Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-02
N LABOR CIRCLES
g.

IneIe mas pceu Jul Aiitic Ciidh60 - NNHS
strike and lockout situation in the District
during the past few weeks. The two crafts
on strike the printers and horseshoers,
claim to be holding their own and have
hope that they win eventually win out. One
thing is certain the strike roll Of the typos
has been considerably shortened. many OF
the men having secured employment In the
union shops in this city.
Mr. r c. Parsons, chairman of the eight
hour committee of Columbia Typographical
Union, is frequently in receipt OF cheering
information from other cities. and this
gives encouragement to the local compos-
tiers who on strike to stand firm. Up
to this time the records show that there
has not been a single desertaon from the
ranks OF the printer-strikers. The conduct
of the strike by Chairman Parsons and his
lieutenants of the eight-hour committee
has been such as to win the commentator
of business men and the citizens generally.
The plumbers believe If they hold out
until June 1 the employers will consent to
arbitrate the differences, and that as re-
suit the situation will be unlocked and the
union men restored to their former posi-
tons. They deny the statement OF the
master plumbers and declare that not
enough non union workmen can be secured
to carry on the spring and summer work
here, number of the locked out journey
men have gone to other cities, 1t is said.
where there is an active demand for their
services. Many of them, however, are men
of family and cannot pull up stakes" and
depart so readily as the single men can.
The locked-out bottIers are hopeful that
with the assistance of the grievance COM
mittee Of the Central Labor Union, which
body has taken up their troubles, the oiI-
ferences between their union and the
bosses will soon be adjusted and that mar
mony will again reign.
The contributions made by the labor
unions Of Washington for the relief of the
stricken ones In California as result OF
the recent earthquake and conhagratlon
have been spontaneous and substantial. In
this connection the Trades Untonfst says:
'One feature of this spontaneous outpour-
ing of funds by labor unions will give food
for thought to advocates Of open shop
time to reflect on the condition of the man
who forfeits the esteem OF his fellow
workers when he abandons his union. The
employer is not expected to aid him, but
he can always expect 1T Of his union"
Arrangements for the biennial conven-
ton of the International Brotherhood Of
Bookbinders, additional to those already
published in The Star, were made at
meeting last night of local Bookbinders'
Union. No. 4, at Typographical Temple.
The convention Is to be held during the
week beginning June IL, and 1t is ex-
pected that more than 200 delegates will
be in attendance. The program as far
arranged provides that Monday, June II,
will be devoted to a complimentary eXcur-
sion to Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall.
On Tuesday evening the opening meeting
will be held In Columbia Theater, and
among those who have been asked to speak
are President Roosevelt Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation of
Labor, and Commissioner H. B. F. Mac
farland.
On Wednesday night the guests will be
given trolley trip to Luna Park, and on
the following night a banquet will be held
the place Of which has not yet been de-
cided. The social part of the convention
will be closed Friday night with a recep-
ton to be given at Karlheim's, In Langdon,
D. c. The business meetings of the ses-
sion will be held in Typographical Temple
Delegates who recently presented their
credentials to the Central Labor Union and
were given seats in that body are:
Electrical Workers, No. 26-Fred Mitchell
vice James Mcqueen.
Cement and Granolthic Construction
Workers, No. COG. w. Thomas J. A. Bic
field and ]. Fink.
Cement Workers, No. 61-John Queen, P
S. Miller and w. Anderson.
The thirty-hrst annual convention of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers began its sessions yester-
day at Cincinnati, Ohio. 1t Is understood
that all the present national officers with
the exception OF the division vice presidents
and Elias Jenkins, who declines to serve
another term as trustee, will be reelected
P. ]. McArdle, who succeeded Theodore j.
Shaffer as president, has only held the
office since October 1. but in that short
time has added great strength to the organ
ization.
The responsibilities of the delegates have
been outlined by Benjamin I. Davis. who
says the seriousness of legislating for the
welfare of the general membership must
impress any who will but for a moment
reflect on the disaster that must follow In
all our crafts should selffshness lead to I'M
xxrfO uotiA De-
more sacred duty can be placed in the care
of any body of men than that of guarding
the interests of wage-working associates
That duty is never better performed than
when those to whom 1t IS given make care
full investigation into conditions, divest
themselves of contracted inclinations and
move only when the common good will be
served, and counsel the adoption of a
course that meets with the requirements
of the times
Inc personnel Of the delegates elected to
serve at the convention would indicate that
they are men who will act along these lines
Fully 80 per cent of them have had past
experience. having been delegates to one
or more conventions.
According to a report just issued by
George ". Perkins, president of the Cigar
makers International Union the organfZa-
ton has paid In benefits during the past
twenty-six years the sum of S6,S45, $40. So
Tho report shows that since the adoption of
tne benevolent and protective features
there have been paid the following benefits:
Loans to travelling members, 1901, III 9s
strike benefits. 1902 1O4 10; sick benefits
S2,2O1 .266 43; death benefits $1514. 525 80;
out-of-work benefits, 81 .045, S6611.
A new interesting and instructive feature
is given by inserting the cost per year to
each member for each benefit paid and the
total cost per year per member for each
year for all benefits paid The recapitula-
ton tables give a comprehensive review of
the financial transactions of the union and
enables every member to readily see lust
where the funds CO. summary of the re-
port has been prepared and is as follows:
The cost per member for strike benefit
23.7 cents, In 1905, was the lowest that 1t
has ever been. The highest cost per mem
Der for this benefit was In 1884 when the
cost reached S12. go per member The cost
per member for sick benefit was So 49, for
death benefit. $3.50; for out-of-work benefit
ST cents
The figures as a whole show and prove
the oft-repeated claim that the better
financed a labor organization is the less
trouble and the fewer strikes they have.
Still. the percentage of gains for the mem
bers in improved economic CONDITIONS Is
maintained and steadily raised
The table shows that tho funds incre ased
for the year 1905 500, a.. go The largest