The San Francisco call., 1906-09-12
EDITED BY o. M. BOYLE.

ident. P. J. Burns; treasurer, Henry
Franey; recording secretary. John r.
sullivan; financial secretary George
sullivan; assistant secretary Patrick
Harrington; warden. Arthur Cooley;
conductor. Patrick King; finance COM
mittee, John Mitchell. NJ. Kiely and Ed
ward Boyle.
Painters Union No. 7ss Of Newbury-
port Mass, has gone on strike for an
eight-hour day. Some of the firms in
the town have granted the request, but
three are obdurate Last June the
master painters were notified by the
union that after September l the jour
neymen would insist on a shorter work.
Gay Strfke-b breakers from the Far
ley camp have been ordered. and it is
said VIII receive a Tarm welcome on
their arrival International President
J. c. Bahlhorn has promised to take
charge OF the fight. and is now on the
ground. Wages are only $3.50 a DAY.
The action of the Chicago Coal
Teamsters. taken at a meeting two
weeks ago. wherein they voted to re-
main with the Brotherhood of Team
sters, has been rescinded and as
result the influence of Albert Young
President Shea's bitter opponent, is ex-
pected TO be felt At present the coal
AtANCAc arc OI the renee. Dul- the GHllcQ
Teamsters hope to swing them into
line.
It is understood among railway em-
ployes that the railroads entering Min
neapolis and ST. Paul have granted in
creases in wages to their help. The
grievances committees OF the various
railway organizations have been treat
ing with the officials OF the Great
Northern, Northern Pacific and other
roads. The Machinists the Boiler
makers, the Blacksmiths' and the Car
mems committees have held several
conferences recently with the railway
officials. The demands made have
been better working conditions with
an increase in wages. 1t is said that
the Machinists were ready to strike at
a moments notice unless they shared
the good fortunes of the other organi-
cations.
Committees OF the operators on the
Omaha and Chicago Great Western
il is expected that small increase will
be granted them. Operators in the
East have been accorded increases, and
those employed on the Western lines
hope that their roads will follow.
- An agreement has been signed be-
tween representatives of the various
and the officials of the Mine Workers
Union Peace has been restored, it is
said. The wage scale was not changed
materially. At Lewiston the piece scale
was substituted for the fiat scale. but
the miners are guaranteed not less
than $3.50 per day. A slight increase
has been granted the teamsters and
hremen in all the Montana soft coal
camps.
The new agreement between the Chi
cago Street Carnens Union and the
Calumet Electric Street Railway Com
pany embraces clause providing that
motormen and conductors shall be paid
from the time they are required 10 re-
port for duty: also that onehalf cent
per hour extra will be paid for Sunday
and holiday service. This feature is
an innovation. and breaks away from
the old idea that street railway serv-
ice should receive no extra rating for
Sunday work.
Many stories are anoat about the
origin of Labor day. Here is what
w. L. A. Johnson. Labor Commissioner
for Kansas, has to say:
In reviewing the history of the labor
movement 1t Is found that organized
labor had its birth on this continent in
Boston in 18O6-just 100 years ago
by the organization of the journeylnan
tailors, and such was the antipatny to
a free expression OF labor at that time
that they were compelled to hold their
secret meetings in cellars and garrets
for fear of betrayal. In 1892 the ship
wrights and calkers demanded re-
duction of their working time to ten
hours per day, and in 1870 the ten
hour day was granted.
In 1858, twenty eight years later,
through organization and education. Ia
Dor was demanding an eight-hour day
from the Government. Organized la
Dor did not cenfine its efforts to short
ening the workday; but, realizing that
in order TO improve the conditions or
labor It was irst necessary to know
these conditions. therefore in 1863, in
response to the voice of labor. the Mas
sachusetts bureau or labor statistics
was established, and in 1889 the ma
tional bureau of labor statistics was
established Under the Interior Depart
ment. In 1883 it was advanced to an
independent department Of labor.
The agitation for a Labor day as
legal holiday began in 1882, and not
until 1897 did success crown the efforts,
when Oregon. at that time a young
State. took up the initiative and passed
the first Labor day law, making the
first Saturday in June labor holiday.
Since then thirty-six States and the
District of Columbia have enacted La z
Dor day holiday laws.
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