The San Francisco call., 1907-01-03
EDITED BY o. M. BOYLE

The members Of Electrical Workers
i0n No. (inside electriciansD WHO
not granted the increase in pa,
was demanded refused to resume
.FE yesterday The officials Of the
.on stated that many contractors
already admitted the Justice of tht
ms by coneeding the raise. and II
expected that others would follow
-r0rtly. The excessive rents in the
ctv and the increasing cost Of all the
necessaries OF life make ii imperative
tre electricians say, that the members
shan receive more wages.
The statement that 90 per cent oi
t-e contractors are adverse TO paying
rre increase is disputed. The unions
demand as yet has not received the
nction OF the Building Trades Coun-
rl and the raise is asked by members
as individuals. It is not the intention
0t The committee in charge to involve
amy other trades in the difficulty.
The committee announces that 81
r-r cent OF the men are working al
the Increased scale
on the part OF the Electrical Con-
tractors Association it was stated last
night thar in view of the fact that q
-1umunicatiOn had been received from
Pc Mccarthy, president Of the Build
ing Trades Council. to the effect that
tse action OF Local No. was taken
without the Endorsement Of the Build
irE Trades Council and would not re-
ceive the support OF that body, the
Iectrical contractors had withdrawn
rheir OFFER to pay the Sc rate on new
obs and would enforce the s5 wage
ul new as wei as old contracts.
Proceeding upon the supposition that
tle 5ourneymen electricians would be
al0ne and unsupported in their demand
FOR the SIS scale It was unanimously
agreed at a meeting Of the contractors
association last night that every men,
ter Of the association employing in
side electricians would refuse work
tris morning to every man demanding
more than IS. 1T was further agreed
that electrical employers throughout
the city would stand together in a de-
termined effort TO defeat what they
deH0unce as an unauthorized and ILL
timed attempt TO increase wages.
r b. Zant, State organizer Of the
American Federation Of Labor, who has
been ina Eureka for the past month TO
aid the various unions OF that city,
writes that the labor situation in Hum
boldt County is very satisfactory. Par
rsans ia various trades have secured
Eher wages without a conflict, he
SAYS. and the trend Of affairs is toward
q siren gthening Of unionism.
Zant went north at the request Of the
awEers and LOggers' international
Onion and his statement Of the con-
dlr.ous that he found is particularly
interesting. He writes as follows:
The many dangers incident TO work
n the woods, the difficulty Of access 10
this section Of the country and it's
sparsely- settled condition all contribute
t0 the curtailment OF the number OF
labOrers on the market seeking 3
employment, therefore. the compe-
ttti0n among the men has never de-
tei0ped so keenly as TO encourage the
employers to make a business Of seek
ing 10 make labor cheap or Of running
down labor TO the same extent as in
other districts. Unorganized labor.
consequently. has maintained a great
er degree Of Independence here than
elsewhere The conditions did not
make il 50 necessary to organize as the
relations between employe and en-
Dl0Eer were many years behind other
sections.
The workers here seem TO have alb
sorbed the union spirit from without,
however, and when encrOachments were
made on old established customs they
quickly resented IL and commenced to
organize. They have all the neces-
sary qualifications and the right
spirit, only needing education in some
4 lndamental principles, such as the
eoessity Of discipline and method Of
procedure. Within the last year great
advancement has been made and pre-
dict that within the next next two
wears Humboldt wiz be. one Of the
best if not the best, organized county
n the State.
Within one year the carpenters,
starting with no regulation wage, have
secured complete closed shop with
a. minimum wage Of $3.50 for eight
hours and they. expect without trouble
to make a rate OF 81 per day early in
January. The miiimen in planning mills
got an increase of 81. and an eight hour
day in December. All the established
Unions in Eureka, except three, have an
eight-hour day, and the sawmin men
had the day cut down from twelve TO
ten hours. The shingle weavers Sc
cured an increase all over the county
to cents per thousand, enabling them
10 make sleO q. month"
The Retail Shoe Clerks Union OF
Oakland met the other evening in
Electricians Hall. S65 Broadway, and
effected temporary organization, pend
INK the arrival OF the charter from
Denver, which will be received in day
or so. Max F. LIGHT, first vice presi-
dent Of the International body acted
as chairman, and mucD OF lne success
~ the local is due 10 his untiring ef-
forts The following temporary ON
GERS were chosen:
Past president. A. p. John; presi-
dent Horace Y. Carter: first vice presi-
dent A b. John; second vice president
Toe Kettlewell: financial secretary
Harry Roessner;. recording secretary
C r. Garwood. treasurer, George A
Deweese; guide. J. J. Brennan; in
side guardian, Harvey Coey' OUTSIDE
Guardian. J. Silva; trustees, alter ).
sanderson, c. J. Varnell and j. king
don; social committee, J. Samuels, G. X
Garwood. +. l. Proctor. w. shannon
and j Levy. committee was ap-
pointed to draft a constitution and by
laws
Furniture Handlers Union No. I met
Improvement Hall, 1853 Market
ret. the other evening and elected
following officers: President. A. :.
IaEander. vice president, William H.
Presley treasurer. a. 5. Tyler; hnan-
secretary. Frank c. Burns; re-
~ rnrar