davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
LAb0R UNIONS ARE CREDITED
With SHORTENING W0Rk DAY
How Organized Labor Has Brought About Marked Changes
the Time for Labor Compared with Condi-
tions Forty Years Ago.
Labor Alone Deserves the Credit for Bringing About Improved
Conditions by Organizing and Justly Demanding Fair
Compensation

some carpenters were at work upon
my place this summer. They came in
tho morning, after I had finished my
breakfast and was busy with my mail
-at 8 my working day Is well under
way-and in the afternoon on the
stroke Of they hung up their aprons,
lighted their cigars and went home.
Watching them pack up their tools
one day, said they had cut off the
best hours at each end Of the working
day.
''when learned your trade, forty
years ago." said, I'VE went to work at
In the morning in the summer and
quit at I In the evening" In winter
the day was from sunrise from sunset"
They laughed. And you had no
Saturday afternoon of. Many things
can happen in forty years."
That Saturday afternoon found me
in a particularly busy neighborhood
downtown. where, at the rush hours,
the crowds of workers Fastening to
and from their shops made the streets
fairly impa ssable. The street was
still, deserted in fact. Coming over, l
had met trolley cars jammed with
holiday throng bound for the beach.
1 thought Of my carpenters many
things can happen in forty years." He
might have said twenty. 1t Is just
that number of years since the Satur-
day half-holiday, coming over from
England took root In New York,
championed by organized labor. 1t was
Mr.. Gompers who was instrumental in
enforcing the law, esta tablishing it upon
financial New York, much to Its dis
gust. 1t protested loudly to the Legis-
lature that busiess would desert the
metropolis and move to Jersey or Con-
necticut, where it was not SO hampered.
Instead, the half-holiday has Invaded
those states, and all the others, as
Mt. Gompers predicted 1t would. And
Fl om a month"; or two months, 1t has
stretched over the whole summer, and
the winter. too, in the trades.
The working day has been short
cred at both ends, as I said. There Is
no longer a sixteen or seventeen hour
dav for street car drivers. as some of
us remember. In Chicago the other
day they had to change the time for
keeping the bridges closed to a later
hour because the early morning crowds
we're no longer there. The mechanic,
the lborer, has time for his family
for pfNE, for life His wages have gone
up so that he can afford day or.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30

nue. train,, when a Ninth avenue train,
displaying proper signals. was ap-
preaching the junction.
AS a result Of this investigation, to
increase the safety of operation on shis
railroad. this board recommends:
One-That the two signals approved
by the board be replaced by a double
blade semaphore signal one Of these
blades to govern the operation of the
Ninth avenue trains the other the op-
Grafton of the Sixth avenue trains.
Two-That a stationary SLOW" sign
be placed at a proper point in a man
ner to make it conspicuous, and so
that it can be seen and read by motor
men Of all southbound trains.
Three-That all southbound trains on
the local track come to q full stop be-
fore reaching the aforementioned
sema phore.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
HOSPITAL CARS ON
PRUSSIAN RAILWAYS

From the New York World:
The Prussian ministry for railways
has placed at every important railway
center throughout the kingdom a mag
nificently built and appointed car for
the transport Of sick persons. These
cars have been specially fitted up from
plans supplied by sanitary authorities.
Spring beds and every medical device
for the alienation of suffering during
transit have been utilized. There are
ice safes, gas stoves for cooking, rooms
for attendants and ingenious devices
for muffling the sound caused by the
motion Of the train. It is not intended
to make these carriages pay; they have
been instituted chiefly on the ground Of
humanity.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30

rail of the Sixth avenue curve was all
that could be given it under the con-
ditions Of a grade crossing with the
Ninth avenue tracks. East of the
Ninth avenue tracks it had sufficient
elevation for a proper rate Of speed.
This curve was properly equipped with
guard rail and guard timber.
The signals ana switch governing
the movements Of southbound trains,
We're properly interlocked. Proper ssig
nails indicating Ninth avenue train
were displayed on the head car of the
derailed train. The switch and the two
signals connected with it were set for
a Sixth avenue train when the train
which was derailed approached them.
- That jackson, the towerman, was in
the lower operating room about one
minute before the accident occurred.
That the derailed train was runnig
more than fifteen miles an hour when
the head car passed over the switch
points, and that no appreciable reduc-
ton in the speed of the train was made
after the head car passed the switch
point until the derailment.
No Trouble in. Stopping Train.
That, from the examination made
after the accident and the testimony of
the conductor to the effect that no
trouble was experienced by the motor
man in making all of the stops from
One Hundred and Thirty-tifth street
to and including Fifty-ninth> street,
it is believed that the motor and brake
equipment were in good condition at
the time of the accident. y
That proper and sufficient means Of
inspection and repair Of the trucks,
wheels, motors and brake equipment
are employed. That the weather was
clear and the rail in good. condition.
That the company's rules required the
motorman to reduce speed and have
his train under control when passing
the signal. which showed yellow or
cautionary signal. ~:
As result OF our investigation We
find that the accident was caused by
Motorman Paul Kelly violating the
company's rules, in running BY q eau
tionary signal without reducing speed,
and by running by a signal showing
that the switch was set for. a Sixth
avenue: train, he running Ninth ave-
nue. one, carrying proper. signals Tor
that line. s.. :
=. s Towerman Also Blamsd. -.* n
We also ind tina. Cornelius A. Jack
son, the stowerman, cont ributed to- the
cause of the accident BY having the
switch and SignAf at for = Sixth aye-
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
STRIKE BREAKER HELD
FOR ELEVATED HORROR
Railroad Commission Holds
Imported Strike Breaker Re-
sponsible For Accident.
Kelly Was Brought to New
York BY Belmont During
Recent Subway Car Strike.

New York, Sept. 2s.-On the should
ers Of Paul Kelly, who was imported
by August Belmont, as strike breaker
and Cornelius Jackson, the switch man.
the entire blame for the. frightful
wreck on the Ninth avenue elevated
road is placed by the State Railroad
Commission in their official report
made public yesterday.
The commission ignored the evidence
that competent motormen had been dis
charged by the company to save pay
ing higher wages, took no considera-
ton Of the fact that the Company had
failed to equip the road with proper
safety devices, that the car which
plunged to the street, carrying twelve
persons to death, had defective fanges
on the wheels, which prevented the
car from making the curve. Nor does
the report of the commission suggest
that it is the duty of, the company to
safeguard the lives of it's patrons by
providing an additional motorman to
act I'M case of incapacity OF the man
at the controller.
New Signal Service Asked.
The only recommendation the COM
mission has to offer to avoid recur-
renee of such catastrophe is the sub
stitution Of semaphore or wig-wag sig
nails for those now in use, and that a
rule be promulgated that all trains be
brought to stop before rounding the
deadly curve.
After recittng the history Of the acci-
dent, the commission, in It's report, says
the investigation developed the follow
ing facts:
The track, frogs and switches at the
Fifty third street junction are in good
condition. with proper alignment and
gauge. The elevation Of s the outside
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
Federal Warrants Are Issued
Against Biggest Tile Manu-
facturers in the Country For
Most Flagrant and Whole
sale Violation of Alien Con-
tract labor Laws.

New York, Sept. 2s.-Federal war;
rants were issued last night for the
arrest to-day Of the above named elev-
en- men who are the heads of the big
gest life manufacturing and contract
Ing concerns Of this city, representing
millions of capital.
These men are charged with having
conspired collectively, through the EN-
ployers' Association, to violate the Un-
tied States contract labor law by the
importation of foreign workmen.
Their purpose was to crush union
labor in the New York tile business.
The Department Of Commerce and
Labor is behind the prosecutions. 1t
took eight months of careful prepara-
tion by United States District Attor-
ney and his aids to collect the evidence.
He pronounced the case non1inally. per-
feet.
The penalty is a fine Of from $1,000
10 100000, or imprisonment for not
more than two years.
Lantry, Lawton, Elmer Alexander
and Bernard Traitel are known as 1.-THE
Big Four Of the Tile Employers AS
sociation, being, it is said, the four
largest tilemakers and contractors in
this country.
Strong Evidence Obtained.
A score of men have obtained the
evidence. Secret Service operators and
agents Of the department have worked
together during months Of tidtous la
Dor, investigation and expense. In adj
dition. since last January four Snglish
tile settlers have been kept on Ellis
Island. It Is upon their evidence back
ed by corroborative depositions> that
the government relies.
Approaching the wealth and COM
mercial Importance Of the accused men
and knowing full we'll that a defense
Of the most vigorous character will
be interposed utterly regardless of ex-
pense the governments case has been
prepared with unusual care as to both
minor and major detail. The case is
one that will be followed with the
greatest interest by the various labor,
organisations and el1apfoyeElsssaaa lssaaa eciAr
tioifs throughout the country. ! 5'5 r
That much depends upon the out
come Of the success Of the prosecution
the government is said to realize fully,
and also that much is involvtd beyond
the mere conviction Of the eleven ac-
cused men, as through their convic-
tion the government hopes once and
for all to put an end to further vio-
lations Of the contract labor law. The
latter the government is said to know,
are 80 common as to make the law one
honored more in the breach than the
observance.
Law Constantly Violated.
Ever since its formation, the Depart
rient of Commerce and Labor has had
to deal with violations of the contract
labor law. So difficult Of proof, how
ever, was It found, that aolleged vio-
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
1000 BARRELS OF BEER :
:. FED TO THE FISHES

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 27.-only the
fishes and the ducks rejoiced late yes
terday when $4,000 gallons Of ale and
porter; 1000 barrels, were opened, at the
river bank, near the foot Of Twenty
first avenue south, In Minneapolis, be-
cause the brown October ale, the once
fragrant porter, was sour, Otherwise
it would have been worth $4,000. The
1000 barrels were part Of the stock Of
the Imperial Brewing company. which
failed July l. Although the ale and
porter might have, been dispoeod Of %
vinegar, It was thought cheaper to mo-
tify s. M. Nichols, deputy collector OF
federal revenue, that taxes would not
might be poured a e the river.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30

capital the building took $750,000 from
the treasury, and now the Mccall Of
dcial report says it il worth but $780,
600. In Minneapolis there IL a building
which the company values at -$600,000. {
Its cost is not known, but five years
ago the policy holders were assured by
Mccall that it was worth $780, 900, and .
ten years ago the company appraised it
at $o25,000. Z
Profits Should Have Been Larxe.
All Of these declines are In localities
where prices have advanced enormously
since the insurance company made the
Investments. Unless incompetency or
something else was exercised at the
time OF purchase and constructions,
there should be profit Of perhaps 50
per cent ere this. -
In some cases the depreciation has
been less than those above cited, but in
no instance has the company received
profit from the investment. Here
are the figures for the remainder Of the
company's office buildings outside Of
this city:
Present I.
Cost. Valuation,
Vienna, Austria .....$ sss,249 5 3s5, 900
Armsterdam, Holland 1884 10000
Berlin ................ 61,140 255, 900
Kansas City, Mo..... 1,635,00o 1900, 900
Belgrade, Servia 80. 50,025 $1,000
The Plasa Invest1aent.
An investigation into the mortgage
loans of the society might be equally
prolific of sensations to those who have
been inveigled into the belief that ev-5
erything that the Perkins Mccall group
has done has benefited the policy hold
ers financially. The Plaza Hotel site.
on which a new hostelry is to be erect
ed, is an Illuminating illustrat ton.
This property was acquired by the
company originally at a cost of $3,275,
600 and leased at figure that brought
about per cent on the investment. Six
years ago 1t was announced, with eclae,
that the property had been sold for $3,-z
100000 spot cash, and the company rid
ded of a bad investment.
The records now show, however, that
the hotel really never was sold, but
merely transferred, while the company
retained mortgage for the full pur-
chase price. Later 100000 was paid.
leaving the present mortgage at 81. 800
600. The site is assessed at 81. .lDn -
|it q dpahtfuI l1 tha azao.ant
& l. - IL ~
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
MOTIVE FOR BOMB
OUTRAGE UNKNOWN

PEk1N. Sept. 27.--Nothing. has
transp!red yet regarding the motive of
last Sundays bomb outrase. Pror,i-
net Chinese believe it was a direct out-
come of the anti-American bovcott
movement, the more violert> of the q ri-
tators resenting the restraining meas
ures of the government. The generally
accepted view Of the affair is that i
was directed against the dynasty. ;
The thrower OF the bomb has not 50
tar been Identified. but he is known to
belong to the better classes. = -. :,
Viceroy. Yuan Shat Kai of the Chi Ii
province. Is taking energetic steps to
capture the conspirators. : :s,. :s.,,.> = 3,
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
ALBERS SENTENCED
TO THREE YEARS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-Minister
Merry at San Jose, Costa Rica, cabled
the state department. today that Will
lam >. Albers had been sentenced to
three years in prison, but that an ano
peal had been taken to the supreme
court. Minister Merry also stated that
Mr.. Brubaker, the Philadelphia lawyer
who went to Nicaragua, as the Port
Llmon company's attorney, would ar
rive at Ocola tomorrow. Mr.. Donald
son, the Ameriacn consul at Manaeua.
whose exequateur was cancelled as an
incident Of this case. is on his way to
Washington and Is expected to arrive
here early next week.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
LABOR. Gets :. :.
RIGHT. WITH MOVEMENT

Salida, Col, Sept. 2S.-At the state
federation Of labor convention held
here last week the opponents Of the
American Federation Of Labor were
defeated by a. large vote. The test
came when it was voted to affiliate
the state organization with the bona
f1de organization Of the American la
Dor movement.
It was a hard fought battle. The
miners and organizations affiliated
heretofore with the American Labor
Union made a desperate attempt to
prevent the strong labor federation of
Colorado from joining with the A. F.
Of H., but the trade unfonists were too
many, and the De Leonites were de-
feated within the borders Of their
strongest state.
The victory was notable for the A.
so-called industrial Yorces who have
made repeated attempts to disrupt the
greatest labor organization ever form
ed by the American toiler.
The proceedings Of the Federation
were marked by unusual harmony, con-
sidering the numerous and vital
changes made.
The constitution was amended 80
as to clearly define the respective pow,
ers and duties of the president and
secretary which had heretofore caused
some friction.
The executive board was Increased
from five to ten, and consists of the
president and secretary ex.ofAcio.
elected by the convention from the
various trade centers OF the state. An
advisory board, consisting of the
president, secretary, and three vice.
presidents pearest the capital was pro-
vided for, which was given power to
settle disputes and provide ways and
means to enhance the power Of the
Federation. subject to the approval of
the full board.
No salary was attached to the presi-
dency. but that officer was allowed
time and expenses while engaged in
business ordered by the board. The
secretalv was made general organizer
in addition to his other duties, under
salary. ss%, :. -.
. A resolution was adopsed affliating
with the American Federation Of La
Dor, and all clauses In the old consti-
tuition in conflict with the principles
or policy Of that body were expunged.
The right to charter new bodies. such
as federal labor unions OF mixed cali
.ings. was denied. but instead certifi
cate OF membership can be granted 20 1
all local bodies which are unattached
ana not daul or hostile to the national
trade organisations Of the A. f. Of
L. a spirit Of conciliation was shown
toward the miners. orsanfzation, two
OF that n,embership being placed on
the executive board. .s$.
for the creation Of q non bipartisan rail-
road sconu1assion With over 70 enforcssl
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30

When the Legislative Investigation
Committee passes from the stock tram
sactions Of the Mccall regime in the
New York Life Insurance company to
its real estate deals. revelations are
expected of more shocking character
than thus. far revealed anent the op-
erations of Wall Street syndicates.
An inquiry into the manner In which
real property is purchased by the COM
pany may develop q reason why, de-
all the metropolitan centres In the past
decade, the New York Life has lost
enormously on every piece Of property
1t owns.
In the last annual Detailed State
ment for Policy Holders" issued by the
company. q series Of imposing illustra-
tions Of magnificent. office buildings
owned by the company is presented in
order to impress the innocent citizen
with the wealth and stability Of the
company. =
The company's valuation OF the prop
erty accompanies each picture. A COM
parison of these figures with, the cost
Of the structures, as given in some of
facts:
The building in Paris, for instance, is
stated by the company to be worth
$1.soo,0oo. This identical edifice, accord
ing to the Connecticut insurance re-
port, cost the company $2.2s4, ,s1o, or
practically $1,000, 900 more than the Nc
Call appraisers now say it is worth.
How Real Estate "Dvvindles."
The New York Life building in Omaha
is valued at $3.50, 1000, and it's cost a few
years ago was 81 ,2N,976. The loss on
the principal itself in this case is ap-
proximately so per cent.
An even more flagrant instance is the
Montreal office, the cost of which was
SSH. .s33, as compared with present valu-
alton, $3.50, 900. - "a .a..-
AT Buda Pest. Hungary, $610, 900 Of the
E1eitcy. .hQldAEa,n money gIas sexpAnded Tor
nov h0Id ri m Iifs ffin SliniS6 IT.
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30

lations have escaped time and time
again through l4Ka15 technicalittes and
4 lack Of essential proof. The de-
partmont decided te enforce the law,
and awaited instance Of fragrant
violation: This. it is said, the de-
.partment believes Il has in the present
case. and thatit has prepared case
that insures conviction. Should a con-
viction be obtafned Assistant United
States Distric4- Attorney C. S: Hough-
ton. who hasscharse of the criminal
prosecutions. Will, IN view Of the COM
nhercial Importance of the accused, ask
that the full p1nalty BE imposed. I
The governnnent's attorneys also fully
appreciate. 1t is5said.s that Anal con-
viction cannot be had this side of the
court OF last resort, the United States
Supreme Court I'M: ashington, and
have, therefore made preparations to
carry their .apeals tpsthat tribunal.
Will serve thS Warrants Today.
The warrant aoalnsts the eleven men,
charging them with = violation Of Sec
ton $40 Of the Untted States Revis-
ed Statutes, which ds6nes q conspiracy
against the. govsrniner,t. will. accord
ing to the best obfsirs sble information,
be issued 81 I1nits States sGornmis-
/ ot,rser 4 IL
Marshall aenkel . execute = y
The evidence ii the case will 60 back
to the lockout BY the Tile, Crate and
Mantel Association. an employers or
ganization, Of the men Of the Mosaic
and Fmcaustic Tile Layers and Help
erB of New York and vicinity, on Au-
gust s: of last year. It is said that
the lockout preceded strike planned
by the union men. which they expected
to put into execution few days later.
To break the planned strike and
make the lockout q success. it will be
charged that the employers associa-
tIon sent one of It's number to England
and caused advertisements tc appear
iii papers In Staffordshire, Stafford
on-Avon, Birmingham, Liverpool, Lon
don, Glasgow, ,Rusbon in Wales, and at
Eergig, Germany, offering the masons
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-09-30
MRS. PERNlN DIES.

DFRO1T, Sept. 27.--Word has been
received here of the death OF Mrs.
Helen NJ. 19ernin, at Los Angeles, Cal.
Mrs. Pernin was widely known auth
ority on shorthand writing. Tho In
te1ment. will be in Detro;+