Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-15
IN LABOR CIRCLES
c.,

The fund to be used by the printers Of the
United States in carrying into effect the
eight-hour day is growing rapidly. The law
of the International Typographical Union
providing for eight hours as a working day
will go into effect January l next. 1t is
based on the well-known axiom of the
greatest of all printers, Benjamin Franklin,
who declared that the day should be di-
vided into three periods. eight hours for
work, eight hours for sleep and eight hours
for recreation.
Secretary George G. Seibold of Columbia
Typographical Union gave it as his opinion
that there will be little if any friction in
Washington between employers and employ
es when the time comes to carry into effect
the eight-hour day. He stated to a Star
reporter that approximately only about 200
downtown printers would be affected.
MI Selbold has been informed that al
ready seVenty-elght typographical unions in
this country have signed agreements for the
elght-hour day with the employing printers
without contest. Sixteen of the seventy
eight bodies that have entered into the
agreements are .German-Amercan unions.
In number Of other cities the employing
printers have promised to give favorable
considera ton to the eight-hour proposition
before the ending of the present year
making about one hundred jurisdictions in
which the law will be carried successfully
into effect at the beginning without dispute
or strikes.
A small exodus of printers from Wash
lngton has resulted from the laying off,
OF the temporary typesetters who were en-
ployed at the government printing Office
during the busy winter season.
Reports received by Secretary Seibold at
his office in Typographical Temple show
that $50 union printers died in this country
in the past eight months. This is said to be
at the of hout he
under the jurisdiction of the International
Typographical Union.
Speaking of the general labor outlook, a
writer in the Review of Reviews says it is
encouraging. Referring to the Civic Fed
Grafton and its work in behalf of the wage
Garner, and particularly to labor leaders, the
editor says: Undoubtedly the labor lead
ers were, in directness and force, better
public speakers than amy of the other ele-
ments that make up'tfat body" When it is
taken into consideration that the o. Ter ele-
ments referred to were business men, clergy
men, college professors and cultured men of
the highest type, this high compliment to
the labor men can Der fully appreciated.
Labor will yet be recognized in behalf of
the principles for which it battles, and the
leaders will receive the honors to which
they are entitled.
Speaking of the broadening influence Of
union training. the Review of Reviews pre-
diets that in the near future all opposition
cease, and, speaking of a better educat iOn
uses the following words:
Everything that adds to the intelligence
of the workers will increase his productive
capacity and his earning power. With his
training for politics, under our American
system, the worker may be reasonably GER
tain that in due time the laws of the coun-
try will not in any manner operate to his
detriment.'
Commenting on the state of society from
an industrial and political view. the Review
says: lone of the greatest of all the many
benefits that the organization of labor has
bestowed has been in its training of men to
| think, reason, read and speak effectively in
debate, to act together under the rule of the
ma jority."
Coming from so close an observer as the
editor of the Review of Reviews, the above
statement is indeed splendid tribute to the
worth of labor and the men composing the
labor movement, and shows the attention
thinking men are devOting to organized eff
forts to establish better conditions among
the workingmen and working women of this
country.
Officers of the Grocery Clerks Union, No.
533 have been elected to serve for the en-
suing year as follows: President John ID.
Schamel; first vice president, j. Frank
Smith; second vice president, e. l.. Zees-
nitzer; recording and corresponding secre-
tary NJ A. Egan; financial secretary, NJ
c. Greaves; treasurer, Joseph r. A.
O'Brien; guardian, G. A. Watkins; guide.
At a recent meeting of the Central Labor
Union of this city Mr.. Terrenve v. Powder
ly, formerly at the head OF the knights OF
Labor was granted the privilege of the
floor to make an appeal to the organized
Workingmen of Washington In behalf OF
the struggling working people of Russia.
Mr. Powderly pictured the distress among
the illy-paid wage workers in the land of
the car and urged the intelligent labor
classes of the American republic to assist
them in every possible manner. His plea
was greeted with hearty applause.
The workingmen in the Washington naval
gun factory had their shops deliberately
and tastefully decorated in honor of the
Inauguration of President Roosevelt. The
government gun makers claim, that their
| scheme of decorations In beauty and detail
| outclassed any in the city. The east gun
| carriage shopis understood to have carried
off first honors.
One of the most interesting of the inter-
| national labor bodies is said to be the In
| ternational Union of Journeymen BARRIERS
of America which has recently started a
! campaign of organization in Washington
| and other cities. This association was form
| ed in 1887 Within the past few years it
has made remarkable progress, especially
| in the smaller cities. In 1900. thirteen years
| after its formation, it had POT local unions
| and membership of little more than
| 5000 At the last convention, held two
| months ago it had $40 locals affiliated with
| a membership of about 81 GOO in round num-
| bers The secretary at that convention re-
| ported a balance in the international treas
/ ury of $3.50, 500. The organization pays a
| sick benefit to its members of So week
for twenty weeks In any one year, and a
| death benefit ranging from $50 for MEM
| bers less than one year in the organization,
| to $500 for those with fifteen consecutive
years membership. While the organization