vast progress in
the development of the printing trade, the In
ternational Typographical Union at it's last
convention adopted a resolution declaring that
on January l. 1906 general eight-hour work.
day shall be enforced. The effort is to be
made to secure the cooperation of the printing
employers and to bring about the change by
mutual agreement
These propositions were submitted to a ref
erendum vote of the membership of the Inter-
national Typographical Union. No official in
formation has yet been given me as to the final
result of the vote. From information received
however 1t is certain that the proposition has
haap rahlv~ decided The mann hershfD at