Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-08

| a shorter workday. So much can be said
In favor of that and little against II
that they could hardly take that position.
But they did take a stand on the side OF
| the employer
THAT the stand taken at the Freeport
gathering voices the true sentiment of the
Methodist Church is doubtful. In the issue
of the Northwestern Christian Advocate of
October IL there Is an article written Dy
the Rev. David Morgan of St. Paul that
contains one of the best defenses of the
union shop that have appeared in long
time. The Rev Mr.: Morgan Is a clergy
man of the Methodist denomination. and
he evidently has studied the labor prob
lem with good effect. 1t may be presumed
that his ideas are fairly representative OF
the church in which he is a teacher.
Unlike most men situated under similar
circumstances, the Rev. Mr.. Morgan can
see beyond the mere Incidental questions OF
the labor movement. He sees and appre-
cates what the condition of workingmen
would be If they had no organization. He
has read the history of the uprising of the
| masses through organization. And what Is
more remarkable, he understands that I'M
der certain conditions the unions fighting
for a union shop are really fighting for
| their very existence"
The executive council of the American
Fedora ton of Labor reports that 100 char
ters were issued for the eight months end
ing August 81, one state branch, forty-siX
central LABOR unions, ninety local lTdue
unions, fifty-three federal labor unions.
There are now affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor thirty-three state
branches Goa central labor unions, 1,043 To-
cal trade and federal labor unions and ZIG
international unions. the latter having APP
proXimately 25,0Co local unions attached to
them.
The most important labor decision was
handed down IN Chicago recently. If a Ia
Dor union tells contractor its men Will not
work with a non-union man, and If is a re-
suit the non-unon man is discharged and
is unable 30 secure employment on account
of the attitude of the union toward him.
the union is not liable for damages to The
non-union man
The movement among farmers to organize
in close alliance with trade unions for the
purpose of controlling prices of agricultu-
ra products seems to be gaining in strength.
Thomas NJ. Lewis, vice president of the
United Mine Workers of America, has just
completed a tour of the south and south
west, and in speaking of the progress
made by farmers in the movement to or
ganize says:
THE wage earners of the southwest in
every branch of industry seem to be fully
aroused to the necessity of being organized.
The same sentiment has taken strong
hold on the agricultural interests. The farm
ers have organized a new movement called
the Farmers Educational and Cooperative
Union Of America
THE farmers like many other laboring
men. are beginning to realize that they are
not receiving a full share of the results of
their labor. They are beginning to under
stand that there should be a community or
interest between themselves and the indus
trial wage earners of this country.
I'm Oklahoma and Iidian Territory this
new movement has taken steps and agreed
to work in conjunction with the labor.
unions on all questions that mutually af-
feet both interests.
at is a well-known fact to those who
f,,llX aial tta dior ant
in this country that the farmers, a rule,
have been unfrendly to labor unions. This
attitude has been the result of prejudice,
created and cultivated by the enemies of
organized labor
1.-The movement started in the southwest
has great possibilities. If II simply estab
fishes a better understanding between the
farmers and industrial wage earners 1t will
have accomplished a splendid work.
at is but the beginning. When the wage
earners and farmers understand each other
better there will be no trouble In securing
legislation, curtaihng the power of the COM
panies. regulating railways and wiping out
discriminating freight rates.
Representatives of the people will be in
our legislative halls and impartial
men will fill judicial positions.
1T is said that the new movement to or
ganize the farmers is meeting with such
encouragement that there are nearly 800. 900
members in the southwest"
Many interesting reports are being -e-
ceived at the Headquarters of the American
Federation Of Labor from international
unions conditions in the different trades
Most of them indicate encouraging state
of affairs, with bright outlook for fall and
winter.
A solution of the convict labor problem
in every state in the Union through the
adoption of a prison system similar to that
now in effect in New York is suggested by
Coils Lovely. vice president OF the Boot
and Shoe Workers Union, in an article in
the current number Of the Shoeworkers'
Journal.
Mr. Lovely declares that the Empire state
after years Of vain effort in trying to recon-
Gle money-making with the reformation of
character of the management of convicts
adopted a plan whereby convicts now
employed in more than twenty different IN
duStries suited to their natural abilities, and
no prison-made commodities sold I'm the
open market AS result. he asserts the
entire prison population has decreased and
many other reforms have been accom-
plished.
The constitution of the state of New
York adopted Nov. G, 1894, contains, among
others. the following provision:
sThe legislature shall by law provide for
the occupation and employment of prisoners
sentenced to the several state prisons, peni-
tentiartes, jails and reformatorfes in the
state. and on and after the LIST day Of Janu-
penitentiary, jail or reformatory shall be
REQUIRED or allowed to work while under
sentence thereto, at any trade, industry
or occupation, wherein or whereby his work
or the product of his work shall be farrned
out contracted. given or sold to any per-
son. firm, association or corporation. This
section shall not be construed to prevent the