The San Francisco call., 1906-12-20
EDITED BY O. M. BOYLE

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Trades unionists will be glad to learn
that President Samuel Gompers has de-
cided to write history of the labor
movement. No one IS better qualified
for the task Unionism has reached
point where 1t is essential that some
authoritative data should be preserved,
and President Gompers is well fitted for
the undertaking. 1t was only week
or so ago that the principal of the
high school at Corning. Cal, wrote to
the editor of this column for fnforma-
tion about labor strikes and their ef-
feet. not only IN this country. but
throughout the world. Writings on
the subject are not to be had, and the
work of President Gompers will meet
an urgent need. Speaking Of the
proposed history. Gompers says:
Il have felt that my time and atten-
tion belonged to the actual work at
hand and that others might write the
story of IL. I have refused all offers
up to the present time, and.Mr. Cree is
the only man who has been able to
bring me seriously to consider it This
shall be the only pretentious work
shall attempt. / do not know how
large ii will be, but it will at least
run into several volumes in order to
do justice to the labor movement. The
work will be wide in its scope, and I
hope that 1t will be a credit to our
cause. / believe that it will be inter-
esting. 1t will at least be truthful.
My hope is that 1t may prove of value
as a history of labor and have value
as a textbook for students of economics
and sociology"
President NJ p Scott of Walters
Union No 80 received kilograms yester-
day from Tonopah announcing that all
union cooks and walters had been
locked out because they insisted on an
eight-hour day. Members of unions
in Oakland. Los Angeles and through
out the State generally have been noti-
fed to keep away from Tonopah until
the difficulty is settled. The unions
are asked to do all in their power to
bring about an eight-hour day in the
craft
Fifteen appIica tions were received at
the meetings of Garments Union No 200
last Tuesday night. There will be no
meeting until January s, owing TO the
holidays, unless something out of the
ordinary should take place Presi-
dent Cornelius denied the published
statement that any one outside the or
ganization could call a strike or en-
broil the union in trouble.
1
Electrical Workers Union No 6 Gin
side electricians) at it's last meeting
was presided over by W. H. Urmy
Ten candidates were obligated It was
announced that applicants were being
given a practical examination, all cleo
trical works being installed under the
National Fire Underwriters code Res
olutions were passed censuring the
Isthmian Canal Commission for giving
preference to Chinese in the digging OF
the canal.
George l. Berry. secretary and busi-
ness agent of Printing Pressmen's
secretary pro tenn for the Labor Coun-
ell during the sojourn of Secretary
Scharrenberg in the East. Berry is a
delegate TO the State Federation of
Labor convention and is much inter-
ested in making it the most important
session ever held by that body He ex-
poets that much time viii be given to a
discussion of the japanese question now
so prominently before the country.
One thing which Berry thinks is
often lost sight of in bodies such as
the federation is an efficient board Of
directors. All personal jealousies
should be set aside in electing an eff
cient board, he urges. He hopes to
see the strongest men in the conven-
ton elected to guide the federation
the coming year.
Carpenters Union No. 1882 held its
last meeting at SIT McAllister street
and elected the following officers:
President, A. Calderwood; vice presi-
dent, g. S. Blackburn; recording sec
retary, Frank E. Maxwell: financial
secretary. I. c. Hewton treasurer. E.
W. Hutchinson; conductor, A E. YER
linden; warden, E Charleston; trustee,
3. II. Avery; auditor, E E. de Roin:
delegates TO District Council of Car
penters-O. Nelson, Frank E. Maxwell.
z. L. de Roin, r. H. Zimmerman, T. K
Thompson. E. w Hutchinson, F. Craw-
ford. ]. E. Scully, F. z. Perkins. A.
Knudson and James French. Delegate
to Stockton convention of the State
Federation of Labor-J. o. Burckhal-
/ ter. Delegates to the Japanese and
Korean Exclusion League-A E. Lid
strom, d. Kerr and C. L. Smith
/ This union now has over 1000 members
more than twice the number before the
fire.
Postoffice Clerks Union No. 1891
will hold its regular meeting next
/ Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the
Polito building, 1866 Sixteenth street
l. ]. Nienchesky, president of the Chi
cago Postoffice Clerks Union, and J. J.
O'Neil. delegate to the Minneapolis con-
,vention of the American Federation of
Labor, viii be in attendance. The San
Francisco unio1e is progressing very
favorably. AT the last meeting twenty
candidates were obligated and the Sec
retary reports that he is receiving
many applications for membership
which will be acted upon at the next
meeting of the union.
The press committee of the union
wishes to state that the numerous
designations in the postoffice service
and the inability of the department to
secure competent clerks to I'LL the va
cancies will not be remedied until the
eight-hour law and the classification of
salaries are granted.
Iron Molders' Union No 164 has made
the following nominations. President.
John ]. Field; vice president, Robert
Hunt financial secretary, l. A. Sui
livan: business agent and correspond
ing secretary (vote for one). Albert T.