Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-11-03
Mr.. FRENCH HEARD
Labor Leader Adore sses Tri- City
Congress on Unions and
Unionism.
REPRESENTING CIGAR MAKERS
Says Records Show Eight-Hour Day
Prolonos Life of Workmen-
Label on Bread.

In an inspiring address before the
! TRICKY Labor congress last evening at
Industrial han. George r. French, of
! Louisville, KY. urged a revival of the
union movement in this locality. Mr..
| French, who is the general organizer
of the CiEar Makers international
Union of America. said. IL Introduction:
u regret the slump in the organized
labor movement in this district. l be
lieve in the policy OF preparing for
times of strife and struggle during the
time when affairs are running along
smoothly"
He called attention 10 the fact that
the general wages paid in Rock Island
are higher than those paid for the same
work in Davenport. and credited this
difference TO the condition of organized
labor in Rock Island.
! Achievements OF Cigar Makers.
/ In his address Mr.. French did not
merely theorize on the value of union
ism TO the la0OrinS men, but gave au-
| thoritative facts TO support his state
ments particularly with reference to
the cigar makers. He called attention
to the achievements of that union, and
to its readiness to help other bodies.
What benefits one body of organized
labor helps all bodies and when one
is prospecting its members should re
member that others may need their as
sistance. In this connection he asked
the cooperation of all union men for
the cigar makers. I'VE do not ask
YOU for money, but We do ask that when
YOU want a cigar that you buy a cigar
made by union labor. The failure of
the union movement lies in the fact
/ that so-called union men demand non
union goods.
/ There IS a great difference between
a union man and a man who belongs
( to a union" said Mr.. French. Get
where YOU belong. either be a union
man or do not belong 10 the union, 50
we may know your standing"
Life Prolonged.
One of the most striking statements
made by the speaker was that the
eight-hour regulation. which is univer-
sal with the cigar makers union. has
resulted in prOloDEing the life of the
cigar maker l. years on an average,
and that it not only prolonged the life
of the cigar maker. but prolonged the
life of the wOrkman's wife 10 years on
an average. He admitted that these
statements might seem incredible but
stated that he could prove them by the
unions reports.
Following the address of Mr.. French.
a resolution was adopted unanimously
that the delegates and the unions they
represent asitate the necessity of de
handing the union label on all goods.
Bakers Get Label.
II was reported during the evening
by Business Agent Herges that several
additional unions have decided to af
filiate with the congress- The an
nOuncement, made by a representative
of the Moline bakers union. that the
bakers of Moline had decided TO adopt
the label on bread. was received with
considerable show Of pleasure The
bakers have been employing union
bakers, buJ refused TO use the label.
Yesterday the decision to use the label
on MI bread was made. and an enor-
nous supply Of labels have been order
ed through the union representatives
Numerous communications were re-
Ceived and referred - he business
agent for acton