Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-27
IN LABOR CIRCLES
o.

one In labor circles and employment has
been abundant. Though the statistics on
strikes, as shown In the report of the sec
rotary of the American Federation of La
Dor, show that there were 1.157 strikes
during the year ending October 81. 1t is
rather an indication of the country's pros
perity than of industrial adversely. The
general satisfactory adjustment of these
strikes has been notable in the history OF
labor throughout the country.
The local Associat ton of Amalgamated
Sheet Iron Workers have elected the fol-
lowing officers for the ensuing term Presi-
dent, Clarence Cooper; vice president
Charles Caricole financial secretary
Thomas F. Ryan recording and CORE
spending secretary. r. G. NJ Ross; treas
urer. J. A. Daily; warden. Mason Morris;
trustees, j. w. Cens.dne, d. NJ Desmond,
3. Egloff; executive board. r. G.. NJ. Ross.
Clarence Cooper. Thomas F. Ryan, ID. NJ
Desmond, Charles Taylor.
The members of Columbia Typographical
Un'on, No. Io1, are balloting this afternoon
on the question of the ievying OF 10 per
cen. assessment 10 carry on the fight TOR
the eight-hour day which will be tnaugu-
rated the first of the year, At the union
meeting Sunday afternoon 1t was unani-
mously decoed to refer the matter 10 the
entire membership and take referendum
vote. From reports received from the ear
y returns 1t would appear that the pro-
posed assessment viii be authorized by
good majority. The full vote will not be
known until late tonight.
AT the meeting of She union Sunday 1t
was proposed that II the assessment was
agreed upon to raise a large sum of money
on the Typographical Temple. which IS
owned by the union. and use the amount
to pay the assessment. continuing the pres
ert 30 cent weekly collection until the
needs of the International un on are salts
fled and the money raised on the temple re-
paid. 1t is said that this action of the To-
cal VIII eliminate many objections of those
who are carrying heavy obligations. Mem
bers of the union express the greatest CON
fideHce that this severe test of the loyalty
of the me m9ersh D VIII add prestige to the
craft and a the same time enable the in
te-national union 10 wage q decisive battle
for the shorter work day
To educate The workers of The country
to the danger of tuberculosis and point
out to them the most effective methoCS to
check the ravages of the disease, the Amer
lean Federation of Labor has started an
extensive campaign.
Hundreds of thousands of pamphlets are
being printed under the seal of the fedora
ton and sent to the unions throughout the
country. The pamphlets contain number
of simple rules prepared by the New York
committee on the prevention of tubercu-
losis. which might not otherwise be
brought to the attention of those they are
intended for Under the official seal of
those interested In the work believe that
the educational campaign VIII be produc-
tive of better results than any effort hith-
erto tried In this direction.
The campaign which has been undertaken
by the American Federation of Labor Is
the direct result OF the action taken at the
annual convention held IN Pittsburg last
month. Paul Kenneday, representing the
New York committee on tuberculosis at
tended the convention and stirred up the
labor men on the subject. A committee
was appointed to consider a plan to bring
the subject to the attention Of the workers
of the country.
That the labor unions are interested in
the problem for financial well hui
manitarian reasons Is shown in the report
of the committee which was adopted by
the convention. In Its report the commit
tee said:
at Is a matter of very direct and per-
sonal concern to every member of the
laboring class, and it's effect on the sick
and death benefits is such that 1t has an
important bearing on the financial well
fare of many unions"
Continuing it's report the committee said:
ut Is fact that the problem of tuber-
culosis as such is problem of prevention
gather than of cure. To stamp out this
scourge, to make 1t impossible that men
shall be permitted to work under condi-
tions SO menacing to life that they invite
tuberculosis, and at wages so low that a
standard of life cannot be sustained suf-
ficient to resist tuberculosis this is the
great work that is worth while for the
American Federation of Labor rather than
the cure of a few individual cases. Hos
pitfalls and sanatoriums for the cure of tu-
berculosis are praiseworthy institutions,
but we should leave the operation and
maintenance Of them to others Our work
Is to cut off the supply of patients and to
make hospitals and sanatoriums unueees-
sary.'
In concluding its report the committee
made recommends lions that pamphlets be
sent out by the national body to all affili-
ated organizations. and this is being done
as rapidly as the magnitude of the work
will permit.
The eyes of 100000 workingmen In the
Pittsburg district are eagerly turned to-
ward the first part of next month at which
time they confidently expect to see mate
rial advances in wages made In practically
every branch of industry.
The iron and steel workers In the many
mills Of this district say that they are due
for an advance to at least the figure which
they enjoyed prior to the drastic cut of
1904. The slight advance made one year
ago replaced about half of the former re-
duction, and the men say that the industry
has been bettered materially that they
are due for the former wages.
1t Is pointed out that the reduction was
accepted by the men in the mills at the
time without protest, as the iron and steel
trade was at a low ebb 1t was tentatively
promised at the time of reduction that
when the good times again returned their
wages would be replaced upon similar
scale.
The building trades are practically as
sured OF higher wages during next year
than have been enjoyed in 1905 In fact In
the majority of the unions the men have
been receiving wages In excess Of their
scale agreement, the bonus being gladly
offered by the contractors to get the good
men.